+++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 14:30:12 -0800 (PST) From: Jeff Cauhape Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question To: Dan Barker , contests at arrl.org Cc: Elecraft Dan, I had a similar question and ran it by the ARRL. Here's a synopsis of what I determined. If you operate battery and want the multiplier for alternate energy source, you must charge the battery that way. HOWEVER, you may charge the battery ahead of time. If you are using a laptop for contest logging, it does NOT need to run off the solar charged battery unless it is also used to control the radio. Your other, non-radio, pieces of equipment do NOT need to run off of solar charged batteries to keep the multiplier. I'm sure if I got it wrong someone will correct me. ;) PS: I'm intending to do the same thing out west in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Where, exactly, I haven't figured out yet. There are a lot of choices. Also - consider using light sticks instead of battery lanterns. They're good for 8 to 12 hours, cheap, and not prone to failure. Jeff KG6IND --- Dan Barker wrote: > Sirs: > > I'm considering operating in the 2002 Field Day as a 1B GA or 2B GA > station, using my K2 at 5 watts. If I use a solar array, wind turbine or > HPG (Human Powered Generator - Bicycle in a stand) charging source and some > Lead-Acid batteries, what are the rules concerning the charge state of the > batteries at the beginning of the contest? > > For example, if a 100 mW Solar array charges a 25 AH marine battery, and > the sun never shines, but I start the weekend with the battery fully > charged, I'll make it through just fine. I'll even have enough juice for a > desk lamp and a laptop for logging. But is it legal? > > If I must start with a fully discharged battery, I'd need charging > capability adequate to get me through the night with only 6 hours of > sunlight. > > This answer will greatly affect my engineering of the alternate power, as > you might infer. Also, I might need a second operator if we find we need > that HPG! > > Dan Barker, WG4S, portable Dade County Georgia - The Top of Lookout > Mountain. > > PS: Elecraft list - Ideas? Assistance? Comments? +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Dan Barker" To: "Elecraft" Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 09:00:35 -0500 Subject: [Elecraft] Field Day Question According to the ARRL (I believe their opinion counts): "Hi Dan: Batteries may be fully changed before the start of the Field Day period. Any charging of the batteries during Field Day must be per the rules. Thanks and 73 Dan Henderson, N1ND ARRL Contest Branch Manager" So, a 100 mW solar array trickling into a BIG battery is legal, and = within the spirit of the rules. Odd, but I'm gonna call that a Bingo! Dan +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: "Dan Barker" , "Charles Greene" Cc: , "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 15:45:58 -0600 You do not have to start with a discharged battery. Formerly, you had to use a battery charged by solar means, (ahead of Field Day), if claiming the solar credit, but the battery credit can be gained by any battery charging means. The solar is a separate station of only a few contacts, so you can operate all the contest on the battery, and hook up a solar panel for the few contacts you need to prove that mode. Just take a picture of the station hooked to the solar panel and battery, and take a picture of the battery only powered station and that is sufficient proof. Label the photos with a statement of what they are: they do not have to have ARRL official to sign a letter or anything that complicated. We have run all battery class for 7 years,with sixth place in our class in 2001. Usually in top 10 or 20 GL and 72, Stuart K5KVH ++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: "Tom Hammond NØSS" , "Dave Gingrich K9DC" Cc: "Dan Barker" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 15:52:21 -0600 Consider moving your power lower, and using about a 24 amp hour battery, should fine. Many UPS have a couple of batteries in series, for 24 volts, so you could parallel them for Field Day. 72, Stuart K5KVH ++++++++++++++++++++ From: "Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 16:56:37 -0500 The rule allowing fully-charged batteries at the beginning of Field Day makes sense, if you think about it. Field Day is (partly) a disaster-preparedness exercise, and any ham expecting to rely on batteries as an emergency power source would be prepared with a fully-charged battery at all times, should disaster strike, not a discharged one. Furthermore, the battery would typically have been charged from commercial mains before the disaster, rather than from a natural or emergency power source. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 23:31:40 +0000 To: "Dan Barker" , From: Larry Cahoon Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question Cc: "Elecraft" Dan there are two separate issues here. First, to be 1B you need to simply run off of battery power. How they were charged prior to Field Day does not matter. So with a big battery you don't even have to worry about charging it during FD. Second, if the want the solar power points you have to make a few QSOs using solar/natural power. I have no problem with going with a fully charged battery, charging it with solar cells during FD and claiming some of the later QSOs for solar power. The ARRL has already put the rules for FD up at their web site. You can go there and print them out, or look at them anytime you want. 73 de Larry.........WD3P in MD http://www.qsl.net/wd3p/ +++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 11:51:40 EST From: N2EY at aol.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day Question To: Cc: In a message dated Fri, 8 Mar 2002 11:09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, Bill Coleman writes: > On 3/5/02 8:48 AM, Dave Gingrich K9DC at gingrich2 at dcg.org wrote: > > >All that affects, is your ability to claim the 100 bonus points for natural > >power. The real biggie (IMO) is the 5x power multiplier, which allows all > >batteries and impacts all classes (not just A and B), i.e. No generators > >allowed for 5x regardless of power level. > > Gosh, when did they change that? I thought all QRP had a 5x multiplier, > regardless. Been that way for decades. The idea is to get away from the classic petroleum-product generator energy source. Wind, solar, hydro, alternative fuels like coal and wood are all acceptable alternatives. Also, the LOWEST multiplier (that is, the highest power) used by an FD group applies to the entire group, even if lower power levels were also used. IOW, to get the x5 QRP multiplier all contacts made by the group must be QRP/non-generator. This changed decades ago, too. 73 de Jim, N2EY FD since 1968 Grand Poobah, Jug Southgate's Bunch See QST for June, 1994, page 55. ++++++++++++++++++