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?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

PINECIL soldering iron: Current price on Amazon: https://t.co/fQmGZ3v5AN
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission. #ad

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

Coax connector failed on a field day? I fix it on the spot with a PINECIL. It's a pocket soldering iron that runs off USB-C PD, so my power station or a power bank is the shop. I use mine all the time and keep telling friends to get one.

What would you fix first?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

Got your kWh number? Our free runtime calculators turn it into hours for a fridge, CPAP, sump pump, router or fan: https://t.co/OiFhOv3Dp9

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

The watt number on your fridge label is not what it uses all day.

The compressor cycles on and off, so the real load is an average. A battery cares about watt-hours per day, not the label.

Plug it into a watt meter for 24 hours and read the kWh.

What would you test first?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

Kill A Watt P4400 on Amazon: https://t.co/9p9eaG9eoF
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission. #ad

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@davidxryan Great use of a birthday voucher! What are you planning to run off it first? Will you charge it from solar too, or just the wall? For some real nitty gritty on the grid, check out https://t.co/d7EcJ60oxg

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

@thefofoshow That's a great little desk build! Will the servos aim the panels at the sun, or follow the satellites? Are you planning to share the files?

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@meshamerica What a way to start the day! How many repeaters do you have up there now? Are they running on solar?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

@triplenickel Love seeing an old Helium miner get a second life! Is it still on the stock antenna, or did you swap in something bigger? Any snags getting it flashed?

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@LangRecker What a run, and that view really does look worth the wind! Which band carried most of the log? What antenna were you running? 73

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

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

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

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

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

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

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

@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?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

@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?

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

@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.

[Watt Drop @WattDrop]

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