SYS: ONLINE|UTC --:--:--|BAND: Station infrastructure
SWR: 1.2PWR: 100WQTH: EN52
Power & Grounding

Battery Bank

Stored energy for portable work, field days and when the mains fails.

HIGH VOLTAGE — DISCONNECT BEFORE SERVICING. Antennas, feedlines and power supplies can hold dangerous voltages and carry RF at full transmitter power.
Battery Bank engineering reference drawing
Specification summary
Nominal voltage12 V per lead-acid block, 13.2 V for LiFePO4
CapacityTypically 20-200 Ah per station bank
Usable depth of discharge50 percent for lead-acid, 80-90 percent for LiFePO4
Charging voltage13.8-14.4 V depending on chemistry and stage
Self-discharge3-5 percent per month for lead-acid, lower for lithium
WeightA 100 Ah lead-acid block is around 30 kg; the equivalent LiFePO4 is about 13 kg
ProtectionFusing at the battery terminal is essential
Stage: Power
V: 12.8 VC: 100 AhDoD: 80%chem: LiFePO4

Overview

A station battery bank is usually one or more 12 V lead-acid or lithium iron phosphate batteries, wired in series or parallel to give the voltage and capacity the station needs. Capacity is measured in amp-hours, and the usable capacity depends on the chemistry.

Lead-acid batteries should not be discharged below about half their rated capacity without shortening their life, so a 100 Ah battery gives roughly 50 Ah of usable energy. Lithium iron phosphate cells tolerate deeper discharge and weigh far less, which is why they have become the usual choice for portable operation despite the higher cost.

Bands and modes

Band coverage

Station infrastructure

Modes

All modes

Safety note

Lead-acid batteries produce hydrogen while charging and can vent explosive gas; never charge them in a sealed enclosure. A short circuit across a battery terminal can deliver hundreds of amps and cause burns or fire — always fit a fuse at the terminal.

Using it well

  • Fuse the positive terminal as close to the battery as physically possible.
  • Match the charger to the chemistry; the wrong profile ruins the bank.
  • Calculate load from transmit duty cycle, not from the radio label.
  • Keep lead-acid banks vented and never store them on a concrete floor in freezing conditions.
Reference material for educational use. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy a particular product, and no communication distance or performance is promised. Confirm figures against the equipment you actually have and against the regulations that apply where you operate.
Related

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Power Supply engineering reference drawing
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Clean regulated DC for the station, sized for the current the radio actually draws.

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Multimeter engineering reference drawing
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The first instrument anyone should own. Voltage, current, resistance and continuity.

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Ground Rod engineering reference drawing
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The station earth electrode — the reference everything else bonds to.

L: 2.4 mR: <5 ohm
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HF Transceiver engineering reference drawing
Setup

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f: 1.8-30 MHzP: 100 W
Transceivers→

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