How To Wire A Solar Charge Contoller For Ham Radio

Plus: Charging LiFePO4 Batteries From Your Car & The Wild Wild West Of FT8
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[@k4gds_radio]

I run a Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop with my 891 on all bands 10m through 20m without tuner.

[@nouveausocratic1884]

~12:10 A subtlety about the BioEnno BLF-1220A; While Bioenno declined to answer my question about this directly, the barrel connector intended for charging has a current limit whereas the Powerpole load connectors do not appear to. The max charge current specification is 4 amps. While the barrel connector can source my FT-991A on receive, the integral current limit of the barrel connector will shut down the radio if a transmit current load is attempted. I suspect the current limit is at or near the 4 amp charge current specification, but you might make a video about testing it.

[@Eric10179]

The guy from the email might want to check what the operating voltages for the radio he plans to install is. I believe a lot of radios will work from 11.5ish to 16 volts. On my gas car when the alternator is running, my radio shows a voltage of 15v and works just fine!

[@N3PEM]

As someone who just went abroad the G-90 was a godsend for the internal tuner and the low standby power draw.

[@mozee06]

For the battery setups I would add that it wouldn't hurt to check with the manufacturers regarding charging and discharging at the same time. I believe Bioenno says it's okay when charging via solar, but not when using the wall charger. Not sure where the DC charger falls in lin. I'm guessing the DC outlet charger falls in line closer to the solar charger, so probably okay, but I'm only guessing.

[@peterdekeles.]

Another great MBM. Keep em' coming

[@robcarnaroli269]

My renogy controller says to connect battery before solar. Do your charge controllers have any precautions like that listed or is it just a renogy thing? TIA, KC3SWZ.

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Love mailbag mondays !!! Great stuff

[@peterchamala1525]

I drive Model Y and run FT-500 without any voltage converters. Car is constantly producing 15.7V which is the upper voltage limit in my radio, no issues here, been driving like that for last 4 months talking on 2m, 70cm and GMRS on high power. He should be worried more about the electrical humm/crackling when receiving transmittion.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Fantastic!

[@chrissewell1608]

The Traveling Diver-Ham 🐷 brings up a good question, again, about Flying with batteries! What is currently allowed by airlines, with flying with batteries. What size is okay? Can you Carry on or can you check your battery inside baggage? (Can they explode while flying?) Thanks ❤️‍🩹

[@gmanshackshack6822]

There is no physical tuning required on the Cha TDL! Just put 'er up and go!

[@jonathanimlay9524]

Great MBM! Love the Trailer Park Boys references in your videos! 😂 K8LU

[@mysteryham4065]

I just bring a 10 ft and a 20 ft rg58 for outdoors.

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

The CHA-TDL rocks. The G90 also rocks. What model workbench do you have?

[@CoolStuff..]

cool

[@haxwithaxe]

With the g90 you can use a gutter or fence as an antenna can't you?

[@RicksHamShack]

Is there a resource for 'Ham-friendly' grid tie inverters and charge controllers? My carport is ideal for panels, just dont want to QRM myself.

[@stephanhersey1186]

While watching the segment on hooking up a solar panel to a charge controller to operate portable I noticed you hooked up the panel to the controller before the battery. I was under the impression that the battery should be hooked up first so not to damage the controller. Am I wrong? Or do the higher end controllers have a protection circuit? Steve, k7ofg

[@Ressy66]

your assumption is correct, when using a solar charger *always* connect battery first before anything else

[@sxswutah-ww6dr]

where are the fuses?

[@AA7WI-Mike]

I have seen multiple posts that solar charging and using the radio at the same time trashed the radio due to over-voltage being 14.5 volts coming from the charge controller. You showed a buck convertor that changes the voltage but can they handle a 15 to 20 amp draw from the radio ?

[@Ressy66]

14.5vdc wont damage a radio, nearly all alternators produce that voltage, they probably did something stupid in the process that caused the problem

[@Bill_KL7TC]

"HOLD TX FREQ" should be defaulted. Can't count how many times someone works me and then calls CQ on the same freq as me after working, though opposite cycle. KL7TC

[@Ressy66]

danger will robertson... always connect/engage battery *before* connecting/engaging solar panels

[@miken8yo4]

There's a carrot on your floor.