The N6WZZ repeater is powered by solar and wind energy, this makes the system very usefull during power outages.

The system will remain online, ready to provide a communications link to all amateur radio operators within the repeaters coverage area. The new 50 watt amplifier is powered by a 35 amp Astron rack mount power supply and in the event of a power outage the repeaters amp drops out of the circuit and the repeaters output on solar wind power is reduced to 15 watts.

Communications from the High Desert, over the hill into San Bernardino, and as far away as Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Pomona, Ontario, and even Hemet are possible.

The (First photo) is of the two 75 watt solar panels, the panels deliver 8.8 amps of charge current to the battery bank. And in the (Second photo) you can see the Southwest Windpower Air 403 12 volt 33 amp wind generator.

These photos show the battery bank, as well as the solar / wind energy control system. (Left Photo) Normally I have 4 100 amp hour batteries, but I am in the process of replacing them and as of this update I have two new 100 amp hour batteries in service...

(Right Photo) This is where the power from both the solar panels, and the wind generator come together, the two large gray boxes on the left are the solar panel and wind generator disconnect switches....The large gray box on with the red tag is the house disconnect box and fuse box...the three small white boxes are junction points where the wiring from the solar panels and the wind generator enter into the shed from the outside....and finally the black box...this is the Trace 30A solar charge controller used to regulate the power coming from the solar panels....

From here the power travels 50 feet under ground and into the attic of the house, and from there to the back room where the repeater is located.

Here are a few photo's of my new smaller 20 watt solar array is now being installed as a secondary backup power source for the repeater, and my two low power 144/220/440 Kenwood THF6A radios.

This system is made up of two 10 watt solar panels and a group of four 20ah gell cell batteries. The charge controller is built inside the control box which has metering for both amps and volts The 20 watt solar array is set for installation around August 2nd 2008.

I will be adding more photos of the system as soon as the install begins. The sole purpose of this secondary system is to help maintain battery power to the repeater, and to operate my low power 144/220/440 mhz radio station in the event the main solar system goes down, or during an emergency where grid power has failed.

(More To Follow)

Well I almost met my install date, It is September 17 2008 and the new panels are installed and running the repeater. I had a 1 hour QSO today on the repeater today and the system worked fantastic. The mount as well as the panels were purchased off ebay for about $225.00. The pole was just an old push up mast I had here at the house...Charge controller is an ASC 12 volt 8 amp unit.

I will be mounting a 2 meter jpole to the solar panel mast later this week and will update the photo at that time.