Hi Jim,
Regarding the Astron across the batts, you run a few risks here:
1. Should the crowbar in the power supply engage, you will backfeed the
power supply with the massive amount of current delivering capability of
the battery.
2. Should the battery become excessively discharged (i.e. power out,
batter drained) the power supply will attempt to deliver a lot of
current to the battery. These batts want a maximum of 10% of their AH
rating as a charge current. An Astron could force way-more that that
under severe discharge situations.
The battery charger is the best way to go.
If you put an isolation diode from the power supply to the battery, and
adjust the voltage after the diode to 13.5 (for wet cell batts) AND use
a 10-20 amp supply, then you would be okay if there is a current limit
control on the power supply AND you don't exceed the continuous current
capacity of the power supply.
--
Thomas M. Delker - K1KY CFO#395 - Smyrna / Gallatin / Short Mtn. TN
A.R.R.L. District Emergency Coordinator - Tennessee District #4
C.A.T.S. (W4CAT) - 147.30/145.23/145.49/145.17/223.98/444.45/444.65
Stones River A.R.C. (K4FUN) - http://www.members.home.com/srarc
Tennessee Contest Group (K4TCG) - http://www.k4ro.net/tcg.html
CODE WARRIOR © #2 - Mobile CW Operator
"Taking Code on the Road with a Vengeance"
--
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