7. Power

Several options exist for powering a GPS receiver in the field. AC power may be used when available, with battery back up in case of a power outage. Remote sites usually require battery power, and solar panels can be added to extend battery life or provide continuous power. The battery capacity and solar panels required depend on several factors, including survey period, receiver power consumption, charging options, weight limitations getting to the site, and amount of sunlight available. During field campaigns, charging batteries between surveys is critical and must be factored in when planning field logistics. AC battery chargers and solar panels are available for this purpose. Always double check battery capacity before leaving an unattended site.

UNAVCO provides rechargeable 12 Ah batteries for field use. These batteries weigh 10 lbs each, and will typically power the following receivers as indicated:

Trimble 4000 SSE and SSi receivers: 8 hours

Trimble 4700 receivers: 16 hours

Battery capacity will vary depending on the condition of the individual battery, and will decrease at low temperatures or with battery age.

UNAVCO also provides power cables that can be used with larger deep-cycle batteries to extend the receiver run time to several days or weeks, depending on the Ah capacity of the batteries.

1. Typical power configurations
2. Typical charging configurations

Last modified Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 20:57:00 MST

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