What’s happening at SBARC? Here you will find the latest club news, events, projects, net activities, and news from our special interest groups (SIGS).
Be sure to check in frequently so you don’t miss out on any of the interesting things going on with the club and its members!
We have moved content for the Technical Mentoring and Elmering Net here, and content for the Digital Modes Net here.
Most of us have expensive and sensitive electronic equipment such as radios, power supplies, amplifiers, antenna tuners, and various other pieces of amateur radio gear. Hopefully, most of us also use some sort of surge protection on any of these devices that are exposed to normal AC house power.
Of course, most of us also have computers and we have long been aware that these need surge protection to protect precious data. Unfortunately, for a lot of us, this is about as far as our surge protection efforts go.
Over the past couple of years, we have experienced numerous “planned service interruptions” by Southern California Edison. At last count, mine have totaled 12 since January 2020. Don’t even mention the number of unexpected outages! On more than one occasion voltage surges when power is restored on have damaged my electronics. I have a “smart home” with about 60 remote controlled switches and outlets that are especially vulnerable. Usually when I experience a problem after an outage, it involves reprogramming the switch or outlet. Unfortunately, sometimes the device gets fried and replacements are generally $50+.
Just about everything has some sort of “computer” in it. Last year, after a planned power outage, the main computer board in my Sub Zero refrigerator got fried and a lot of our food spoiled. Luckily I was able to troubleshoot the problem and buy a replacement main board for around $200 and replace it myself. Had it been necessary to call in a Sub Zero trained technician, the cost would have been more than $1200! After this event, I bought a surge protector specifically designed for refrigerators.
I started taking an inventory of everything in my house that used sensitive electronics and realized there were many more items potentially exposed to surge related failure. These include washers and dryers, water softeners, dishwashers, clocks, televisions, stereo components, furnaces, and the list goes on and on. Many of these devices are hard wired and it would be difficult to provide surge protection for each one.
The obvious solution would be some sort of whole-house surge protection. After some research, I found that whole house surge protection would be much easier and far less expensive than I anticipated. What I decided to go with is a simple 2 pole circuit breaker installed in my main electrical panel.
I have Eaton Panels and sub-panels, so I purchased the above surge protector from Amazon for around $75. Eaton uses a very common breaker style and this surge protector is also compatible with most panels from Siemens, Crouse-Hind, Square D, and Cutler Hammer.
My main panel is out by the street and housed the meter and a master shut-off. At the house I have 4 sub panels, one of which acts as the main feed panel with breakers for the other 3 sub panels. This panel also has a phase coupler used for wireline signals in home automation.
Thant’s all there is in this box, so there is plenty of room. As this is the entrance panel, this is the perfect place for the surge protector. There is also a ground rod immediately below this panel so the path to ground is short.
DISCLAIMER: I have many years experience working with “hot” panels. DO NOT attempt this upgrade yourself unless you know what you are doing. Call a licensed electrical contractor to do the work. Let him get electrocuted instead of you!
Here is the inside of the panel. You will not likely be as lucky as I am to have this much room to work and as many spare spaces on the 240vac buss. That is all the more reason to call an electrician to install the surge protector. If your panel is full your electrician can install some piggyback breakers and free up some space.
When dealing with electrical panels, having adequate space is crucial for safe and efficient installation of a surge protector. If your panel is cramped and you’re unable to add a surge protector without causing issues, it’s essential to seek professional help. An experienced Minneapolis electrician can assess your panel’s capacity and determine the best course of action. They have the expertise to safely manage complex electrical systems and ensure that your home remains protected from potential surges.
When tackling electrical upgrades, choosing a reliable professional is key. An experienced electrician will not only handle the surge protector installation but also ensure that your entire electrical system is up to code. The Dream Team Electrician is a top choice for these tasks, known for their expertise in managing both simple and complex electrical needs. Whether you’re dealing with a full panel or need to navigate tight spaces, their skills ensure a safe and efficient solution tailored to your specific situation. By enlisting the help of a trusted electrician, you’re investing in safety and reliability for your home.
After clearing out the spiders, I’ll install the surge protector under the the phase coupler. There is also an easily accessible neutral buss on the left to hook up the surge protector neutral wire.
The surge protector installs like any circuit breaker. It has a white coiled neutral wire that needs to be connected to the neutral buss so the surge protector has a path to ground in case of a voltage surge.
The bottom two photos show the surge protector installed and everything put back together again. The surge protector has a green LED that indicates it is working. You should check the LED regularly and replace the surge protector if the LED is not lit. This now adds whole house surge protection for most normal surge conditions. Total time was less than 15 minutes.
|
Post expires at 4:38pm on Tuesday May 31st, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.
I was hoping to have an in-person meeting this month, but this meeting will be better over Zoom as I am going to need to demonstrate some things on the computer. This works much better over Zoom.
We have changed our membership system and it is now incorporated within the website. Joining SBARC or renewing your membership will be much easier from now on. We’ve added lots of new things and I want to explain them in detail and answer any questions members may have. A lot of hours have gone into this and we went to make sure we’ve done it well so live member feedback will be very valuable.
If we have time, I also want to talk a little about AllStar. We have several members who have retired and/or moved away and would still like to keep in touch and participate in nets. We disabled EchoLink quote awhile back because it caused problems but AllStar is still available and a much better option for keeping in touch remotely. Plus it opens a whole new world of operating.
This is a “do not miss” meeting, so we hope we can get as many of you as possible. Here the details:
Please note that we are including a passcode you you don’t need to wait to be admitted.
Topic: General Club Meeting
Time: Mar 18, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88498904173?pwd=V21vSTNUdDVEaFBzWWxCTlplSktCUT09
Meeting ID: 884 9890 4173
Passcode: 554367
Post expires at 1:00am on Saturday March 19th, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.
We were treated to presentation by Ron Gibbons, PhD W6KKG on his “Life as a Nomadic Field Engineer”. Ron worked in Alaska on the White Alice Communications System in the 50’s and 60’s and in other locations around the world. He has many interesting stories about working in some of the most dangerous places in the world. We’re sure you will enjoy this presentation.
Post expires at 11:22pm on Friday February 18th, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.
The January 2022 monthly club meeting was different than any other we’ve ever done before. We met in Arizona (virtuall)!
Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club asked K6TZ Trustee and SBARC Director at Large Levi – K6LCM if he would do a presentation about SBARC and talk about how our organization operates. OVARC is a club of similar size in Tucson Arizona.This presentation that outlines our many projects and services. We felt that our own members would enjoy the presentation as well since there a lot of things we do to keep SBARC operating that many of our members may not know about. Since their meetings are on the same schedule as ours are, we decided to conduct a joint meeting in January 2022
Post expires at 1:00am on Saturday January 22nd, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.
Talanian visited San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands on Tuesday. (courtesy photo)
Bill Talanian, W1UUQ has set foot on each of the eight California Channel Islands. The SBARC Trustee Emeritus visited San Miguel and San Clemente Islands this week checking off the last two islands on the list in his quest to visit each of the coastal outposts, an accomplishment that few can claim. More people have actually been to the International Space Station than have set foot on all eight Channel Islands.
Marla Daily, a California Channel Islands research historian and president of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, founded the All Eight Club to recognize those who have achieved the feat. Visiting all eight islands is not a simple task. Each requires different visitation arrangements. Five of the eight islands comprise Channel Islands National Park and are open to the public, while two, San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands are controlled by the U.S. military.
“Soon after passing my 90th birthday, I finally got to join the exclusive All Eight Club,” said Talanian. “Perhaps I am only the second SBARC member after Ken Owen, N6KTH, of Channel Islands Restoration. In actuality I have nine islands after spending two days on the little known Rincon Island.”
Members of the All Eight Club. include biologists anthropologists, botanists, ornithologists, zoologists, educators, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, a retired National Park superintendent and park employees, a museum director, a lichenologist, a photographer, a retired judge, and a sea captain. According to Daily, it is the most exclusive recognized geographic club in the world with membership in the low 200s—a tenth of the famous 7 Summits Club.
Listen to “Little Known Club On South Coast has Unique Admissions Test; You Must Visit All 8 Channel Islands” a 2018 KCLU story on the All Eight Club.
*** Be sure to allocate your donation to the “Scholarship Fund” box. ***
In 2021, the Board of Directors created the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation Scholarship Fund to provide annual support to high school seniors with excellent academic records who plan to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) in higher education. Each year, the Scholarship Committee will select one or more high school seniors who will receive up to $1,000 to support their undergraduate studies.
This scholarship is funded entirely through contributions made to the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation Scholarship Fund. Tax-deductible contributions to the Scholarship Fund may be made by clicking here. Learn more and apply at scholarships.sbwireless.org.
While not requirements, preference is given to applicants who are graduating from a high school in Santa Barbara County and who hold an active FCC amateur radio license.
The SB Wireless Foundation Scholarship Fund supports SBARC and SB Wireless’ missions to develop and support an organized and comprehensive educational program in our local communities.
Thank you for your support,
Levi C. Maaia, K6LCM
Scholarship Committee Chair
Scholarship endeavors to support college-bound students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., January 12, 2022 – The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation is accepting applications for its new scholarship in support of students who intend on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a college bound high school senior in May 2022.
Applicants must be high school seniors who plan to study Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics in higher education and should have an excellent academic record. While not requirements, preference is given to applicants who are graduating from a high school in Santa Barbara County and who hold an active Federal Communications Commission amateur radio license.
The application period is open through April 30, 2022. Applications may be completed online at: scholarships.sbwireless.org
The scholarship is funded through contributions made to the Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation Scholarship Fund. Tax-deductible donations to the Scholarship Fund may be made at the Foundation’s website.
The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation (www.sbwireless.org) and the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (www.sbarc.org) together form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public benefit corporation organized to promote education for persons interested in telecommunications, to disseminate information about scientific discoveries and progress in the field of wireless communications, and to train communicators for public service and emergency communications. The organization also encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and promotes the highest standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of communications.
Media Contact
Levi C. Maaia, Director-at-Large
lcm@maaia.com • 805-604-5384
Post expires at 9:54pm on Tuesday March 1st, 2022 but will still be available in the archives.
