Tabletop Solar Test

Well OK, more literally it's garbage can lid solar, but hey they were handy and easy to drag into the sun.  Finally got around to integrating all the wiring on that 27 watt panel I'd picked up at a hamfest last summer, and had to give the system an all-up test before an upcoming campout.  It's easy to identify the panel; the red thing on the right is a fan rig from the 2m radio used as a test load; the blue thing in the middle is a 4.5 AH LiFePO battery (in actual car camping field use, the 12 AH would be used – it's a better balance for this system); the black box on the left is the charge controller; and the two small black boxes are in-line power meters.

It all seemed to work well, metering out about like I'd expected, and short of an actual camping trip this is all the testing it's going to get.  It puts out enough power to keep the FT-817nd 5 watt radio running indefinitely or will keep the FT-857d 100 watt radio on the air for a weekend of fun – if the sun keeps shining and I keep the radio's output power dialed back whenever possible.  The main thing though is that it weights less than ten pounds and fits in a day pack.  My back is feeling better already.

ps, 4/4:  It occurred to me that, while a bit under-batteried as a system, that 4.5 AH LiFePO would be enough to keep on the air after dark for about 5 hours, and the 27 watt panel would charge it right back up the next day – and while operating at that.  So it would be a pretty decent QRP power system.  Weighing in the battery, controller, panel, and just the cables needed comes to exactly 4.50 pounds.  (The two power meters would add another 0.40 pounds, but aren't strictly necessary.)  This is not backpacking-light, but... plus radio and accouterments, it totals into the neighborhood of 8 pounds.  That is doable, at least over short distances.  Bikepackable, even.  Hmmmm.