Thanks!

The number of emails and letters I have received on that one alternative emergency power article has been 20 times what I have ever received before on any paper or article. The interesting thing is that it took 2 years before QST published it.

In the original draft, I had indicated all kinds of ways to use the 300 to 500 VDC from ones home solar system, or the 300 to 500 VDC from their Hybrid or EV or the 330 VDC that is inside every modern electronics system or power supply to power all kinds of things during a power outage. But QST was concerned that publishing anything with voltages over 12 volts was too dangerous.

I guess it is easy to forget 40 years ago when the cubscout manual had plans for every 8 year old to build a 2 tube radio set running on 150 VDC.

ANyway, to me, this whole new system of high voltage DC that surrounds us and exists in EVERY modern electronics power supply is a field that is wide open for all kinds of new ideas about power, and without a SINGLE POUND of 60 Hz iron.

It is still DANGEROUS, just like it was back in TUBE transmitters, but a resistor and capacitor across any HV switch solves the FIRE problem, and proper procedure solves the others. We should not hide from these dangers, but learn to embrace them and use them to our advantage. Such as reducing copper wire losses by a factor of 10 to 1 by simply running things (with univeral input supplies) directly on 330 VDC ..

I ramble...

See my rambling web page that begins here: http://aprs.org/APRS-SPHEV.html and then goes on to alternative energy and emergency Field Day power (from hybrids)...

Bob, WB4aPR

On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM, Robert McGwier [email protected] wrote:

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/bob-bruninga-wb4apr-wins-august-qst-cover-plaq...

-- Bob McGwier Ower and Technical Director, Allied Communication, LLC Facebook: N4HYBob ARS: N4HY _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

Hi Alan,

I'm not even sure about the intellectually part. Hopefully just the exception, but a few years ago I had to gently guide a new ham to realize that they should not attempt to run their 12v rig off 120v and a lamp dimmer turned down... Oy.

Greg KO6TH

Alan P. Biddle wrote:

Bob,

Well done on the article!

I will, slightly, sympathize with QST. In teaching license classes, and working with new hams, I find that for some there is truly a lack of appreciation of what "high voltage" can do. I am serious when I say that for some if it isn't a wall plug, it isn't dangerous. Intellectually they may understand, but somehow it isn't real. They are faded now, but I have some burn scars which make a good training aid.

Alan WA4SCA

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robert Bruninga Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2012 1:50 PM To: Robert McGwier Cc: amsat bb Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Congratulations Bob on QST plaque!!

Thanks!

The number of emails and letters I have received on that one alternative emergency power article has been 20 times what I have ever received before on any paper or article. The interesting thing is that it took 2 years before QST published it.

In the original draft, I had indicated all kinds of ways to use the 300 to 500 VDC from ones home solar system, or the 300 to 500 VDC from their Hybrid or EV or the 330 VDC that is inside every modern electronics system or power supply to power all kinds of things during a power outage. But QST was concerned that publishing anything with voltages over 12 volts was too dangerous.

I guess it is easy to forget 40 years ago when the cubscout manual had plans for every 8 year old to build a 2 tube radio set running on 150 VDC.

ANyway, to me, this whole new system of high voltage DC that surrounds us and exists in EVERY modern electronics power supply is a field that is wide open for all kinds of new ideas about power, and without a SINGLE POUND of 60 Hz iron.

It is still DANGEROUS, just like it was back in TUBE transmitters, but a resistor and capacitor across any HV switch solves the FIRE problem, and proper procedure solves the others. We should not hide from these dangers, but learn to embrace them and use them to our advantage. Such as reducing copper wire losses by a factor of 10 to 1 by simply running things (with univeral input supplies) directly on 330 VDC ..

I ramble...

See my rambling web page that begins here: http://aprs.org/APRS-SPHEV.html and then goes on to alternative energy and emergency Field Day power (from hybrids)...

Bob, WB4aPR

On Sat, Sep 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM, Robert McGwier[email protected] wrote:

...

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/bob-bruninga-wb4apr-wins-august-qst-cover-plaq ue-award?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

...

-- Bob McGwier Ower and Technical Director, Allied Communication, LLC Facebook: N4HYBob ARS: N4HY _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

---

Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

---

Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb