PLT OF AN SEL SMA LOST ALL ELECTRICAL DURING CLB IN IMC UNDER AN IFR FLT PLAN. RPTR USED A HAND-HELD NAVCOM RADIO TO TURN AROUND AND DSND TO A NEARBY VFR ARPT WHICH HE JUST FLEW OVER AFTER PICKING UP HIS IFR CLRNC.

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WAS ENRTE FROM SCHROON LAKE; NY (RB7); TO GAITHERSBURG; MD (GAI); ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER 'OPENING' MY IFR FLT PLAN WITH ALB APCH JUST BEFORE PASSING GLENS FALLS; NY (GFL). (THERE ARE NO PHONES OR RCO'S AT SCHROON LAKE.) I WAS CLRED 'AS FILED' TO 8000 FT FROM MY VFR ALT OF APPROX 2500 FT. I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN IMC AT ABOUT 4500 FT; WHILE STILL CLBING. I PULLED OUT MY HAND-HELD NAVCOM; WITH MY HEADSET ADAPTER AND AFTER MOMENTARILY CONSIDERING COMPLIANCE WITH FAR 91.185; DECIDED NOT TO. I'D JUST FLOWN OVER GFL; KNEW IT WAS APPROX 2500 FT OVCST; AND HAD A RADIAL RIGHT TO IT AND IT WAS ONLY 10-15 MI BEHIND ME. I HAD MY FAMILY IN WITH ME; HOME WAS 350 MI AWAY; MY BATTERIES MIGHT NOT (PROBABLY WOULD NOT) LAST THAT LONG; AND THERE WAS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY LIKELY TO CROSS MY PATH NEAR NYC THAT I MIGHT BLUNDER INTO INCOMMUNICADO! I MADE A DSCNT TO GFL (KNEW IT WAS WITHOUT MOUNTAINS FOR SEVERAL MI) AND LANDED AND HAD REPAIRS MADE. THERE'S A FAR FOR RADIO FAILURE; BUT THERE OUGHT TO BE ONE FOR TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE! I THINK I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE; FARS NOTWITHSTANDING.