regulated or unregulated power supply ?

[BOOTY MONSTER]

for running a typical mobile cb radio and a small amp (2 pill....maybe 4 down the road) in the house is there a preference between a regulated vs. an unregulated powersupply ? is one better than the other on the equipment ?



also , for a small setup like a radio and a 2 pill would a good car battery and a 5 or 10 amp charger also work ?
a 30 buck wally world charger and a 30 buck wally world battery ? 60 bucks total vs 150ish for a 30 amp power supply .

 

[formulamojo]

I run the battery and charger when I run my 2 pill in the house.

 

[Robb]

I've ran such a system before - battery charger and battery - for my amp and got RF for my trouble. I stopped the problem when I ran my radio on the same battery and grounded the battery to earth. Used a vice grip to disconnect the negative lead to the battery and ground when I wasn't around or off the band for any length...

I can't stand the smell of a car battery charging. so a boat battery box was used, and I placed it out of the shack. The dangerous buildup of hydrogen gas is explosive of course (I seen one blow up into a guy's face before underneath the hood of a car - it wasn't pretty either), and the sulfuric acid can become a mist and settle and corrode nearby items.

The boat battery box took care of that issue, and kept it from getting rained on too. Wiring the output of the charger to the posts via replacement car battery clamps also created a place where I could also hook up the power to the radio/amp.
Just some thoughts...

 

[WR0220]

for running a typical mobile cb radio and a small amp (2 pill....maybe 4 down the road) in the house is there a preference between a regulated vs. an unregulated powersupply ? is one better than the other on the equipment ?

Your best bet is a regulated (non-switching) supply that is designed for communication equipment. It will have the filtering to prevent buzzing and 60 cycle hum from getting into your transmissions.

also , for a small setup like a radio and a 2 pill would a good car battery and a 5 or 10 amp charger also work ?
a 30 buck wally world charger and a 30 buck wally world battery ? 60 bucks total vs 150ish for a 30 amp power supply .

IMO running a battery/charger is a very dangerous proposition and a disaster waiting to happen - UNLESS - you set it up as Rob described. The only time I ever run my base equipment off a battery is in an emergency situation (power outage) and then the battery is located OUTSIDE the shack. Also, a battery charger does not have filtering in it and can introduce a buzz into your transmissions just like an unregulated or switching power supply can.

 

[bob85]

booty you dont say what type of 2pill you want to run,
something like a rmkl400 will just about manage on a 30amp peak cb power supply but a 30 amp supply will not run a 2pill 2879 custom amp such as the ampower 2pill i have.

 

[Robb]

Actually, having a battery system is back on my priority list. As A HAM, one must prepare for the possibility of catastrophic and prolonged power outage. Since I live in CA near Sunnyvale, earthquakes are a reality that I live with. In 1989, we experienced a 7.2 lollapalooza that knocked power out for more than three days (that quake's 'epicenter' was only 25 mi away). Literally, knocked me on my butt three times - too. No telephone, gas, or water either - that was before the day of the cell phone too.

Can't use amps under such conditions, as they would take too much current. But having 2 identical 12v batteries in parallel being charged with a solar panel/regulator would be ideal and be enough to run base/mobile 11m radio and a HAM 2m/70cm indefinitely. It is a goal that I set to do it this way, and I intend to make the system functional in the eventuality of the next 'big one'. In case none of you have ever experienced a major earthquake, I can tell you that one learns to do with very little afterwards. I question if cell towers can be downed in such a quake - but I must prepare regardless. Certainly, when the battery in the cell phone is low and no practical way to charge it, the only ones that will still operating/communicating will be a handful of prepared HAM's and some 11m guys that were prepared...

 

[W5LZ]

Booty,
Is it possible to do either of those things, regulated/unregulated, or battery charger and battery? Sure, if it's done properly. Is the unregulated, or battery and charger thingy -'the'- way to do it? Not really, lots of 'possible' consequences that are not exactly desirable. But certainly possible if you just have to. If/when you get the chance it's really better to do it the 'other' way.
A very rough way to figure out the power (VA) required for running something is to figure something like twice what the current rating of the fuse on whatever the thing is, times the required voltage it needs. Add up all those 'VA's and you got the size of a 'comfortable' size power supply. Yeah, it's going to be larger than is actually needed, but allows for enough 'over-head' for a 'comfortable' power supply that isn't working it's brains out all the time. Nothing all that wrong with approaching the 'maximum' capability at times, if those 'times' are short. The closer that 'approach', and the longer it's duration means that something is going to be 'not as right' as it could/should be. Eventually, it'll bite you.
- 'Doc

 

[74IN]

I think using a mobile amp with a PS is the long way around the barn.

I've done it, but I'd rather have an amp that runs on AC.

Lot's of CB amps are relatively cheap that you can run on 110.

The disadvantage to those sweep tube amps is the availability of old tubes.

The last one I bought was a 1X3 that had an output of 400W peak, I paid 125$ for it and sold it for double.

Even at 250$, you'd be miles ahead.

Look at hamfests, there will be CB amps there.

 

[W5LZ]

Whaoo! Revolutionary idea! One I just happen to agree with. What happens when the power goes off? Personally, I go put some gas in that generator in the garage and start it. Even plug in a heater or two in this kind'a weather. Or pull the main breaker in the box and just plug the generator into a wall outlet. (No, that's not the best idea in the world, the wall outlet thingy, but it works.)
- 'Doc

 

[Mr Clean]

If I need backup power I will get in the truck.

 

[N9RZD]

for running a typical mobile cb radio and a small amp (2 pill....maybe 4 down the road) in the house is there a preference between a regulated vs. an unregulated powersupply ? is one better than the other on the equipment ?



also , for a small setup like a radio and a 2 pill would a good car battery and a 5 or 10 amp charger also work ?
a 30 buck wally world charger and a 30 buck wally world battery ? 60 bucks total vs 150ish for a 30 amp power supply .

i use a deep cycle battery , and a schauer battery maintainer
it trickles the batt , and wont cook it ,
you could easily ruin the batt by overcharging it .
and use a deep cycle , dont get a regular car battery ,
deep cycle batts have bigger plates abd will hold up to
heavier cuurent drain , than a car batt will

id go with the battery setup , you can still operate in a power failure
only caveat is , be sure to keep an eye on the water level ,

73

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

thanks for the replies guys . ive got 2 amps my ab/filtered palomar 225 i got last year and my texas star 500v that i got last summer . i think the 225 with the filtering would be the cleanest of the two for base use but the 500v does about 3 times as much power , almost a full s-unit more . not to imply that texas star amps are not clean . it also requires a bigger power supply thatll cost at least twice as much .

any of you guys ever herd of this power supply ?
75 Amp Heavy Duty Power Supply with Batt. Back Up
that store is a new one run by a friend of sparkys that hes helping to get started .

 

[Mr Clean]

Get a Astron 70 for about 50 bucks more. Read the reveiws on the astron on Eham.

 

[W5LZ]

... for some reason, that 'deal' strikes me as a little too good to be true. That isn't to say that the seller isn't being honest, I don't know them, or anything about them. I can say that something short of $3 per ampere is sort of atypical/unusual in today's market.
- 'Doc

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

what about IOTA power supplies ? ive read good things about the IOTA Engineering DLS-55 12VDC Battery Charger and Power Converter - 55 Amps on a few other forums . but i know you guys know the real skinny on them . if i went with the export and 500v would that be enough ?

im actually kind of leaning twoards the 225 though since its also filtered and will be on a base . im thinking the Jetstream JTPS28 would be juuuust enough for it and the export http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5204 . would this be enough for the 225 Genuine Palomar 225 LINEAR Amplifier (20 amp internal fuse) and a export ? maybe later get a seperate 7/8 amp contious PS for just the radio if its to lighten its load ?

unfortunately money is tight so powering the 225 would be much more wallet friendly too .