Ian, The best type of battery for backup repeater power is, in my opinion, a valve-regulated, sealed lead-acid battery using absorptive glass mat design. In the solar-power industry, this battery is described as a "VRSLA-AGM" battery.
When floated on the appropriate solar, wind, or utility power supply with the appropriate charge controller, such batteries can provide reliable backup power. I use the term "appropriate" for good reason; most of the battery systems that have failed in my area did so because inappropriate batteries (automotive wet cell) were used, or because the float voltage was incorrect or poorly regulated. My 35 watt solar-powered mountaintop UHF repeater has been in service for 4.5 years with 100% availability, using two 75 watt solar panels, a SunWize SIGMA charge controller, and two 105 AH Concorde VRSLA-AGM batteries. Very simple and very reliable. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kerincom Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:05 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] [Repeater-Builder] Best batteries for repeater sites Hi guys. Can anyone suggest the best type of batteries for repeater sites? It seems our ordinary lead acid batteries are surviving better than optima yellow tops over 2-3 days of rainy weather. Would anyone have any other sugestions? Thank You, Ian Wells, Kerinvale Comaudio
