Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
 ·T-Mobile US
3 edits | A Mobile/Vehicle Power System
Under hood | 
Feed from alt to dist | 
Fuse protection | 
Battery | 
Xantrex | 
120 volt distribution | 
Radio power | 
Buss Guard |
The original system consisted of two number 10 copper feeds from the cars battery one fused 30 amp positive feed and the other a return negative which was run to the trunk mounted accessories in addition to that wiring as radios where installed and removed their power cables where added to the point it was not manageable so something had to be done.
I planned on doing this once and correct so my list of requirements where.
After a dead battery a time or two while operating with the engine off was the system must have an isolatable battery which if drained dead would not leave me stranded again.
The trunk mounted inverter needs more power then the so called 150 watt unit that was installed.
The second battery must have in addition to the vehicles power system a separate method of being recharged and that separate charging system while on 120 volt power should be able to run all of the 12 volt DC loads while connected to shore power or a generator.
Going forward with that baseline I designed a framework out of 11 gauge ¾ inch angle iron to hold a couple of backboards to mount radios on and a lower frame to hold a 27 series battery.
Starting in the front of the car I installed an upgraded 200 amp alternator not so much for the total output but for the fact it provides considerably more amperage at idle which I tend to do a lot of time doing. I upgraded the wire from the alternator to the distribution block with a #2 copper lead and added a 200 amp fuse at the alternator to protect it from an output short and the feed to the trunk was upgraded to #6 copper.
In the trunk I installed an East Penn/Deka 92 Ah AGM battery upon which I connected two copper buss bars allowing for an easy and safe way of connecting my equipment and anything I may wish to add in the future.
Each load and or feed wired to the buss bar has it own in-line fuse allowing the failure of one to not affect the others.
When it came to the inverter/charger I killed two birds with one stone with a Xantrex Freedom 458 1Kw inverter 50 amp charger I picked up at the Dania marine flea market last year. Yea 1 Kw might be overkill but it has load sensing so it idles at a low amperage rate until a load is applied and has a nice clean output and the 50 amp regulated output will support my radios even without a battery.
Wayne
--
Yeah, there's a storm on the loose, sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode - my whole life spins into a frenzy
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dandeman
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-05
Chapel Hill, NC
 ·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | Nice...
We sell and install Deka AGM batteries for our commercial customers.. Absolutely top notch AGM in that capacity range..
I also have a dual battery system in my Toyota 4Runner.. Very comforting to have when venturing out into remote parts of the country.. Actually had a battery start failing with no advance notice (probable cell strap crack) while out in a remote area near the Grand Tetons.. It was load tested prior to the trip.. |
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KeysCapt
Premium,Mod
join:2001-07-11
Keys Exile
clubs:
Host:
Time Warner Cable ..
Weather
Ham Radio
Sports Chat
| reply to Splitpair
Very nicely done Wayne, thanks for sharing.
Now happily residing in the FAQ, where it will most likely make you world-famous. 
»Amateur Radio »AC Power From Your Car - One Example |
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Axilla
Finger, Finger
Premium,Mod
join:2001-03-26
Schofield, WI
clubs: | reply to Splitpair
So the second batter can be charged off the vehicle or off of AC? Or did I read that completely wrong? |
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KeysCapt
Premium,Mod
join:2001-07-11
Keys Exile
clubs: | The way I interpreted it, the second battery must be able to power all connected radio equipment while being charged by 117VAC from AC Mains or a separate generator. |
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Axilla
Finger, Finger
Premium,Mod
join:2001-03-26
Schofield, WI
clubs: | Well in that case the same could by acomplished with a battery isolator. |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ | reply to Splitpair
That's pretty neat. When I was a kid I remember a similar system in an RV we had (no inverter, just 12V for the camper lights, water pump, etc.). Same protection against draining the main battery. One question, how is the trunk battery vented? |
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Axilla
Finger, Finger
Premium,Mod
join:2001-03-26
Schofield, WI
clubs: | He is using an AGM (applied glass mat) battery. This type of battery is sealed and would only vent if it were to fail. At that point im sure you would notice.  |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
| reply to Axilla
said by Axilla  :So the second batter can be charged off the vehicle or off of AC? Or did I read that completely wrong? When the car is running power is applied to the rear battery through a 50 amp relay connected to the ignition allowing the alternator to charge and run the trunk mounted equipment. When the car is off the rear battery is isolated by that relay from the vehicles electrical system but can be charged by the Xantrex. I have an override on the relay which allows me to charge both batteries off of the Xantrex should that be required.
Make sense?
Wayne
--
Yeah, there's a storm on the loose, sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode - my whole life spins into a frenzy
|
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
| reply to sporkme
said by sporkme : One question, how is the trunk battery vented? Under normal operation an AGM battery does not require venting however hydrogen gas is something not to be trifled with so while it cannot be seen there are two 2" 12 volt muffin fans installed behind the rear seat which move air from the cabin into the trunk when ever the ignition is in the on position or the charger is receiving shore power.
Wayne
--
Yeah, there's a storm on the loose, sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode - my whole life spins into a frenzy
|
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
| reply to Splitpair
BTW the radio on the right is a Motorola Maratrac which is a programmable 99 channel 100 watt VHF with a range of 144-174 mHz.
Being mode programmable it is quite flexible as to how channels are utilized such a priority and scan.
Wayne
--
Yeah, there's a storm on the loose, sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode - my whole life spins into a frenzy
|
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mr weather
Premium
join:2002-02-27
Mississauga, ON
| I was going to say that looked like a Moto drawer of some kind.
Yeah, commercial gear has a lot more flexibility that regular ham gear. I've got a Kenwood 90 Series dual-band in the car: two drawers, one head.
Oh and nice job on the power system!
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"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes |
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LazMan
join:2003-03-26
Angus, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
| reply to Splitpair
TPL fuses, 3/4 x 1/4 bus? Been shopping at work again?
Very clean install - like the distribution busses on the battery, and the neat wiring - but I'd expect nothing less from a fellow phone guy.
Laz |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
| said by LazMan :TPL fuses, 3/4 x 1/4 bus? Been shopping at work again? No, no, no. I learn at work and buy on e-bay. They pay me enough I have no need to find parts at work.
Clean install - like the distribution busses on the battery, and the neat wiring - but I'd expect nothing less from a fellow phone guy.
Laz
Considering the source I sincerely appreciate that comment.
Wayne
--
Yeah, there's a storm on the loose, sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode - my whole life spins into a frenzy
|
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LazMan
join:2003-03-26
Angus, ON | I'm flattered - thanks, Wayne...
Heath |
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CyberRage
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-21
Jasper, AL | reply to Splitpair
Very nice.
How much did the 200 amp alternator drop your fuel economy? |
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AMD Phreak
Premium
join:2003-12-14 | reply to Splitpair
Nice job Wayne.
Funny you have an old Moto in there.... We just were talking about how those old radios are still in fleet use and just wont die. |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs:
| reply to CyberRage
I've swapped out alternators in many vehicles for higher amperage units, and have never noticed a fuel economy drop.
*IF* you're really loading it down, then yes, the fuel economy might drop, but I doubt if it would be significant.
--
One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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Digital
As-Salamu Alaykum
Premium
join:2000-07-24
Mentor, OH
| reply to Splitpair
Is that a crown victoria? It looks like the 4.6 V8 ... I ask because I'm looking to actually use the CVPI that I have for it's intended usage ... a lot of radios.
--
Cædite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
·T-Mobile US
| said by Digital :Is that a crown victoria? It looks like the 4.6 V8 ... Yes it's an 02 base model not a CVPI.
Wayne
--
If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some bennies you ain't a technician.
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