If the grid supplying household electricity went down could you get on the air quickly?

Outdoors » Ham Radios

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - If the grid supplying household electricity went down could you get on the air quickly?

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:02:04 PM EDT

Could you? How fast?

ETA;We are talking HF here, NOT a 2 meter/uhf HT.

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:04:08 PM EDT

[#1]

My rig runs on a tractor battery which I charge as needed. I also have a back-up solar panel to keep it going.

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:32:30 PM EDT

[#2]

In a few seconds at 5 watts, a few minutes at 100 watts.

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:34:56 PM EDT

[#3]

I haz a IC-706MkIIG and wirez, and a automobile wif a battery.

So, yes.

(not to mention a couple of generators and 20 gallons of gas)

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:38:53 PM EDT

[#4]

My sole source of power for all my rigs is a 100AH deep-cycle that's charged with a solar panel.
I can (and have) run the FT-817 24/7 for months at a time with this setup, and can run the
897 or 7200 for many (12+) hours a day. The laptop for digital modes has its own battery charged
off mains, but I just have to switch a single plug to have it go over to solar as well.

Basically a power outage is a non-event.

The BOLs are both 100% solar run off a multi-KW inverter, actually it's harder there because
I have to run a 12V DC wire to the battery bank.

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:53:18 PM EDT

[#5]

Yes, have been operating of late on my EMCOMM Box Battery Box......just for kix

Posted: 12/10/2011 3:55:19 PM EDT

[#6]

Shouldn't be a problem. Either run to the truck and get on or a battery from another vehicle and slap it onto the base rig.

Posted: 12/10/2011 4:25:45 PM EDT

[#7]

Yes, I have a Yaesu 817, 857D, Kenwood TS120s, and an old Heathkit HF station. The 817 can run on the AA's, and I have a Deep Cycle Batt in my shack so I can run that way if needed. I also have 2 Generators.

In all honesty, I can be up and running if need be in about 20 min's or less.

Posted: 12/10/2011 4:42:42 PM EDT

[#8]

24x7, instantly. Big batts + inverter + generator on standby.

Can't be too ready for SHTF. And the power goes out here every time the wind blows within 200 miles.

Posted: 12/10/2011 4:59:44 PM EDT

[#9]

Standard mode is battery charged via solar on the radio. The computers and BOL would not know power went out with Automatic Transfer to battery via inverters.

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:05:37 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
In a few seconds at 5 watts, a few minutes at 100 watts.

Same here.

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:44:40 PM EDT

[#11]

I can get on the air in just a few seconds, in the time it takes to unplug the AC power supply and plug into the batteries which are on 24/7 charge next to the radio gear.

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:48:29 PM EDT

[#12]

Is there a reason that some of you don't run batt power 24/7? just wondering.

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:51:51 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Is there a reason that some of you don't run batt power 24/7? just wondering.

no good reason, PS works so well

as I said earlier, here of late I've been using the batteries just to work them out a little

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:53:47 PM EDT

[#14]

My station is uninterruptible. Its UPS is big enough to carry the radio at full power while the propane fueled, whole house automatic generator kicks in which takes approx. 30 seconds from power loss to transfer.

I have a 1000 gallon tank which I keep above 500 in the winter or, if a big storm is coming, I ask for a top off. 500 gallons will keep the house running in the dead of winter (i.e. including heating requirements) for approx. 10 days continuous and much longer if I only run the generator 4 hours a day. If I don't have power back after that amount of time then screwing around with ham radio will be the last thing on my mind.

Posted: 12/10/2011 5:54:59 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Is there a reason that some of you don't run batt power 24/7? just wondering.

Batteries tend to last longer on float than they do when they're used hard.

Posted: 12/10/2011 6:01:11 PM EDT

[#16]

I have solar/battery setup with my 706MKII connected up to it.

Posted: 12/10/2011 6:02:52 PM EDT

[#17]

I only have to reach over and switch my Perko battery switch. So about one second I can be on backup battery power.

Posted: 12/10/2011 6:11:50 PM EDT

[#18]

8 - 7AH SLA batteries RTG, plus the auto power of course. Still need to work on building an off grid (solar) charging system.

More important - stocked self contained RV provides comfort for a couple for about a week.

Posted: 12/10/2011 7:29:01 PM EDT

[#19]

I wouldnt notice , my man cave has it own independent battery banks .

Posted: 12/10/2011 7:34:26 PM EDT

[#20]

I could for a little while

Have a deep cycle battery on a float charger under the shack table, but when it ran down fully recharging would likely take longer than I want to run the generator for...

Posted: 12/10/2011 9:31:49 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
24x7, instantly. Big batts + inverter + generator on standby.

Can't be too ready for SHTF. And the power goes out here every time the wind blows within 200 miles.

Hey Greg!

Long time no see!

Posted: 12/11/2011 3:11:29 AM EDT

[#22]

Ridgid RD-8000 watt generator that I converted to run a natural gas and remote start into my transfer box. It works.

Posted: 12/11/2011 5:52:15 AM EDT

[#23]

My radio and computer are on an UPS. Gives me enough time to get the generator hooked up and fired up. So....I don't lose power.

But.... if the generator were to fail, I have the same radio in the truck, with ham stick antennas.

Posted: 12/11/2011 6:35:25 AM EDT

[#24]

HF no. Just 4 regular multi-channel radios. Two GPS w/ radios (one of which uses batteries I think, the other is rechargeable only) and two handheld radios (rechargeable battery pack, but can function with AA or be charged from the car.

Thinking of eventually getting a CB though. Can't hurt really.

Posted: 12/11/2011 7:58:06 AM EDT

[#25]

My station runs on a battery that is constantly float charged. If the power is out for an extended period, I charge the battery with my Honda EU 2000. HF & VHF - CW/SSB/Digital//Pactor 3 capable.

Posted: 12/11/2011 8:44:55 AM EDT

[#26]

I'd have to back my vehicle out of the garage.

FT-857D and TARHEEL II = 80-6m + 2m/440 all mode

Posted: 12/11/2011 12:22:34 PM EDT

[#27]

It would take me about 5 minutes to be back on the air. Unhook the radio from the big PS, and hookup the batteries. (4)- 55 AH RV batteries all hooked together, just hanging out on the float charger.
FT-857D/FT-897D, and an FT-8800. The bigger radio, the FT-950 would just get shut down during the issue. The other two radios would cover it very well.

Posted: 12/11/2011 1:18:37 PM EDT

[#28]

Nov 29 when the electric went off the only warning I had while on the radio was the beeping from the UPS devices. Backup battery kept the radios going. Well.... I did have one other warning... The big flashes from the power lines breaking from the snow load. The big 3 phase lines made some very bright flashes and a lot of load electrical cracks before the fuses blew.

Posted: 12/11/2011 3:16:11 PM EDT

[#29]

it would require me taking the rig downstairs, dropping the coax from the top floor window pass through and hooking it up to the truck

what I need to do is put a blank powerpole connector in that box you saw in the back seat.... then I could have it hooked up even quicker....

Posted: 12/18/2011 6:25:15 AM EDT

[#30]

At home...As long as it takes for the transfer switch to kick in, and the 17,000 stand by genny to start. For those few moments, all my gear is on an APC-UPS.

Mobile, is always ready.

Posted: 12/18/2011 12:41:35 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Is there a reason that some of you don't run batt power 24/7? just wondering.

Battery supply is 12 volt, PS is 14 volts. Some radio's will see a slight drop in output power, although the difference would be insignificant.

When I worked the JA station on SSB I was getting some power line noise and actually switched to batteries to pull him out of the mud, worked great.

Both HF and VHF have the battery backup in the go box, 2 ht's with a backup 7AH battery for those, and the Dual Band radio in the car.

All I have to do is flip the switch and I am ready to roll for a little while, although the 18ah will not last a long time on transmit with 100 watts, I have a 35 ah backup ready to go. I also have a 400 watt power inverter handy so I could run the boat anchor if I wanted.

Posted: 12/20/2011 3:37:19 PM EDT

[#32]

I operate exclusively HF mobile, so for me to get on the air I'd have to pull out of the parking structure and attach the whip, which I do every morning

Posted: 12/20/2011 4:14:15 PM EDT

[#33]

No way getting on the air without electricity. All of my radios need electricity to run. He-he. Just being a smart ass...

I keep 1000 W Honda generator to run HAM radios in case of emergency. Those little generators are very handy for Field Day comms or just for camping.
So getting on the air will require bringing an extention cord and firing up the generator. My other option would be getting the truck out of garage and operating mobile HF rig.

Posted: 12/20/2011 7:55:39 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Could you? How fast?
ETA;We are talking HF here, NOT a 2 meter/uhf HT.

move rocker switch from "PS" to "BAT".
elapsed time = 60 seconds (includes getting a beer from the fridge downstairs).

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/648273_The_EMCOMM_Box.html

ar-jedi

Posted: 12/20/2011 11:58:21 PM EDT

[#35]

I have a deep cycle lawn mower type battery (about 2/3 the size of a normal car battery, not sure what AH it is) on a trickle charger in the basement. Its got a set of power poles hooked up to it. If I lose power, it takes about 30 seconds to switch over to my battery.

Posted: 1/4/2012 7:05:39 PM EDT

[#36]

Grid goes down....no problem. 2 deep cycle batteries will get me OTA in no time.For how long, that remains to be seen.

Posted: 1/5/2012 12:51:50 AM EDT

[#37]

I have my 2m HT and 2m Mobile.

I have 3 batteries ready to go for the mobile.

I do have an HF but its RX only (NASTY TX splatter) and I have no antenna right now.

Posted: 1/5/2012 6:49:46 AM EDT

[#38]

Long enough to put it in the truck...maybe 5 mins?

Posted: 1/5/2012 12:52:27 PM EDT

[#39]

I can run off battery power in a jiffy. I didn't buy deep cycle batteries for my Volvo and Suburban just to look cool

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - If the grid supplying household electricity went down could you get on the air quickly?

Outdoors » Ham Radios

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us