Ham Radio Videos
• Emergency Solar Generator with Goal Zero Boulder 15 Panels
Added at 2012-07-18 07:16:04
This is my portable power box 2.0 designed to run a 100 watt HF amateur transceiver (or two) nearly indefinitely! Below are the links I promised and some more info I should have included. I'll add more as I think of it.The box weighs about 34 pounds, and the hinges/handle/latches don't seem stressed.The Solar Array is comprised of 4 Goal Zero Boulder 15 Watt panelshttp://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/20/Boulder-15-Solar-Panel/6:3/If you have a Costco near you, these panels are generally available from the Costco Roadshow for $99 each. To find when the Goal Zero roadshow will be visiting a Costco near you, visit:http://www.goalzero.com/store-finder.htmlThe battery box is built using an MTM Sportsmans Plus Utility Dry Box (The SPUD6). This box is nearly ideal because it is significantly less expensive than a Pelican, it has an o-ring around the lid seal, both lids overhang the edges of the compartments they cover, and it includes a removable tray. This box can be purchased from Amazon and more information about this box can be found here:http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/camping/dry-boxes-spud6.htmlTo provide power distribution from the box to devices, I am utilizing a West Mountain Radio RigRunner 4004USB. This power bus supports is an aluminum box with fused Anderson Power Pole connections. RigRunners are available in multiple sizes, and more information can be found here:http://www.westmountainradio.com/content.php?page=rigrunnerTo meter the total consumption and power characteristics of the load, I selected a West Mountain Radio PWRCheck meter. This meter actually shows a little less information than a standard Watt's Up meter, but was selected due to the backlight on the display, its ability to log data to a computer, and its ability to have its firmware upgraded via a download from the internet. More information about the West Mountain Radio PWRCheck can be found here:http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=pwrcheckI selected a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar battery charge controller to squeeze every last watt out of my setup. MPPT charge controllers are usually significantly more expensive than standard charge controllers, but the expense is worth it. To learn more about MPPT charge controllers and how they work, visit: http://www.windsun.com/ChargeControls/MPPT.htmAfter much research, I selected the Morningstar SunSaver 15A MPPT tracker. This unit was selected because it is relatively small compared to a lot of other devices out there and the manufacturer has really applied a lot of good engineering to their devices. This unit also allows for the installation of a remote panel meter which allows you to get power data about incoming and charging power, temperature, and if you use this controller to manage the load, load power data. This charge controller also has an RS232 interface available allowing you to record and analyze data using a computer. I purchased these items from Northern AZ Wind and Solar:Controller: http://www.solar-electric.com/mosumpsochco.htmlMeter: http://www.solar-electric.com/mormredime.htmlInterface: http://www.solar-electric.com/mopcmeadm.htmlI am using two 20Ah AGM batteries sourced from a local BatteriesPlus, connected in parallel (my entire system is 12v, not 24, though it could be).I also utilize Watt's Up inline power meters, purchased from Ham Radio Outlet. These are indispensable meters that allow me to measure all aspects of power performance at many points within my box.http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-008811