[RFI] Considering a solar panel

[Jim Brown]

Lots of reasons. First, you have to buy gas, transport it, pour it into 
the generator, and run it. The gen makes noise and fumes. Fumes don't 
bother me, but they do bother my friend with whom I do a lot of portable 
ham radio.

Solar panels can charge the batteries with no petrol, no noise, no 
stink. Sure, there are times to run the generator, but there's a lot we 
can do without doing so.

There are times for both power sources. We can run efficient 100W radios 
from 12-14V battery systems, but we need generators to run bigger power 
amps. And sometimes we can't drag a generator to where we want to go. An 
example is the tiny grid corner on dry land in CM79 in Northern 
California, which can only be accessed by hiking a 3 mile trail that 
gains 1,000 ft, and that won't support pack animals or anything with 
wheels. My friends who have activated that site carry LiFePO4 batteries, 
Elecraft rig and 100W amp, lightweight antennas, coax, and water.

73, Jim K9YC

On 8/14/2019 1:12 PM, Dan K2YWE wrote:
> W\hy not just charge the battery from the EU2000? It's not that many 
> joules and the genset is pretty efficient.
>