Subject: Shack Design - part 5

DC Power Distribution:


    Not all shacks run DC exclusively. Some have no DC at all, 
some are totally DC, but most are partial DC power.

    Many hams have rigs that are meant for mobile use and are 
used as base units. Many HF rigs run on DC only and the 
additional cost of a power supply is not within the wallet of 
most. They resort to batteries and chargers. Some enjoy the 
advantage of power on request from a battery bank, powered by 
a large power supply and several batteries. No commercial 
power, no problem.

    Others prefer commercial supplies or many commercial 
supplies; one for each radio. Some even enjoy the use of an 
Uninterupted Power Supply (UPS). 

    Regardless of what you use, there are some DC distribution 
ideas I would like to convey to the readers.

                        ------------

DC POWER PANEL

    You may have to either distribute your DC power from one source 
or recharge your several DC sources from one commercial source or
a combination of the two.
   
    Here's an example of a simple DC power panel in use here:

All rigs are DC powered;

o Ten-Tec Closet Kilowatt
o Kenwood TS-430S
o Kenwood TR-751A 
o Kenwood TM-421A

The battery bank consists of four deep cycle batteries rated at 
115 AH each. Power supply is a Pyramid Phase II 50A.


                         *
        Paragon__________|-|-|-_______
                         *            \
        Hercules_________|-|_|-_________\_________ ground bus
                     |   *              /                    
                     |___|-|-|-_______/          
                         *            |
        AAC______________|-|-|-_______|
                  |  | |
        TR-751A___|  | |
                     | |
        TS-430S______| |
                       |
        TM-421A________|


The power and ground bus run like this to the power supply:

    ground bus-------------------------P/S ground


    *Batt 1--------SW1-----------------|---P/S positive
    *Batt 2--------SW2-----------------|
    *Batt 3--------SW3-----------------|
    *Batt 4--------SW4-----------------|


It's farly simple system that allows the rigs to be operated 
with or without charging in line.


-*END*-

-WS