KX3 and solar panels

[Gene Ruff]

I am looking for  information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R.
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[Jim Brown-10]

On 11/25/2013 11:42 AM, Gene Ruff wrote:
> I am looking for  information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R.

The best response to this is to simply read up on how solar panels are
used to charge batteries. There's plenty of good stuff on the internet
about it.

The key thing is to get current into the battery without overcharging
it. There are boxes that do this -- they are called "charge
controllers"  and they vary in cost from a little to a lot. The most
efficient ones regulate the charging current by generating square waves
and modifying their width. The problem with that approach is that unless
the designer is VERY careful, the square waves generate lots of RF
trash. Another approach is to simply use your brain and a simple
volt-ammeter, monitor charging current and voltage, and disconnect the
charger when the battery is fully charged.  I use a real cute little
inline volt-ammeter called Watts Up. About $50 with power pole connectors.

One simple charge regulator that does not make square waves is the 7A
Sun Force unit.  About $15.  It's designed to work with 12V batteries
and panels that put out up to about 20V open circuit.  It simply senses
battery voltage, and functions as a simple on/off switch to allow
charging if the battery voltage is below 14.2 volts, and cuts off above
that.

Someone turned me on to a really nice and more efficient MPPT charger
made by Genasun. Kansas Wind and Power is selling one for $125. I bought
one, and it's RF quiet.

Hookup is quite simple.  Solar panel feeds the battery, either through a
controller or directly, and the battery feeds the radio.

Our FD group runs QRP battery, using a 50W solar panel and a big battery
for each radio. We don't use charge regulators, because we're not
charging the batteries hard enough or long enough.

73, Jim K9YC
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[KD6QZX]

Howdy Gene, I am Scott AK6Q   (email is old call sign)

 

I have been using the A123 systems lithium nano phospate 12v 4.6aH battery with a US military 65W folding solar panel and a chinese charge controler (DC to DC).  Pictured is my system.  I got all of the parts from Ebay.  A123 is about $129, the Solar Panel is $199 and the charge controler is about $29.

 

I put it in my new bug out bag with a dipole 20M and an EndFed Half Wave antenna, throw line, KX3, Mic and Paddles, and note taking stuff and a small parts bag all for less than 17lbs.

 

 

From: Gene Ruff [via Elecraft] <[hidden email]>
To: KD6QZX <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:43 AM
Subject: KX3 and solar panels

I am looking for  information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R.
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[Mel]

Just received my Instapark Mercury27W solar panel from Amazon for $119.  It included a standard power plug for 12VDC, BUT it is unregulated and open circuit is 18.58 VDC  It also has 2 USB ports for charging external devices.  I will install a post regulator for 14.1 VDC and leave the rest alone.  It has 4 panels and folds up into a oversize 8.5 x 11 x 2 inch package.  So far, it powers the Battery fine. 

Mel, K6KBE





On Saturday, November 30, 2013 2:56 PM, KD6QZX <[hidden email]> wrote:
 
Howdy Gene, I am Scott AK6Q   (email is old call sign)
 
I have been using the A123 systems lithium nano phospate 12v 4.6aH battery with a US military 65W folding solar panel and a chinese charge controler (DC to DC).  Pictured is my system.  I got all of the parts from Ebay.  A123 is about $129, the Solar Panel is $199 and the charge controler is about $29.
 
I put it in my new bug out bag with a dipole 20M and an EndFed Half Wave antenna, throw line, KX3, Mic and Paddles, and note taking stuff and a small parts bag all for less than 17lbs.
 
 


________________________________
From: Gene Ruff [via Elecraft] <[hidden email]>
To: KD6QZX <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:43 AM
Subject: KX3 and solar panels



I am looking for  information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R.
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[Jesper Henriksen]

I've got a setup where I hook my KX3 up to a Sunload.de M60, which in
turn is hooked up to a 20W Powerfilm folding solar panel.

On a field day in April one of the CW guys in our club had a blast with
this setup. Despite the low sun and that I had not angled the solar
panel perfectly, the M60 indicated a higher charge at the end of the day
than at the beginning. I call that a success story :)

The Sunload M60 is a pretty cool device. It's a Li-ion battery hooked up
to a charge controller that takes solar (MPPT) as well as ~12V from a
car or wallwart. The output is taken pretty much directly from the
Li-ion battery, so there's no noise. Haven't noticed any noise when
using solar, but I haven't looked much for it either. The wallwart does
produce some noise, but nothing I can't live with, and there's no
problem in driving it from your noise-free 13.8V ham supply. Another
neat detail is two USB plugs for charging your phone etc, though because
of the many non-compatible charging schemes it doesn't necessarily work
with all phones (amazing how manufacturers can complicate a simple 5V DC
exchange).

--
Jesper Henriksen

On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 12:42:25PM -0700, Gene Ruff wrote:
> I am looking for  information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R.
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