Bob, thank you so very much for sharing this information. I am now considering a solar operation for my FT-991A. I love the fact that make it simple and easy. I have looked at everything and still wasn't sure until I saw your channel on solar power for ham radio. Thank you.
You are the first one to put on a way I understand. I also run a 991a and Xiegu G 90 Just don't know what to get. So I guess Bioeno will be getting email or call. I also live in Florida, Brooksville KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
...new ham here...this is a PERFECT EXPLANATION and ILLUSTRATION for how to power my ft891 with a battery and charge with solar...THANKS SO MUCH and 73 de KO4UMY
Exactly what I was trying to do. When I do videos like this, I try to remember back to the very questions I was asking when I first started, and answer those.
@@HOAHamRadio Yes, thanks. I was in radio and telecommunications for almost 30 years. I've built dozens switching facilities and hundreds of transmitter sites. Solar is new to me.
If I can request a video. I have seen a LOT of ham radio videos about using solar power. Most of them are very good. But what I do not see it this. How to put together a solar system that will not only run your radio BUT that will charge any other rechargeable devices that you commonly would use in the woods as well. Simply, keep the radio running off the battery AND recharge/run you cell phone, laptop or tablet, flashlight, portable GPS signaling device ( SPOT, Inreach,Bivy) I hope that makes sense I have asked a few youtubers this same question over the last six months and have never gotten and answer. So I suspect I am asking the question wrongly.
John, I think I follow the request. I'm about 4 months out now on video planning, and I am going to add this to the list. Basically, to change the other devices, "conversion" needs to occur typically through a charge controller. Trouble is, most charge controllers don't have USB ports. Still, I get the idea and I think it is doable.
@@HOAHamRadio Thank you for you quick response. Trust me I have NEVER seen such a video. Ideally you would have everything fully charged before you left home. But as they say "What ever can go wrong will go wrong" And probably at the most inconvenient time. If I can add one thing. You would need to start off with how to measure the current draw of the non ham radio device. From there you could determine the size of battery and solar panel that you need.
What is the advantage of running the load directly from the battery rather than running it from the LOAD terminals on the MPPT? A direct connection like that is going to short-circuit the load to the charging voltage from the MPPT rather than provide the typical output voltage from a battery. You'd be running your equipment at charging voltage rather than typical supply voltage and the voltage supplied to the equipment would be variable based on whether there was sun to charge the battery or clouds causing the battery to drain to supply the load.
I've followed the manufacturers recommendations; I've figured the engineers at Bioenno Power know more about the most efficient set up than I do....that feels like a safe assumption.
@@HOAHamRadio Makes sense, and I think I answered my own question as the use relates to radio equipment. Most portable radio equipment I've seen operates best at 13.8-ish volts. The voltage required to charge a LFP battery is minimum 14.2, but 14.6 is best. Setting the charger to output 14.2 and hooking the radio directly to the battery would mean that the voltage the radio sees would normally vary between 13.6 (LFP battery at full charge) and 14.2. Well within the acceptable range for most devices. Connecting to the load terminals would limit the voltage supplied to the controllers' max load output voltage. I think that is around 12.8 volts on most of the cheap Chinese MPPT's. It would still work, but may reduce output power available to the radio.
Great video brother. I have a 300W 20 amp controller that says it needs 20-50 volts input to work. My 150W solar panel puts out 18 volts. Did I buy the wrong controller or will this one work? Do I need to buy another 150W panel to use this controller? I appreciate your help man. Thank you.
Aaron, thanks for the positive feedback. I'm really good at taking what the experts provide and making sure I optimize it.... The experts I would turn to are Bioenno Power. Any time I've had a question, they've gotten back to me same day. I recommend reaching out to them sale@bioennopower.com
Great video! No extra information, just the plain and simple setup and connection sequence. Thanks!
Thanks N6PCD, I try to get to and stick to the point.
Thank you very much - I will receive the bundle tomorrow - let’s see how it works on my trips around the world😊
73 de Willi, DL9WR ☀️
This should serve you well. Bioenno is great gear.
Bob, thank you so very much for sharing this information. I am now considering a solar operation for my FT-991A. I love the fact that make it simple and easy. I have looked at everything and still wasn't sure until I saw your channel on solar power for ham radio. Thank you.
I've tried to make videos that answer questions I've had; I am glad this was helpful to you.
@janicemary2008 How do you like the FT-991A in the field. That is the rig that I WANT to get. I just have to save up a few shekels.
Come on now. I have family in Tampa and know full well that no one there EVER evacuates because of a lil ole hurricane. 😅
Thanks for the video.
Awesome. Thanks
You are the first one to put on a way I understand.
I also run a 991a and Xiegu G 90
Just don't know what to get.
So I guess Bioeno will be getting email or call.
I also live in Florida, Brooksville
KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
That's what I'm going for Paul...I'm trying to answer questions I had in my mind when I first started in the ham way of life. Glad it helped.
That's one happy battery icon
Thanks for watching and commenting; appreciate you stopping by.
...new ham here...this is a PERFECT EXPLANATION and ILLUSTRATION for how to power my ft891 with a battery and charge with solar...THANKS SO MUCH and 73 de KO4UMY
Exactly what I was trying to do. When I do videos like this, I try to remember back to the very questions I was asking when I first started, and answer those.
Thanks for this. I was going to connect the radio gear to the load terminals on my Renogy controller.
Glad you watched and hope it helped understand the basics.
@@HOAHamRadio Yes, thanks. I was in radio and telecommunications for almost 30 years. I've built dozens switching facilities and hundreds of transmitter sites. Solar is new to me.
If I can request a video. I have seen a LOT of ham radio videos about using solar power. Most of them are very good. But what I do not see it this.
How to put together a solar system that will not only run your radio BUT that will charge any other rechargeable devices that you commonly would use in the woods as well.
Simply, keep the radio running off the battery AND recharge/run you cell phone, laptop or tablet, flashlight, portable GPS signaling device ( SPOT, Inreach,Bivy)
I hope that makes sense I have asked a few youtubers this same question over the last six months and have never gotten and answer. So I suspect I am asking the question wrongly.
John, I think I follow the request. I'm about 4 months out now on video planning, and I am going to add this to the list. Basically, to change the other devices, "conversion" needs to occur typically through a charge controller. Trouble is, most charge controllers don't have USB ports. Still, I get the idea and I think it is doable.
@@HOAHamRadio Thank you for you quick response. Trust me I have NEVER seen such a video. Ideally you would have everything fully charged before you left home. But as they say "What ever can go wrong will go wrong" And probably at the most inconvenient time.
If I can add one thing. You would need to start off with how to measure the current draw of the non ham radio device. From there you could determine the size of battery and solar panel that you need.
The cooling fan is sucking out the air or blowing in? I'm confused about the direction it should be on my go box.
What guage wire are you using?? Good video! Im in the process of putting together a go box of some sorts. Thanks!
Ted, I was using 12 gauge wire to use with my Bioenno 30 Ah battery.
What is the advantage of running the load directly from the battery rather than running it from the LOAD terminals on the MPPT? A direct connection like that is going to short-circuit the load to the charging voltage from the MPPT rather than provide the typical output voltage from a battery. You'd be running your equipment at charging voltage rather than typical supply voltage and the voltage supplied to the equipment would be variable based on whether there was sun to charge the battery or clouds causing the battery to drain to supply the load.
I've followed the manufacturers recommendations; I've figured the engineers at Bioenno Power know more about the most efficient set up than I do....that feels like a safe assumption.
@@HOAHamRadio Makes sense, and I think I answered my own question as the use relates to radio equipment. Most portable radio equipment I've seen operates best at 13.8-ish volts. The voltage required to charge a LFP battery is minimum 14.2, but 14.6 is best. Setting the charger to output 14.2 and hooking the radio directly to the battery would mean that the voltage the radio sees would normally vary between 13.6 (LFP battery at full charge) and 14.2. Well within the acceptable range for most devices. Connecting to the load terminals would limit the voltage supplied to the controllers' max load output voltage. I think that is around 12.8 volts on most of the cheap Chinese MPPT's. It would still work, but may reduce output power available to the radio.
Great video brother. I have a 300W 20 amp controller that says it needs 20-50 volts input to work. My 150W solar panel puts out 18 volts. Did I buy the wrong controller or will this one work? Do I need to buy another 150W panel to use this controller? I appreciate your help man. Thank you.
Aaron, thanks for the positive feedback. I'm really good at taking what the experts provide and making sure I optimize it.... The experts I would turn to are Bioenno Power. Any time I've had a question, they've gotten back to me same day. I recommend reaching out to them sale@bioennopower.com