West Mountain Radio Epic PWRgate, Operating Manual

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the Epic PWRgate ….the high power OR Gate with
a built-in smart battery charger. It makes a true solid-state UPS for the ham
shack. The Epic PWRgate is West Mountain Radio’s third generation PWRgate
product. It uses advanced technology to achieve a very low power loss, and has
maximum flexibility to charge modern batteries.
The Epic eliminates the danger of connecting a power supply directly across
a battery, which can damage many power supplies. The Epic also avoids
introducing hum and RF interference, caused by most lead-acid battery chargers,
by using a standard power supply. Furthermore, most lead-acid battery chargers
are designed for flooded lead-acid marine or automotive batteries, and are
inappropriate for charging sealed lead-acid gel, AGM and Lithium type batteries.
*Note: Flooded Lead-Acid batteries are not recommended for Amateur Radio usage
The Epic is best with the following battery types:
• Gel - Sealed lead-acid, not AGM
• AGM - Sealed lead-acid, Absorbed Glass Mat (lighter weight and less
expensive; fewer charge/discharge cycles than Gel)
• Lithium - (to date) Lithium Iron Phosphate (“LiFePO4”) is recommended for
Amateur Radio usage. All default charging parameters and references in this
manual are for LiFePO4. Other Lithium chemistries should be compatible
with Epic, however custom charging parameters will need to be set.
The Epic transfers 40 amperes at 12 volts DC in a continuous safe manner. It
connects a battery and a power supply to a load, while electrically isolating both
the battery and the supply from each other. Whenever the power supply is on, the
supply feeds the load. It also charges the battery with a high-current safe battery
charger. Whenever the power supply is off, the battery will feed the load. If either
the power supply or the battery is malfunctioning, neither draws current from the
other. The switching is instantaneous. If the power supply is OFF and a solar
panel input is present, the battery will charge from the solar panel.
The Epic is very useful in the ham shack, and even more useful in a repeater
installation. Communication equipment will remain operative during AC power
blackouts and power supply failures. Power supplies and batteries can be
swapped out while equipment continues to be powered and without glitches.
Additionally, the Epic and a power supply may be used solely as a permanently
installed battery charger. This also may be configured to run a radio station
directly from the battery.
Please read the following instructions
BEFORE installing the Epic