I have one of those portable power packs that can jump start a car or
run 12V accessories, and an extra dual-bander that draws about 8A on
max power transmit that I would like to use in the house from time to
time. Has anyone tried using one of these packs as a power supply?
It has a built-in charging circuit, and according to at least one tech
support guy, shouldn't have any problem with running a 10A or so load
while plugged in to AC, but I'm wondering if there are possibly other
concerns with this arrangement.


Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 15:19:56 -0600, "Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH"
wrote:

I have one of those portable power packs that can jump start a car or
run 12V accessories, and an extra dual-bander that draws about 8A on
max power transmit that I would like to use in the house from time to
time. Has anyone tried using one of these packs as a power supply?
It has a built-in charging circuit, and according to at least one tech
support guy, shouldn't have any problem with running a 10A or so load
while plugged in to AC, but I'm wondering if there are possibly other
concerns with this arrangement.

One concern would be that many cigarette light plugs and sockets are
not rated for more than 5 or 10 A. A typical 50 W mobile rig can pull
as much as 15 A.

You might consider adding an alternate socket for power for this, and
the Anderson PowerPole is becoming a standard amongst many ham groups.

Those power packs typically have a 17 A-Hr battery in them, so with a
duty cycle of 5/5/90, you would get a couple of days.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 15:19:56 -0600, "Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH"
wrote:

I have one of those portable power packs that can jump start a car or
run 12V accessories, and an extra dual-bander that draws about 8A on
max power transmit that I would like to use in the house from time to
time. Has anyone tried using one of these packs as a power supply?
It has a built-in charging circuit, and according to at least one tech
support guy, shouldn't have any problem with running a 10A or so load
while plugged in to AC, but I'm wondering if there are possibly other
concerns with this arrangement.

One concern would be that many cigarette light plugs and sockets are
not rated for more than 5 or 10 A. A typical 50 W mobile rig can pull
as much as 15 A.

You might consider adding an alternate socket for power for this, and
the Anderson PowerPole is becoming a standard amongst many ham groups.

Those power packs typically have a 17 A-Hr battery in them, so with a
duty cycle of 5/5/90, you would get a couple of days.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:27:52 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

One concern would be that many cigarette light plugs and sockets are
not rated for more than 5 or 10 A. A typical 50 W mobile rig can pull
as much as 15 A.

The one in question has never been measured at over 8A, though the DMM
I was using was hardly top-of-the-line, but it was on a 10A circuit
for most of its mobile life without any blown fuses. It's an old
Yaesu FT2700RH, FWIW.

You might consider adding an alternate socket for power for this, and
the Anderson PowerPole is becoming a standard amongst many ham groups.

I've considered just making a block with terminal posts, a few
PowerPoles and maybe a built-in RV fluoroescent light. That way it
can run from the jumping clamps with no worries about the connector
capacities. I had, at one point, started to turn a junked footlocker
and a cheap-but-sturdy luggage dolly into a portable station, and this
might be a good way to revivie that idea.


Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:27:52 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

One concern would be that many cigarette light plugs and sockets are
not rated for more than 5 or 10 A. A typical 50 W mobile rig can pull
as much as 15 A.

The one in question has never been measured at over 8A, though the DMM
I was using was hardly top-of-the-line, but it was on a 10A circuit
for most of its mobile life without any blown fuses. It's an old
Yaesu FT2700RH, FWIW.

You might consider adding an alternate socket for power for this, and
the Anderson PowerPole is becoming a standard amongst many ham groups.

I've considered just making a block with terminal posts, a few
PowerPoles and maybe a built-in RV fluoroescent light. That way it
can run from the jumping clamps with no worries about the connector
capacities. I had, at one point, started to turn a junked footlocker
and a cheap-but-sturdy luggage dolly into a portable station, and this
might be a good way to revivie that idea.


Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH

"Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH" wrote in message
...

I've considered just making a block with terminal posts, a few
PowerPoles and maybe a built-in RV fluoroescent light.

Check out the "RigRunner": http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1841

"Joe Bramblett, KD5NRH" wrote in message
...

I've considered just making a block with terminal posts, a few
PowerPoles and maybe a built-in RV fluoroescent light.

Check out the "RigRunner": http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1841