Hello all, I know Matthew has met his needs but I thought I would share the following with the group.
Just last year there was a series of articles in QST on running an Advanced Glass Mat (AGM) battery as a station backup. Another ham and I researched the project for some time and decided to use the IOTA DLS charger/power supply for our RACES/ARES stations. It is a switch mode and we added the optional computer module to provide triple mode. You can pick a supply that meets your current requirement, he used 45 amp and I used the 55. These units charge the battery and supply current to the load at the same time, when power fails the battery is by itself. The supply does not be run through a relay. We were concerned that there would be RF noise coming out of the supply as the last article in QST found in some of the units they tested. We found a dealer, Mastertech, who sent us a unit with a offer of a full refund if it produced any noise on our HF rigs. The unit was perfect. I could only pick up noise is I put the pickup loop into the opening on the side of the supply where the terminals came out while watching the spectrum analyzer. Turns out Mastertech has been to many ham swaps selling their supplies. We use the IOTA and a Optima yellow top AGM battery as a station supply. DO NOT USE THE RED TOP!! We use a MAXI fuse between the supply and the battery and a MAXI fuse between the load and the buss. We also added shunts and LCD digital meters (that run off a 9 volt battery on a momentary switch) to monitor both current from the supply and in/out of the buss. Plus a LCD digital volt meter to monitor system voltage. We learned of a supplier for the MAXI fuse holders, Waytek, that also has tons of other 12 volt relays and fuse blocks. Check them out on the web. Very fast service and the best prices by far. I used some of their relays and connectors for my alarm system in my van. You will want their catalog if you do any kind of electrical work, car or home. DO NOT USE A CHEEP BATTERY CHARGER TO CHARGE A AGM BATTERY!!! It will kill the battery. Charging an AGM over 15.? volts will destroy it. By the way, FUSE EVERYTHING!! Power Supply/Charger = http://www.iotaengineering.com/ Iota Engineering Batteries = http://www.optimabatteries.com Optima Batteries - use yellow or blue top IOTA supplier = http://www.mastertech-inc.com Mastertech Inc. - Westly Miller 1-800-848-0558 Fuse and relay supplier = http://waytekwire.com Waytek Inc. Shunts and digital meters = https://www.allelectronics.com/ All Electronics The AGM batteries can be bought at any chain auto parts store or even from Cabala's. Our systems work great. No relays or switches to change over the 12v, works fine all by itself. Has taken us through several power outages already. The below sites mentioned earlier on this list should also be FULLY read by anyone wanting to use batteries. http://www.powerfactorinc.com/Batteries/dg12-32jh.htm this batt is a AGM .. type and yes every one should read this http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html 73 and good luck, Shanon KA8SPW, Garden City, Michigan *************************************************************************** -----Original Message----- From: w9mwq [mailto: Sent: Friday, January 21, 2005 12:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Powering the Repeater With Marine Batteries Last night my power supply took a dump! Good thing for backups. Anyways, what I am wanting to do is put 3 marine batteries together to run the power for the repeater with a charger to charge the batteries. If I use a 12 Volt Car charger, do I risk the chance of noise, or would the batteries filter that. What would be a good source to charge these batteries? The power supply that will be taking the place of the worthless Pyramid supply will be an Astron 52 Amp Rack Mount Supply. I have heard in the past that batteries have been charged with these power supplies, but not sure if this if true or not. Any ideas? Thanks. Mathew Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
