Hey Tim, The Santa Fe Amateur Radio Club has opperated a solar powered repeater site for over 2 decades. Here is the link to their repeater site: http://www.w5sf.com/repeaters.html Its the Elk Mountain site. The site was initially a FS repeater site and using automotive batteries and 2 solar collectors. In the picture, is the new building and tower, the old building was a Montgomery Wards type metal shed and a rohn 35 tower. The tower came down during one winter and was replaced with a self supporting tower, and a pre-fab building. Ofcourse its over 11k ASL. At times we have had snow covering the panels and the repeater was dead until the sun recharged the batteries. Thankfully we have a wind gen up there now so the batteries have a constant supply of energy.
The current site holds; APRS node, FS repeaterX2, FD repeater, VHF Ham RepeaterX2, and a UHF linking repeater. The power side of it; 1500W Wind turbine, ~6 Solar collectors(cant remember the total, i think six), charging system, and the battery bank consists of 12-2V 1480AH, running two pairs of six batteries(12V). Each battery weights: 250lbs. Recommendation for any solar site is: armor plate your power system. 1/2" plate is what we use around our batteries. We have yahoos in New Mexico who like to shoot at things for fun. 73s Russ/KC5CNT On 13 Jul 2007 17:36:13 -0000, Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com < Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Posted by: "Tim" [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> kk4wh <http://profiles.yahoo.com/kk4wh> Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:30 am (PST) I have a site located that I would like to install a 220 Ham Repeater but there is no electrical power. I don't know the first thing about solar power but would like to consider this project for my first solar powered repeater. I would appreciate any links, tips, suggestions, or information about solar power for repeater use. I have looked at a couple of web sites but I know there are hundreds of solar powered sites around the country and I figured that this group would have the experience to point me in the right direction for research or purchase of equipment. If you would like to send off group, [EMAIL PROTECTED]<kk4wh%40yahoo.com>will get to me. Thanks in advance for the help. Tim, KK4WH -- "Oderint Dum Metuant" - Emp. Caligula "Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc" - Addams Family credo
