"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in
message news
As for power supplies, you should consider a 12-volt
Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery with a maintenance
charger (the kind that shuts itself off when the battery
is fully charged). That will give you pretty much
whatever surge current you need, and if your power fails
your station stays up.

AGM batteries are sealed, can be used indoors, and can be
mounted in any position (e.g. on their sides or even
upside down, so they claim). They are readily available
(I get mine from Batteries Plus). I have a 105-amp-hour
AGM battery for my motorhome, and a 33-amp-hour AGM
battery for my ARES "go kit".

I'm told that the so-called "gel cell" batteries are
actually AGM batteries.

I'd agree with that. I have a thing here called a "Wizard Power Cube"
which I bought at a rally some years ago. It contains a 20AH dryfit
lead-acid sealed battery, a maintenance charger and also an input for a
solar panel so you can use it when out portable on a contest for example,
using the solar panel to get some charge into the battery. I don't recall
the make, but I think the guy selling them made them himself.

73 Ivor G6URP.