Watt Drop

Dropping knowledge and deals. Power stations, radios & prep gear. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [email protected]

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

Before you buy a power station, measure what you'd actually run.

A plug-in watt meter shows real watts and kWh over a full day. A fridge cycles on and off, so the number on its label isn't its average.

Measure first, then size the battery.

What's the first thing you'd measure?

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@Enigock Love that! What panels are you charging it with? What do you end up running off it most?

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@rapanuiman Very cool, enjoy the island! How are the bands treating you so far? How long are you staying for this second part? 73

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@KG5AHJ @seeedstudio Nice! What's the first test you're putting it through? Starting it on MeshCore or Meshtastic?

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@pmtiegs That's a wild distance to bridge with LoRa! How many hops is it taking right now? Where's the weak spot you're shoring up first?

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@PatchesHQ Makes sense. EV charging is the biggest load in the house by far, so it sets how long you last. Are you timing it for midday, when the solar is peaking?

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@W6MOQ @PINKhikes @HamtraxRadio @IcomAmericaInc A charged car battery and a paper log is about as pure a field setup as it gets. Half power on SSB stretches that battery a long way. 73

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

What I keep in my backpack: Greadio pocket AM/FM/NOAA weather radio https://t.co/DCssmNQQoM

An upgraded pick for home: C. Crane CCRadio Solar, crank/solar/battery https://t.co/KwDsJr2BQC

Affiliate links: I may earn a commission. #ad

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

When the power's out and the towers are jammed, how do alerts still reach you?

Phones get Wireless Emergency Alerts by cell broadcast, not texts. Radio and TV carry the Emergency Alert System, starting from FEMA Primary Entry Point stations with backup generators.

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

Those stations reach 90%+ of the US. Find the closest one on FEMA's list and note the frequency:
https://t.co/zuo3mAs8Ge

Then keep a radio that can pull it in. My power stations keep my radios and phone charged.

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@F5VMJ 53 days on a ThinkNode M6 is a solid endorsement. How's it holding up with all the Paris traffic? 73

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@taniableh Glad it's back. If they cut it again, charge everything now while you have power, and freeze a few water bottles so the fridge stays cold longer.

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@Turkeybait90037 Nice pick. TV and Wi-Fi are light loads, so it'll carry them a long time, and you can top it off from the generator while it runs the heat and air.

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@EmergencyHamNet That's a big step, very cool! How are you handling messages from someone who's only on SMS? Any plans to open the alpha up to testers?

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@BillyMTexan Dry bag inside a waterproof case is the right call, and radio first is proper ham priorities. Congrats on putting a brand-new park on the board! 73

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@BuckhornCliffs Great reminder, so simple and so often overlooked! Do you keep a set family channel everyone knows to switch to? How often do you practice with it?

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@K4DCA What a fun way to put it to the test! Did you run into other nodes along the trail, or was it mostly your own group? Anything you'd leave home next time?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

The one I run: EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus with the extra battery. https://t.co/u2g2av1dOK
#ad As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

If someone in your house sleeps on a CPAP, this is what I'd hand them. My Delta 3 Plus is rated to switch over in under 10 ms, so the machine never notices the outage. Humidifier off gets you a lot more hours. What do you run yours on?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

CPAP runtime calculator, put in your machine's watts: https://t.co/7op545y9vm