HI Sean,

On Sat 2039-Apr-02 23:51, Sean Dennis (1:18/200) wrote to Richard Webb:

 RW>   I hate switching power supplies.  I know, they're
 RW> cleaner than they used to be, but that noise you describe is
 RW> consistent with their behavior.

SD> My dad has an Alinco power supply where he can "dial out" the noise
SD> that the PS causes.  It's pretty neat.

I've heard of those, and a couple of guys i talked to with
them really liked them.  I'm using this 70 ah Astrong
monster over here.  Wish they'd made it rack mountable


Another thought, maybe we're blaming the wrong switching ps
for some of your noise issues.  Where's your shack in
relation to your computers?

 RW> Get you a bigger gel cell and float charge it with a trickle charger,
 RW> I bet that'll clean up a lot.

SD> I wish I'd not given away the other batteries I'd received; I could
SD> have put two of them together for more amperage.  I'm wanting a
SD> particular charger - around $100 - that will work especially well
SD> with gel cells.  The charger will limit the voltage to around 13.4
SD> volts and then trickle down the charge to make sure each cell has
SD> 2.4v without "burning" the cell with higher amperage. 

That would be nice.  I wish I could find myself enough
change to afford that WEstmountain radio powergate. Provides such a charger,
plus relays that when the mains power goes
automatically switches you to your battery bnk from your
power supply, otherwise floats the gels.  WE had our own
system partially rigged up at University hospital NEw
ORleans, had to do it on the sly for various reasons, so the limitation was
when I could put money in.  But, I'd still
hook the hf up to one of the hospital's gels and run my net
from it then charge it back up for a couple days.

SD> Of course, once I start working, I'll have money for all of these
SD> toys. :) 

There's always that too.  Trouble is, when I do work my
business takes every dime I make, but that's an investment
in the future, so I'm not complaining, just stating a fact
.
I think I'll take a $50 as mad money to the hamfest next
weekend, and that's it .

 RW> OH btw, if you've got aluminum wiring, inspect all your
 RW> fixtures, make sure that they used those little pigtail
 RW> splices to that aluminum wire that are made for the purpose.
 RW> electrolytic action or intaction between the copper and the aluminum
 RW> can be a dangerous thing, and you might find your home sweet home
 RW> becomes an inferno.  IF fixtures aren't connected with those little
 RW> pigtails made for the purpose get 'em.

SD> I did not know that but I can safely tell you that none of these
SD> outlets in here use those because "maintenance" is a foreign concept
SD> to my landlord. 

Better check it out then!!  Aluminum wiring with fixtures
designed for copper can be a real hazard.  Expansion is
different for aluminum than for copper.  IF you can find it
on such sites as rtfm.mit.edu the electrical wiring faq, I
think it's under /pub/usenet-by-group/alt-home-repair but
might be wrong, but the electrical wiring faq discusses it.
There are little pigtails that you can buy to attach to that alumnium wiring,
other end for connection to fixtures
intended for copper.
Ask at your favorite electrical supply imporium, and go diy, the life and
property you save might be yours.
i rewired a mobile home completely from the distro box,
using armored BX on the surfaces of the walls instead of
trying to work with the aluminum stuff inside the walls.

Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin:  (1:116/901)