Brand new from Buddipole is an updated version of their solar charge controller, dubbed the PowerMini2.
The POWERmini 2 is described as a DC Power Management System, but what is that?
Most Amateur Radio gear is designed to be operated directly from a 12V DC power source. For a radio with 100W output that amounts to an input current around 25A. That provides a lot of convenience for mobile and portable applications but operation is not quite as simple as plugging into a wall outlet. Batteries require attention to maximize their life and solar panels need to be managed to prevent overcharging.
Simply put the Power Management system looks after the health of the DC battery powering the system for both the charge and discharge cycles, but also keeping an eye open to protecting your radio too.
From the charging perspective a dedicated solar panel input allows connection of a solar panel with up to 11A of current to charge the system battery. This functions not only as a charger, preventing reverse current flow into the panel and ensuring that the battery is not overcharged, but it also provides monitoring of the panel indicating how much charge has been delivered to the battery and reports the panel power output to provide a view of how well the panel has been working.
With regard to the discharge cycle, the system monitors the battery voltage and provides warning of low battery voltage helping to avoid damage to the battery due to deep discharge. It can even automatically disconnect the battery from the radio in case you forget to do so. The POWERmini supports both Lead Acid and Lithium Ion batteries.
Power output up to 32Ah total is provided by dual output connectors. Both are protected by an automatic disconnect in case of accidental over current such as a short circuit. The output is also protected by a voltage monitor that automatically disconnects your expensive radio from too high of an input voltage.
System monitoring is provided by a real time reporting system indicating the battery and solar panel voltages, the load current and solar panel current as well as the amount of energy used by the battery and what was replenished by the solar panel. Visual and audible alarms warn of power related issues such as over-voltage, low battery voltage or over-current.
Price 149 USD
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/category/review/”>Review
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/synchronising-vfo-frequency-for-multiple-tuners-sdrplay/”>Synchronising VFO Frequency for Multiple tuners – SDRPLAY
“When using the dual tuners of the RSPduo, or multiple RSPs on a single computer you sometimes want them all tuned to the same frequency, e.g. f… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/synchronising-vfo-frequency-for-multiple-tuners-sdrplay/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/icom-ah-705-auto-atu-for-ic-705-review-and-mystery-solved/”>Icom AH 705 Auto ATU for IC-705 – Review, and Mystery Solved?
Automatic antenna tuner specifically designed for IC-705 target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/icom-ah-705-auto-atu-for-ic-705-review-and-mystery-solved/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/wellbrook-ala1530s-loop-antenna-review/”>WELLBROOK ALA1530S+ LOOP ANTENNA – Review
“I have been a keen shortwave listener since 1970 and have had many receivers and antenna types during this time. Currently I have two wire ante… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/wellbrook-ala1530s-loop-antenna-review/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/yaesu-ftm-100dr-wires-x-portable-digital-node-firmware-update/”>Yaesu FTM-100DR Wires-X Portable Digital Node + Firmware Update
“You can now use your Yaesu FTM-100DR, FTM-400DR and the F2DR as a Wires-X hotspot (PDN) or IP radio without buying the HRI-200 or another C4FM… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/yaesu-ftm-100dr-wires-x-portable-digital-node-firmware-update/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/kenwood-thk20a-transceiver-review/”>Kenwood THK20A Transceiver – ARRL Video Review
A powerful communications tool in every sense, KENWOOD’s new TH-K20A/K40A radio offers 5.5 watts of RF output to ensure reliable performance. Numerous… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/kenwood-thk20a-transceiver-review/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/category/equipment/”>Equipment
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/the-new-mat-705-auto-atu-for-the-icom-ic-705/”>The new mAT-705 Auto ATU for the Icom IC-705
Specifically built for the new Icom IC-705, the mAT-705 is the latest compact and fully portable Micro-ATU owered by an internal 9V dry battery! The a… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/the-new-mat-705-auto-atu-for-the-icom-ic-705/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/youkits-hb1b-upgrade/”>YouKits HB1B upgrade
“RadioSet-GO, your source for unique, trail friendly QRP radio designs; simple, efficient, portable, and attractive all-in-one low power… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/youkits-hb1b-upgrade/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/arduino-cw-trainer-n4tl-wins-september-qst-cover-plaque-award/”>How to build a Simplified Arduino CW Trainer by Tom N4TL
The winning article for the September 2016 QST Cover Plaque award is “Arduino CW Trainer” by Tom Lewis, N4TL. The QST Cover Plaque Award — given… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/arduino-cw-trainer-n4tl-wins-september-qst-cover-plaque-award/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/rsm3sr-series4100-software-defined-radios/”>R&S®M3SR Series4100 Software Defined Radios
Key facts Frequency range: 1.5 MHz to 30 MHz (transmission), 10 kHz to 30 MHz (reception) Power classes of 150 W, 500 W,… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/rsm3sr-series4100-software-defined-radios/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/fold-over-towers-rohn-55g/”>Fold-Over Towers – ROHN 55G
Get all of the benefits of a Self-Supporting ROHN 55G tower, without ever having to climb! With a ROHN 55FK, you can easily access the top moun… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/fold-over-towers-rohn-55g/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/category/ham-radio-antena/”>Antenna
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/hyendfed-5-band-8040201510-antenna/”>HyEndFed 5 band 80/40/20/15/10 Antenna
HyEndFed 5 band for 80,40, 20, (15) and 10 meter. Max. Power : 200 watt PEP. Length : 23 meter. Enclosure : Polycarbonate IP67, 100% UV resista… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/hyendfed-5-band-8040201510-antenna/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/baluns-what-they-do-and-how-they-do-lt/”>Baluns : What They Do And How They Do lt
By Roy lV. Lewallen I’ve always been a bit bothered by balunst since I was never sure what they are supposed to dot let alone hotv they… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/baluns-what-they-do-and-how-they-do-lt/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/can-i-put-one-end-of-a-dipole-next-to-my-vhf-antenna/”>Can I Put One End of a Dipole Next to my VHF Antenna?
Nick, KC3PWJ, has a flagpole and also a pole that holds up his VHF/UHF discone. He’d like to string a 20m dipole between the two poles, but is w… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/can-i-put-one-end-of-a-dipole-next-to-my-vhf-antenna/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/super-vertical-8-ultra-hf-4-6-10-11-12-15-17-20-30-4/”>SUPER VERTICAL 8 ULTRA HF 4-6-10-11*-12-15-17-20-30-4
Vertical-Array is proud to present the vertical 8-bands HF 8 “SV 8 ” antenna. The SV8 working in HF for 4-6-10-11-12-15-17-20-30-40… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/super-vertical-8-ultra-hf-4-6-10-11-12-15-17-20-30-4/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/super-vertical-4080160-vertical-array-by-iz1rff/”>Super Vertical 40/80/160 Vertical-Array by IZ1RFF
Super vertical Vertical antenna for the low bands with differential reactance Configurations: 40/80 – 30/40/80 – 40/80/160… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/super-vertical-4080160-vertical-array-by-iz1rff/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/category/app-ham-radio/”>App – Mobile
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/rfinder-the-world-wide-repeater-directory-now-supports-twitter/”>RFinder – The World Wide Repeater Directory now supports Twitter!
“RFinder has been the ‘Social Repeater Directory’ for a while now with its support of repeater check-in postings to APRS and… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/rfinder-the-world-wide-repeater-directory-now-supports-twitter/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/atno-alert-app-for-dxers/”>ATNO Alert – App for DXer´s
This app was developed to help HAMs during DX operation, cluster viewing and award tracking. Main Features: * Send alerts to user devices – Our backgr… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/atno-alert-app-for-dxers/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/ham-radio-license-exam-preparation-for-iphone-and-ipad/”>Ham Radio License Exam Preparation for Iphone and IPad
Get Your Ham Radio License You are only 35 questions away from getting your Ham radio license. The questions come from a pool of questions publ… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/ham-radio-license-exam-preparation-for-iphone-and-ipad/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/ham-radio-foundation-course-for-ios-and-android/”>Ham radio Foundation course for iOS and Android
The Australian Radio & Electronics School (RES) has made available a free 2-3 day amateur radio Foundation licence course App for Apple and Androi… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/ham-radio-foundation-course-for-ios-and-android/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/starwaves-drm-softradio-app-for-android-now-available/”>STARWAVES DRM SoftRadio App for Android now available!
The STARWAVES DRM SoftRadio allows you to conveniently enjoy any DRM live radio broadcast on your Android smartphone or tablet. No Internet connection… target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/starwaves-drm-softradio-app-for-android-now-available/” class=”read-more-link”>Read more
The post target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/buddipole-powermini2-solar-charge-controller-for-ham-radio/”>Buddipole PowerMini2 Solar Charge Controller for Ham Radio appeared first on target=”_blank” href=”https://qrznow.com/”>QRZ NOW – Ham Radio News.
