added new blog post "Building the Hardrock-50"

content/post/building-the-hardrock50.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+title: "Building the Hardrock-50"
+type: post
+author: micha
+date: 2021-08-07T22:00:00+02:00
+tags:
+ - Ham Radio
+ - Hardware
+url: /building-the-hardrock50/
+---
+
+The [Hardrock-50](https://www.hobbypcb.com/index.php/products/hf-radio/hardrock-50-hf-power-amp) is a very nice 50W short wave amplifier that comes as a kit. The package includes everything needed for building the amp. There were some optional modules available (QSK Mezzanine add-on board and an automatic ATU) which I decided not to order since I am very happy with my [ATU-100](/atu-100/). The Hardrock-50 includes an interface to some rigs including my FT-817 which allows automatic band selection. For this, nn additional but easily buildable Sub-D to Mini DIN cable is needed. Shipping of the kit to DL was fast but quite expensive.
+
+The kit includes the enclosure, 3 PCBs, all necessary hardware, cables etc. A manual is not included but can be found on [here](https://sites.google.com/site/hardrock50beta/hardrock-50-builders-information-site/hardrock-50-builders-portals/sn1400-and-up-builders-portal). The manual is the most detailed guide i've ever seen for a kit. 
+
+![hr50-1.jpg](/img/hr50-1.jpg)
+
+All SMD parts are already pre-soldered so the parts list is quite managable. The first steps consist of assembling the front and back panels. The front panel assembly is quite tricky but no problem if you follow the manual step by step.
+
+The next steps are winding the toroids / transformators and then populating the main PCB.
+
+Only then I realized that the main PCB will be mounted upside down on the top of the enclosure - which is the heat sink. The MOSFETs are placed on the PCBs bottom side together with a temperature sensor and are therefore mechanically/thermally connected with the heat sink part of the enclosure.
+
+![hr50-2.jpg](/img/hr50-2.jpg)
+
+![hr50-3.jpg](/img/hr50-3.jpg)
+
+![hr50-4.jpg](/img/hr50-4.jpg)
+
+After the PCB has been mounted on the heat sink, the remaining tasks of the assembly is some internal wiring:
+
+![hr50-5.jpg](/img/hr50-5.jpg)
+
+The last step is the pretty simple alignment procedure where the DC bias is adjusted. No special tools are needed, just a basic digital multimeter:
+
+![hr50-6.jpg](/img/hr50-6.jpg)
+
+Here's a picture of the completed build:
+
+![hr50-7.jpg](/img/hr50-7.jpg)
+
+
+I can highly recommend this kit for anyone who has some basic soldering skills and needs a small but solid HF amplifier.

content/post/solar-powered-shack.md

@@ -12,10 +12,11 @@ url: /solar-powered-shack/
 I have always been fascinated by the infrastructural independence of ham radio stations. You can use them to communicate with people around the world without being dependent on the infrastructure of large companies - apart from the power supply. In order to free myself from this dependency, i have now decided to test the use of a photovoltaic system. For this I have acquired the following:
 
   * 30W solar panel
+  * 100W solar panel
   * Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller
   * 22Ah AGM battery 
 
-The solar panel is mounted on a flat roof at a 30 degree angle facing south and connected to the MPPT charge controller in the shack via a 2.5mm2 cable. The Power Pole distributon block is now directly connected to the load output of the charge controller and draws its power from the AGM battery.
+The solar panels are mounted on a flat roof at a 30 degree angle facing south and connected to the MPPT charge controller in the shack via a 2.5mm2 cable. The Power Pole distributon block is now directly connected to the load output of the charge controller and draws its power from the AGM battery.
 
 In order to reduce the power consumption in the shack, I swapped the old shack laptop for an even older android tablet with Termux installed. The tablet is connected to the PV system via a DC/DC converter.
 
@@ -26,5 +27,8 @@ After 2 weeks now, despite the sometimes very bad weather, I can say that the sy
   * LED shacksign (I know...)
   * 7" Kindle Fire with Lineage OS
   * chargers for my HTs
+  * DC 12V to AC 230V converter
 
 Very happy so far!
+
+Update: Added a second panel with 100W and edited this post.

themes/amberterm

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-Subproject commit 641cb536cf5ae4c374567627fb3b7c37a2125ebd
+Subproject commit 3dc276307ab337d8773b08039870f709a2272ff6