6400 Max Supply Voltage

Delbert McCord

My 6400 runs in my barn where of my Battery band for my solar power setup. Here in Michigan is gets cold and when its cold the panels are more efficient. I am wondering what the max voltage I can feed into the Flex 6400. I have read on a post someone said 15 volts. When the Charge Controller sees a good sunny day and the bank is changed it goes into equalizing mode which takes the voltage way up (today is was 15.87 when I turned off the panel). When I set up this system years ago I had ICOM's and I asked them and they said 13.8 + - 15% so that gave me a max voltage of 15.87 which is why I turned off the single panel what was charging at the time. 

I have 115 volts out here if I need it and I could connect a Switching power supply to just the Flex but I really would rather be using the free power I worked so hard to build. 

What would happen if the voltage gets to high? Will the rig just turn off or will it hurt the 6400? 

Thank you for any information people can send my way.
Delbert McCord K8OCN

Bill -VA3WTB

Greg N8GD

You should be safe at 15.87 VDC.  The 6400 Hardware Manual lists the input voltage the same as your Icom: 13.8 VDC +/- 15%, which gives the 15.87 VDC maximum figure for the 6400.  After the voltage drop through the supply cable and the lossy power poles, you'll certainly be under the 15.87 VDC figure.

Steve K9ZW

Kind of wondering why the direct feed? Do only some PVA setups use batteries? Appreciated your information that the effectiveness improves at low temps. Hadn’t known that. Would doing a slight drop-down by transformer and then running the say max 12vdc through a “booster regulator” like TGE used to build give you a steady supply voltage? While TGE is closed, the Nov 2004 QST article has build information http://www.repeater-builder.com/backup-power/pdfs/the-n8xjk-boost-regulator.pdf and a West Mountain Radio does an updated N8XJK Boost Regulator as a commerical product. Expect there are others, and one place to check would be for marine use. 73 Steve K9ZW Blog: http://k9zw.wordpress.com

Ha Gei

Delbert McCord