[time-nuts] Portable standard

[Joseph Gray]

If I were to buy an HP 10811A OCXO to use as a portable, battery
powered frequency standard, how would you recommend that it be powered
and packaged? Assume that the final package would be powered 24/7 and
sitting on a shelf most of the time. Prior to portable use, it would
be checked against my GPSDO. Portable use would probably be at worse a
few days, but more likely less than a day.

I'm thinking of using a couple of 12V, 7AH SLA batteries and float
charging them. Some charge circuits use pulsing current for SLA
batteries. Would this affect the OCXO?

Obviously too much air flow will be a problem. Can the OCXO, batteries
and associated circuitry be sealed in a box with no vent holes (not
strictly air tight)? What about putting the OCXO in a small styrofoam
box by itself? Will that cause overheating or other issues? How about
vent holes in the overall enclosure and baffles around the OCXO to
minimize air flow?

Should I forget the whole idea and just buy a rubidium?

Joe Gray
W5JG