6
West Mountain Radio
Operating Manual
Choose a 12 volt battery with an ampere-hour rating according to your power
needs. If the batteries are placed indoors they must be sealed for safety
reasons. Again, it is very important to place a fuse at the positive battery
terminal. Additional assistance may be found:
http://www.westmountainradio.com/capacity_calculator.php
West Mountain Radio carries size 24 Gel and AGM batteries, as well as
smaller and larger batteries.
Large batteries have side, post, or threaded terminals. Deep cycle, marine,
AGM, and others usually have 3/8 inch and 5/16 inch studs. Therefore, it is
recommended to use a short 3 feet #10 wire, Powerpole
®
on one end, an
in-line fuse (40-50A), and ring terminals for the battery end. West Mountain
Radio carries a battery fuse kit, wire, and Powerpole
®
.
Fully charged 12 volt Lead Acid batteries exhibit around 13.5 volts open
circuit. When supplying current, the battery’s internal resistance diminishes the
voltage. For instance, a 70 Ah battery will drop to 12.3 volts at 10 amperes at
half discharge.
The power supply can be adjusted to allow for a maximum charge to the
battery. Use a good voltmeter to get an accurate reading. Most power
supplies have an internal pot, even if it is a fixed voltage supply. Read the
service and calibration manual for instructions for each power supply.
All major radio manufacturers specify that the radio will operate up to 15 volts
DC. Therefore, using the
Super PWRgate
at an elevated voltage should not
harm the equipment. Vehicle alternators also will supply a higher voltage for
battery charging.
Gel Cells
Adjust the power supply to 14.1V to achieve a full charge. The internal jumper
should not be installed. This is the factory default setting when shipped.
AGM Cells
Adjust the power supply to 14.5V to achieve a full charge. Install the AGM
jumper inside the Super PWRgate unit.
Connecting the Load or Power Strip
Output -
Connectors are intended to power equipment. It may go to a single
piece of equipment or to a distribution panel (i.e. RIGrunner). There is no fuse
or internal current limiting.
Manufacturers list the lowest recommended DC supply voltage range for the
specific radio model. Some radios are listed as 13.8 VDC +- 15%, and others
as 13.8 VDC +-10%. 12 volt power supplies are regulated to provide 13.8
Summary of Contents for Super PWRgate PG 40S
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