VE6AB Portable Ops
Field Ops
Although I have mentioned before that I like the fact that my Yaesu FT-897D has the capability to operate on the internal batteries, there are times that I may want to operate beyond the 20 watt capability of the 897 while on internal power.
On this morning, I am powering my Yaesu FT-897D with my 30 caliber power can, that contains two 12 volt 5 Ah gel cells connected in parallel, providing the means of allowing the FT-897D to put out up to 100 watts if required.
The batteries in the power can are being maintained by the solar panel and the charge controller connected to the power can as seen in the photo.
The solar panel shown here, is one of two that I use (the other is stored away in my EPK (Emergency Preparedness Kit), and is the very efficient crystalline type of panel rated at 40 watts, sufficient to maintain my 30 caliber power can while powering my FT-897D, but yet is sized right physically to store within my EPK seen in the photo doubling as a table for my radio operations on this day.
Normally my EPK resides in my mobile year round, and contains the many items that I feel I should have with me, allowing me to be prepared for whatever may be coming at me on any given day.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
Read a reprint of my article "Get In Gear With Portable Operations" in the May 2017 QST here.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Articles-and-Mentions/i-XtRZvg2
