SternWake
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- Nov 30, 2013
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My friend is a stick and bricker, who has a 4x4 truck, and an ARB chest fridge.
He wants a capable powerpack, that can also be used in two other vehicles, so nothing permanently mounted.
So I blew his mind with all the options when trying to inform him just how far it could be taken and trying to see just how far he wanted to take it.
Basically I got the Go ahead, and his credit card, to order what I thought best, within reason.
I'll be running 2 awg cable to his 160 amp alternator, through a huge Winch connector capable of passing 500 amps+ for short durations
A Lifeline group31 XT 125 AH AGM battery will be the heart of the system
A Progressive Dynamics PD9245 converter will be the grid powered charging source, and while not a perfect charger for the Lifeline AGM, it is a pretty good match, and can be left plugged into the grid indefinitely to float the battery after it reaches full charge. It could also be powered by a Honda 1000 watt generator which I recommended in the first place, which he might acquire at a later date.
A Wagan 400 watt Pure sine wave inverter will provide clean 120vAC from the AGM.
BlueSeas fuse block, USB power supply, and ciggy receptacles, and a manual ON/OFF switch will be used.
An ANL fuse holder with 120 amp fuse will protect the 2awg cabling.
I will mount all components in a burly plywood enclosure with proper ventilation for converter, inverter, and battery.
There will be a stout handle(s) as it will weigh 100Lbs or so, and many different methods to attach it securely in any of the three vehicles.
At this point, a Voltmeter will have to suffice for guessing/estimating the battery state of charge. He was reluctant to go with an ammeter or amp hour counter at this point, but I will leave room for their addition later. His eyes crossed a bit when I started going into battery care and estimating state of charge, So I am just said, for now, turn off the fridge when you see 12.1v while the fridge compressor is running, unless it is an emergency. Better to have reduced the battery capacity than get food poisoning from spoiled food.
I'll have some 45 amp Anderson Powerpole connectors ready to be employed, as he plans on getting a good air compressor, and he will also be getting a renogy suitcase 100 watts of Solar, or similar, at a later date, and these connectors will make things simple to connect.
I'll be adding alternator charge feeds to his other vehicles at a later date, So I will then be able to upgrade the power pack as well if he wants an Ammeter.
His wife was not so stoked on the price of all these components, and then their power went out, and then, by candle light, she agreed. He's been pushing this as kind of like an earthquake kit too.
Without the 352+tax AGM battery the component cost, so far is 665$.
Glue screws, plywood, 10awg, and various other connectors will also up the final material cost.
He will get a bro deal on labor, but it will still be a significant amount of labor as I still need to design it all, to fit and be ergonomic, well, as ergonomic as a hundred pound plywood box can be.
But I'm kind of thinking that such a product might be desirable for vehicular dwellers.
If a lesser Deka intimidator AGM battery were used as the heart, then lesser cabling costs, and charger costs would lower the price and ability of the unit, but not really the labor.
Anyway, it's been a while since I've looked forward to a project, and this one basically encompasses many of my carpentry and electrical skills and knowledge.
Now I got to get a better handle on Lithium batteries, as Lead Acid's days are numbered.
He wants a capable powerpack, that can also be used in two other vehicles, so nothing permanently mounted.
So I blew his mind with all the options when trying to inform him just how far it could be taken and trying to see just how far he wanted to take it.
Basically I got the Go ahead, and his credit card, to order what I thought best, within reason.
I'll be running 2 awg cable to his 160 amp alternator, through a huge Winch connector capable of passing 500 amps+ for short durations
A Lifeline group31 XT 125 AH AGM battery will be the heart of the system
A Progressive Dynamics PD9245 converter will be the grid powered charging source, and while not a perfect charger for the Lifeline AGM, it is a pretty good match, and can be left plugged into the grid indefinitely to float the battery after it reaches full charge. It could also be powered by a Honda 1000 watt generator which I recommended in the first place, which he might acquire at a later date.
A Wagan 400 watt Pure sine wave inverter will provide clean 120vAC from the AGM.
BlueSeas fuse block, USB power supply, and ciggy receptacles, and a manual ON/OFF switch will be used.
An ANL fuse holder with 120 amp fuse will protect the 2awg cabling.
I will mount all components in a burly plywood enclosure with proper ventilation for converter, inverter, and battery.
There will be a stout handle(s) as it will weigh 100Lbs or so, and many different methods to attach it securely in any of the three vehicles.
At this point, a Voltmeter will have to suffice for guessing/estimating the battery state of charge. He was reluctant to go with an ammeter or amp hour counter at this point, but I will leave room for their addition later. His eyes crossed a bit when I started going into battery care and estimating state of charge, So I am just said, for now, turn off the fridge when you see 12.1v while the fridge compressor is running, unless it is an emergency. Better to have reduced the battery capacity than get food poisoning from spoiled food.
I'll have some 45 amp Anderson Powerpole connectors ready to be employed, as he plans on getting a good air compressor, and he will also be getting a renogy suitcase 100 watts of Solar, or similar, at a later date, and these connectors will make things simple to connect.
I'll be adding alternator charge feeds to his other vehicles at a later date, So I will then be able to upgrade the power pack as well if he wants an Ammeter.
His wife was not so stoked on the price of all these components, and then their power went out, and then, by candle light, she agreed. He's been pushing this as kind of like an earthquake kit too.
Without the 352+tax AGM battery the component cost, so far is 665$.
Glue screws, plywood, 10awg, and various other connectors will also up the final material cost.
He will get a bro deal on labor, but it will still be a significant amount of labor as I still need to design it all, to fit and be ergonomic, well, as ergonomic as a hundred pound plywood box can be.
But I'm kind of thinking that such a product might be desirable for vehicular dwellers.
If a lesser Deka intimidator AGM battery were used as the heart, then lesser cabling costs, and charger costs would lower the price and ability of the unit, but not really the labor.
Anyway, it's been a while since I've looked forward to a project, and this one basically encompasses many of my carpentry and electrical skills and knowledge.
Now I got to get a better handle on Lithium batteries, as Lead Acid's days are numbered.