Your videos are very informative. I don't always understand all of the technical aspects of everything you're doing, and the Linux/Raspberry Pi content is confusing (I've always found Linux confounding), but your systems integration is amazing and I love that you share your knowledge, experiments and results for us to use as reference or just get ideas. If I can ever get my Ham ticket application approved, I hope to be able to try some of the portable comm ideas you've shared. Sorry for being so long-winded. Cheers and 73!
Julian, this is an excellent video.Your point concerning the ability--or the lack of it--of communicators to function for an unknown duration during an emergency scenario is one which needs to be addressed by organizations dealing day to day with with matters such as these. All the emergency net schedules, operational protocols, adminstrative requirements, organizational structures, and so on, become meaningless if the group's purpose cannot be realized--specifically, for operators to safely and reliably transfer information from senders to recipients during an emergency of unkown duration.
Thanks Dennis. It's nice that someone appreciates it. People are really begging for the field videos today. So I think I'm going to have to get out in the field this weekend :-)
Thank you Michael. Still have to clean up my wires but it's working pretty well. Thanks for watching, and for the kindness. It's very much appreciate it
Great video as always. Pretty much what I do here in reverse....shack is powered from Solar and a battery bank via an EP Ever solar controller, and mains power is just backup and never used. What I do think is missing from the market (Outside of the automotive industry, that is) is a decent solar controller that can take both PV and DC inputs, and supply decent current to the load from any available source. Of course, for us, it would need to be RF quiet too!
Sounds like you have an awesome station. Mine was wired for the grid only for this video. Normally everything I use is coming from the solar panels. There was a multi-source solar charge controller from a company in Australia, but I don't remember the name of it. Outback? It was designed to take power from any available DC source. Would be an excellent product.
@@OH8STN I wish! It's a constant work in progress....gets played with as much as it gets used, but that's half the attraction. There's quite a few vehicle charge controllers over here (Aus) that will do both DC and solar inputs, and you could feed the DC from a 13.8v PSU rather than alternator, of course - Redarc, Projecta, Enerdrive, etc. At some point, I'll swap the SLA's for a couple of 100Ah Lithiums, and probably move to the Enerdrive unit for the home station, fed by existing panels and SMPSU as backup into it's Alternator port. Prices need to come down first though.....
I recently acquired a Belkin battery backup unit designed as a computer power supply backup for free. It had a bad battery (12 volt, 7.5 Amp) which I replaced. I then wired up two additional batteries of the same type in parallel for a total of 12 volts at 22.5 amps. (I may buy more in the future.) I sent the output to terminal strips and wired my radios to the terminal strips. The Belkin is charging all three batteries as we speak. Now I'm interested in solar panels.
So one thing confuses me with PowerPlus, why doesn't it have a solar charge controller built in? It would simplify the setup. Other than the UPS feature and more portswhy should I use the PowerPlus at home over the PowerMini? As for using it at home, is the primary reason just to have UPS? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Thanks for the kindness. This wasn't my best video but it was a necessary one. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back out in the field. Thanks for watching and thanks for the kindness. It's very much appreciated.
@@OH8STN no problem my brother you stay safe and I hope to hear you on the Airways when I achieve my licence... going to keep an eye on you so I can step my game up..✊🏾🙏🏽73
I may have missed it in another video, but what is the BMS used for that battery pack? (I believe that is what we see on side of the battery pack that appears at about 1:24.) I am having difficulty finding a source for the BMSs used in most of the build videos, so am curious about other options. 73 de KD3T
Another great video on backup / off-grid power. Would you be able to maybe do a short explainer video how, if possible, to connect multiple pre-built battery packs together?
Thanks for the feedback and kindness. Connecting pre-built lithium ion or lithium iron phosphate packs in parallel can be dangerous, if mixing and matching packs which aren't and identical match to one another. Because of all of the different variables, I don't think I would ever do a video like that on the channel.
Julian, what are you thoughts on West Mountain Radio products vs buddiepole, I’m building a go box for Emcomm with a 30amp/hr bioenno battery. I’ve purchased the epic power gate and you’ve peaked my curiosity about the buddiepole 73 de N1AD
Well as an old customer of West Mountain radio I had not been happy with their customer service. It's been about 10 years so that may be a moot point. Buddipole has two products the power mini which has a multi battery chemistry charge controller and the power plus which is more of a distribution and Battery management system for the desktop. The power plus does not have integrated solar charge controller. I have videos about both of them on my channel. I don't have videos about West Mountain radio products on the channel yet but I would love to. So you can't even answer either way, I don't have experience with their power products at the moment.
OK, I had to rewatch this video to refresh myself. So I think this is the setup I'm going to go with. I got a little confused when you brought in that Y-connector, but I think I get it now. So just to confirm, you would need to disconnect your solar setup from the Battery In if you are planning on using your PSU?
Hi Julian! Excellent video as usual. But I have a question, why you disable the Power Plus charger to add the Genasun? If I enable the Power Plus charger can I save money removing the Genasium from the system? Thanks in advance.
The power plus is a power distribution and battery backup system. It has no solar charging capabilities. The power mini is a full-on solar charge controller
Your videos are very informative. I don't always understand all of the technical aspects of everything you're doing, and the Linux/Raspberry Pi content is confusing (I've always found Linux confounding), but your systems integration is amazing and I love that you share your knowledge, experiments and results for us to use as reference or just get ideas. If I can ever get my Ham ticket application approved, I hope to be able to try some of the portable comm ideas you've shared.
Sorry for being so long-winded. Cheers and 73!
stil;l digging through the treasure trove of your videos - love this one
Julian, this is an excellent video.Your point concerning the ability--or the lack of it--of communicators to function for an unknown duration during an emergency scenario is one which needs to be addressed by organizations dealing day to day with with matters such as these. All the emergency net schedules, operational protocols, adminstrative requirements, organizational structures, and so on, become meaningless if the group's purpose cannot be realized--specifically, for operators to safely and reliably transfer information from senders to recipients during an emergency of unkown duration.
Love the content you always provide. Thank you for posting
Thank you for coming back even when is it boring technical video :-)
@@OH8STN I am a Communications and Network Sr. Technician. I love anything and everything Technology... lol
Yet another informative video. Well done.
Thanks Dennis. It's nice that someone appreciates it. People are really begging for the field videos today. So I think I'm going to have to get out in the field this weekend :-)
Yes, I like the content of your videos. When it comes to EmComm, everyone I know looks to you. 👍
Excellent video - Battery is a finite source of power. Thanks for sharing !
Yeah thanks man. I could have done a better job on this video. Looks like people just aren't into it.
Thanks for explaining Julian.
Thank you for watching Devin👍
Oh man it's the power system of my dreams.
Super cool man thank you for sharing this.
73 de N2NLQ
Thank you Michael. Still have to clean up my wires but it's working pretty well. Thanks for watching, and for the kindness. It's very much appreciate it
Solid information as usual. Thanks much for sharing what you've learned.
Thank you Jim
Great video as always. Pretty much what I do here in reverse....shack is powered from Solar and a battery bank via an EP Ever solar controller, and mains power is just backup and never used.
What I do think is missing from the market (Outside of the automotive industry, that is) is a decent solar controller that can take both PV and DC inputs, and supply decent current to the load from any available source. Of course, for us, it would need to be RF quiet too!
Sounds like you have an awesome station. Mine was wired for the grid only for this video. Normally everything I use is coming from the solar panels.
There was a multi-source solar charge controller from a company in Australia, but I don't remember the name of it. Outback? It was designed to take power from any available DC source. Would be an excellent product.
@@OH8STN I wish! It's a constant work in progress....gets played with as much as it gets used, but that's half the attraction.
There's quite a few vehicle charge controllers over here (Aus) that will do both DC and solar inputs, and you could feed the DC from a 13.8v PSU rather than alternator, of course - Redarc, Projecta, Enerdrive, etc. At some point, I'll swap the SLA's for a couple of 100Ah Lithiums, and probably move to the Enerdrive unit for the home station, fed by existing panels and SMPSU as backup into it's Alternator port. Prices need to come down first though.....
I recently acquired a Belkin battery backup unit designed as a computer power supply backup for free. It had a bad battery (12 volt, 7.5 Amp) which I replaced. I then wired up two additional batteries of the same type in parallel for a total of 12 volts at 22.5 amps. (I may buy more in the future.) I sent the output to terminal strips and wired my radios to the terminal strips. The Belkin is charging all three batteries as we speak. Now I'm interested in solar panels.
So one thing confuses me with PowerPlus, why doesn't it have a solar charge controller built in? It would simplify the setup. Other than the UPS feature and more portswhy should I use the PowerPlus at home over the PowerMini? As for using it at home, is the primary reason just to have UPS? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Love what you're doing. Thank you for making this content!
Another great explanation. Thanks!
Yes, like the content. Subscribed!
Really clear explanation and great setup Julian 👍
Thank you Mark 👍
My guy 😎info that is right up my street..Run ..VT..
Thanks for the kindness. This wasn't my best video but it was a necessary one. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back out in the field. Thanks for watching and thanks for the kindness. It's very much appreciated.
@@OH8STN no problem my brother you stay safe and I hope to hear you on the Airways when I achieve my licence... going to keep an eye on you so I can step my game up..✊🏾🙏🏽73
Excellent information as usual..
Thank you Ian. Very much appreciated.
I may have missed it in another video, but what is the BMS used for that battery pack? (I believe that is what we see on side of the battery pack that appears at about 1:24.) I am having difficulty finding a source for the BMSs used in most of the build videos, so am curious about other options. 73 de KD3T
I love your stuff!
Thanks 👍
Another great video on backup / off-grid power. Would you be able to maybe do a short explainer video how, if possible, to connect multiple pre-built battery packs together?
Thanks for the feedback and kindness. Connecting pre-built lithium ion or lithium iron phosphate packs in parallel can be dangerous, if mixing and matching packs which aren't and identical match to one another. Because of all of the different variables, I don't think I would ever do a video like that on the channel.
@@OH8STN Thank very much for the confirmation on it being a bad idea. 73's Tom
Julian, what are you thoughts on West Mountain Radio products vs buddiepole, I’m building a go box for Emcomm with a 30amp/hr bioenno battery. I’ve purchased the epic power gate and you’ve peaked my curiosity about the buddiepole 73 de N1AD
Well as an old customer of West Mountain radio I had not been happy with their customer service. It's been about 10 years so that may be a moot point. Buddipole has two products the power mini which has a multi battery chemistry charge controller and the power plus which is more of a distribution and Battery management system for the desktop. The power plus does not have integrated solar charge controller. I have videos about both of them on my channel. I don't have videos about West Mountain radio products on the channel yet but I would love to. So you can't even answer either way, I don't have experience with their power products at the moment.
OK, I had to rewatch this video to refresh myself. So I think this is the setup I'm going to go with. I got a little confused when you brought in that Y-connector, but I think I get it now. So just to confirm, you would need to disconnect your solar setup from the Battery In if you are planning on using your PSU?
Why would they include a charge controller in the mini and not the plus? Weird.
Not sure. I like being able to choose my favorite charge controller anyway . Regardless, I Hope this video is an eye opener for Buddipole.
Hi Julian! Excellent video as usual. But I have a question, why you disable the Power Plus charger to add the Genasun? If I enable the Power Plus charger can I save money removing the Genasium from the system? Thanks in advance.
Unfortunately the buddipole doesn't have a solar input built in.
Okay, Julian; what DON'T you know??????? Another FB video! Thanks!
What are the main differences between the Buddipole Powerplus and the Buddipole Powermini USB? Besides size and price.
The power plus is a power distribution and battery backup system. It has no solar charging capabilities. The power mini is a full-on solar charge controller
@@OH8STN Which is why you show using a Powerplus together with a Genasun charge controller. Thanks.
schematic please?
Bam bra