VE6AB Technical
Field Ops System
When operating in the field, I've added a small power inverter generator to my field-ops setup as seen here.
This generator is as tiny as they come in size and weight (21 lbs), although this invertor only has a rated output of 450 watts at 4 amps on the AC side.
While looking at acquiring a small inverter generator, I would make sure to check the specifications for each unit I looked at, and in particular the noise rating in decibels, with this unit having a rating of 55-65 db.
A sound intensity of 55 decibels is not very great; quiet conversation in a home is approximately 50 decibels. A sound intensity of 60 decibels is comparable to a conversation that takes in a public place, such as a restaurant.
So I believe I have a winner in this one with its very quiet 4 stroke engine not breaking the sound barrier with the noise the engine develops. We'll see how quiet while operating my field station with the inverter on line.
I will place this inverter generator on line when required, possibly because the solar panels are not able to keep the batteries charged on their own due to various circumstances, whether that be from continuous operation of the transceiver (FT-897D) at high power levels, or possibly from poor lighting on the solar panels, or operating throughout the night on Field Day.
Although this inverter generator has a DC output for charging batteries, it is only rated at 2.5 amps on the output, so a better way of utilizing the inverter-generator for charging batteries, is with the use of the Genius G7200 charger rated at 7.5 amps out as seen in the photo.
The Genius G7200 only requires 175 watts to operate when plugged in to the 110 volt outlet of the inverter generator, therefore making this small genset more than capable of powering the Genius battery charger while charging the batteries in the power-can, or with the dedicated Yaesu charger plugged in to the invertor for charging the batteries located in the battery-tray of the FT897D.
Of course it goes without saying that the solar panels as pictured here, play a big part in maintaining the batteries.
The solar panels were carefully chosen for their rated output to provide the necessary charge to maintain the batteries of the power can, as well as the internal batteries of the transceiver when good lighting is available.
When its time to pack up, the two panels are physically sized to be stored in the emergency preparedness go-box as seen elsewhere in this gallery.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
Set up in the field.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Portable-OPS/i-4P6xnjh
