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Author Topic: HT battery supply  (Read 6996 times)

KD7EVS

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HT battery supply
« on: January 23, 2002, 07:50:17 PM »

Last night I happend to be in my dorm room when the power went out. it was quite interesting. however it made me think a bit too.
I'm a goverment trained Incident Command Communications Tech and have worked in Telecommnications for the past 5 years.
my truck was not accesible (parked 20 minutes away (5 minute bus ride) it was totally dark.  
I have an emergency kit in my truck with aided by my high power mobile in my truck, but I've got some extra HTs, and a solar charger and etc... but last night all I had was my HT and the battery was low on it, it was on the charger (wall charger) but duh, no power.
after 3 hours of chat with a friend (who had power and contacting some emergency authorities via ham) I started to see my power problem.

I want to build a battery power supply large enough to run a 1watt yeasu (6volts to the radio)for a good while. but I want it small enough to fit in a backpack to give power on the go.   (less than 15 pounds)

anyone have schematics for a recargeable or non rechargeable supply? anyone experimented with this before?   I know it's pretty simple and I'm a rocket scientist (well studying to be one) but I'd just like to know about other's experiences.

thanks
kd7evs
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KC5JK

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HT battery supply
« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2002, 08:46:26 PM »

I find that today's compact equipment doesn't accomodate very big batteries, because consumers place more importance on size and weight than on battery life.  Therefore, I use external plug-in packs, some made from modified flashlights and others with large rechargeable batteries or reloadable packs.  For the rechargeable types, I pick a wall adapter of suitable voltage and current, to recharge them at normal or trickle rates.  Various radio amateur handbooks go into details on charger considerations for meeting battery charge requirements.  I find the best deals on both batteries and wall transformers/adapters/chargers at All Electronics in Van Nuys, Ca (also on the web).
See also the "Power Charger/Recharger" post adjacent to this one.
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ASTEFFES

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HT battery supply
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2002, 01:51:59 AM »

A Yuasa sealed lead acid battery, and a couple doodads from Radio Shack are all you need.

If you have the cigarrette lighter adapter for your HT, or can get one, go to Radio Shack and buy a lighter plug extension cable.  Cut the lighter plug off and wire the socket end to the battery. Instant easily portable, easily rechargable power supply.  Plan for 1 Amp-hour of battery capacity per watt of power output of your radio.

The battery will hold a charge for a long time, and your solar panel can keep it topped-off all the time.

  -Adam
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KE4SKY

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HT battery supply
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2002, 10:45:14 AM »

In Virginia RACES we recommend that any HT used for EmCom be capable of running from three power sources:

1) the factory provided battery pack
2) a separate battery case which "fits" to the radio which can use AA or other common household batteries.
3) an external power plug or adapter which fits the radio to enable use of a plug-in cord to an auto cigarette lighter plug, regulated power supply or to connect to a portable gel cell battery.

We collect, test and distribute free to our members gel cell batteries which we collect from local hospitals.  A very common size is the Yuasa NP2-12, which is a 2.0ah, 12V battery which will fit in a coat pocket.  One of these will run an HT all day during a public service event.  We issue them in pairs and recommend that they be wired in parallel together and carried in a military surplus ammunition magazine pouch.  Recharging can be accomplished either with a wall transformer of about 200-500ma or carefully, by monitoring charge time and temperature by using a 1.5 amp automatic battery maintainer such as the Schumacher unit on www.batterychargers.com

Hope this helps.

73 de KE4SKY
Virginia RACES State Training Officer
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K7IHC

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HT battery supply
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2002, 05:18:52 AM »

I use a Bendix King EPH-model 210 ch VHF H/T modded to operate on the 2m band.  The advantage of the B-K H/T is that there is an AA battery *clamshell* case available for it.  I mainly use a Ni-Cd battery on it, but have a filled clamshell (9 AAs) always available.  Spare alkaline AA cells are easy to keep around.  I also have a 1hr drop-in fast charger for the Ni-Cd and a deep-cycle marine battery is available for running the charger (when 120VAC is down) or operating the Icom 2100H 2m base/mobile radio.
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KC7GF

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HT battery supply
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2002, 02:12:43 AM »

Check out your local Radio Shack for R/C car racing batteries.  They come in several different voltages and sizes. I use several of the 9.6 volt NiMH racing car batteries to power my VX5.  They come with a wall wart charger that shuts off automatically and amp hour rating is 1460 mAhr. All you have to do is make an adapter from the connector on the battery to the external power plug of your handheld. I found the mating connectors at a local hobby shop. Don't forget to fuse the adapter cord. I also use a small 10 watt solar panel to top off the batteries once in a while as well as using it to trickle charge a 100 amphr gel cell I picked up at a hamfest for powering the low band rig. (for when the lights really go out.)

The popular 7amphr 12v batteries available for a few bucks at hamfests and are great for emergency power sources for a handheld. They're also used in a lot of the computer back up UPS's.

I also picked up one of those rechargable power centers at a local Walmart sale that included a built in light and 140 watt AC inverter. (for powering the local AC radio or portable TV while waiting for the power to come back on.) It also came with a wall wart charger and cigarette lighter charger cable that can be used to charge the internal 18 amphr gel cell from another DC source such as a car lighter plug or you can turn the cord around and run other equipment from the cigarette lighter plug located on the front panel.

Using my VX5 DC power cord with this unit makes it pretty darned handy when the lights go out and it would probably run it for a couple of days if I needed to.

Art - KC7GF
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KD5CZM

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HT battery supply
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2002, 09:49:43 PM »

I found the Vector® Pocket Power portable power supply to be the answer to my emcomm needs. It comes in its own cordura case and strap, can be recharged from the car or the house (both cords included) and can power DC devices at 13.8V up to 10A via its cigarette lighter socket.  I found mine at Harbor Freight Tools.

I let it power my Alinco DJ580T HT on a three day weekend to monitor the local repeater. All in stride.  Just for kicks I used it to power the air compressor to top up the tires on my Suburban.  

It comes in the bright red cordura case measuring 5 inches high and about 4 inches wide.  The strap lets you sling it on your shoulder and while I don't recommend it, it does have a belt loop.

73 de KD5CZM
Joe Guerra
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W0IPL

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HT battery supply
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2002, 08:45:02 PM »

Easy.  Get one replacement battery pack made to be filled with Alkaline batteries.

Second option:  Take the Alk. pack, add an "umbilical cord" (coiled power coard from Radio Shack), pick one of the Radio Shack rechargeable "radio controlled car" battery packs (7.2 or 9.6 volts), have a ball.

I did that with my ICOM W32. The 1600 mil. pack will last about twelve hours of "public service event" duty.  Replacement batteries are $24.95! So I keep two 1600 Mil. packs on hand with one of them fully charged - at all times.

If you live in an area with frequent power outtages, have a third pack on hand.

Pat,  W0IPL
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