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VK3API > BBS 06.01.14 14:16l 62 Lines 2678 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : B40608VK3API
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: VK3API > Raspberry Pi
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<I0OJJ<GB7CIP<VK3API
Sent: 140106/0522Z @:VK3API.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:571 [Lilydale] FBB7.00g
From: VK3API@VK3API.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : BBS@WW
Hi Warren
OK on Ray, I see some of his posts on the aprs list so sort of know what
he is up to.
Yes I managed to get the bulletin out before I lost the computer but I
didn't save the 40/80 dipole. It's draped over the shack and along the
ground.
One of these days I will have to bite the bullet and mount it properly. It
falls down several times a year mainly due to the combination of strong
winds and me being lazy and just hanging it over a couple of convenient
trees. I keep saying to myself get off my butt and fix it but time
presses.
Lost the usual quota of trees but fortunately no damage to the house. I
haven't driven round the boundary yet to see if there are any trees on the
fences. I don't have stock here so it's not important other than keeping
the kangaroos out of the olive grove. The mongrel things seem to really
enjoy eating olive trees.
My battery unit is a bank of ex telephone pabx cells. They were pulled out
of a decommissioned site when the whole area was re wired. Managed to bid
for them with a couple of other hams and we took 12 volts worth each out
of the 50 volts worth original configuration. They are deep cycle about 80
ampere hour capacity.
They come complete with some rather nifty lead bolts and nuts for holding
the terminals nice and tight together.
An interesting comment on the solar panels. I have the charge meter
mounted right in front of me where I am sitting at the operating position
and it's behavior is bizarre at times.
On the day of the last bulletin the cloud base was dead flat and was
absolutely 8 octas of cloud It was whizzing along at a fair speed.
The charge meter was reading full charge rate most of the time so I assume
the cloud was fairly thin. I was getting enough light combined with cold
wind to make the cells really efficient.
However.. At one point the meter started to fluctuate in the normal
manner that you see on a partially cloudy day with the charge current
varying in between about 10% and 100% at a .5Hz rate. This time the
fluctuations just kept getting faster and faster until the needle was
fairly vibrating at the mid point. I estimate the frequency as well over
20Hz and possibly up nearer 40. I suppose there were some parallel ridges
on top of the cloud and that caused the variation in light levels and
hence made the meter vibrate. The wind speed was around 70km/hr at the
time with gusts to 100.
I have seen it before but never as fast.
Ah well 2.5 kwords so I better quit whilst I am ahead.
I am having a spot of bother with the IRLP radio and I guess I better fix
it before someone complains.....
Regards Tony VK3API
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