Emergency power alternatives
"Bill Horne, W1AC" wrote in message
...
Fellow ham,
A post from LA4RT has made me realize that "Human powered" power
generation is too narrow a scope for this discussion, so I'm starting a
new thread.
Let's hear ideas about alternative sources of power for radios: we might
be unable to find steam-driven units ;-) but there's always more that
one way to skin a cat.
I'll ask that some methods be omitted, for the reasons shown:
1. Portable generators - too expensive, and they can't go on airplanes.
2. Solar - can't rely on sunlight, especially after a
weather-related incident.
There are probably designs for power generation in undeveloped areas, so
let's see pointers to that kind of info along with the "Store bought"
machines.
Bill
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73,
Bill W1AC
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Way back when car generators were true generators, we built a tower, put a
drone target propeller on a generator, put three car batteries with a
standard controller and used it to power our huge vacuum tube radio receiver
in Veracruz, Mexico.
We could pick up Del-Rio, and that's about it. Certainly not enough juice to
power a transmitter.
But think wind power and batteries to accumulate enough energy to maybe work
for a while.
Until a Sterling engine can be built cheap enough to pack it into the field
then use a campfire for power.... I'm voting for the Sterling as a future
source in that it can use reflected solar onto a pinpoint external
combustion device, as well as a fire, a candle, a kerosene lamp, gasoline, a
torch, an LP tank and nozzle... very, very versatile.
Wayne
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