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Radio => EmComm/Emergency Power => Topic started by: DragoSapien on August 09, 2014, 11:58:45 PM

Title: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on August 09, 2014, 11:58:45 PM
This is my GO BOX iv been working on. Now I need to work on my Battery and solar panel setup. I hoping to be able to get me a Buddipole deluxe package sometime.

Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on August 10, 2014, 01:02:22 AM
that sure looks nice,
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: AD on August 10, 2014, 09:47:04 AM
Very nice.  Show us the backside to see how you wired it.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Cindy on August 10, 2014, 04:03:57 PM
Cool. 

My stuff is just packed in a super large (insulated) ammo can.  No organization, per se.

-Cindy

Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on August 10, 2014, 06:53:46 PM
Im still embarrassed to show anyone that side yet. LOL    ;D    I still need to get the Powerpole distribution block and the Super PWRgate PG40S. Right now I just have the three radios wired straight to the power supply.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Tevin on August 10, 2014, 07:15:45 PM
This is my GO BOX iv been working on. Now I need to work on my Battery and solar panel setup. I hoping to be able to get me a Buddipole deluxe package sometime.

Wow, I'm impressed. I'm in the planning stages of completely re-doing my go box, due to my first attempt resulting in something that was not as functional as hoped and waaayyy to heavy.

Can I ask what type of case you used? Do the drawer on the bottom and the power strip on top come with it, or are they add-ons? Lastly, what is the LED display top-center? Is that a line monitor?

Very nice!
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on August 10, 2014, 07:41:56 PM
I never could solve the weight issue with everything all set up already,
now I use a pelican case with everything just tossed in,
and it is still to much weight for me to carry very far,
but I guess why they make wheels
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on August 10, 2014, 07:55:04 PM
Heavy is right.  Didnt know it was going to be so heavy.  This is the box I got. Wish I had gotten the 10U.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RotoRack8 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RotoRack8)

I got the 2U 16" L drawer from Amazon. The bottom 18" L 2U shelf is mounted on top of the drawer with the power supply and the 706 mounted to it.  The top shelf is a 10" L 1U and has a Uniden BCD536HP Digital Scanner in the middle.

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BCD536HP-Digital-Mobile-Scanner/dp/B00HZOW5K2/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1407718298&sr=8-10&keywords=bearcat+scanner (http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BCD536HP-Digital-Mobile-Scanner/dp/B00HZOW5K2/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1407718298&sr=8-10&keywords=bearcat+scanner)
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on April 26, 2015, 01:44:05 PM
Yesterday I got to use it for the first time out in the field. Our ham club was in charge of the commutations for the Big Bend Open Road Race. Everything ran off the battery and solar panel. Only used the UHF/VHF and a second UHF. Ran for 12 hours. My first equipment test went grate. There was only some small simple changes I plan to make like an AMP and volt meter to see how the charge is doing from the solar panel. The two guys there are my ham friends that are helping me.

Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on April 26, 2015, 01:45:31 PM
Solar panel on top
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on April 26, 2015, 01:48:01 PM
Getting out of the sun and under an awning.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: AD on April 26, 2015, 01:59:39 PM
First do you mind the license plate showing?

That looks like the box we just bought for our CERT team in chandler. 

Nice Yeti  8)
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on April 26, 2015, 02:09:52 PM
There!!!!!  Fixed it.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Tempstar on April 26, 2015, 08:36:16 PM
Nice job, takes me back. My new one is gonna shrink considerably.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Tempstar on April 26, 2015, 08:37:54 PM
And this one, then I sold the ICOM
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on April 26, 2015, 09:59:10 PM
Ya, mine turned out to be way heaver then I thought it would be. That one I have will be the ARES box. But my next one will be about the size of yours Tempstar. It will be a grab and run setup.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on April 27, 2015, 11:13:54 AM
weight is the biggest issue I am having
I removed the 2M amplifier from my portable setup
even 2 pounds can make a huge change in how easy something is to move around
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on July 03, 2015, 10:27:01 PM
For my e-power I was looking at getting this battery. What do you all think of it. Posting the website and specs. It just the size iv been looking for.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/exide-stowaway-deep-cycle-utility-battery/pid-791646?N=126241233&Ntt=deepcycle+battery&Ntk=All (http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/exide-stowaway-deep-cycle-utility-battery/pid-791646?N=126241233&Ntt=deepcycle+battery&Ntk=All)

Its about the size of a motorcycle battery.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Tevin on July 04, 2015, 07:13:07 AM
For my e-power I was looking at getting this battery. What do you all think of it. Posting the website and specs. It just the size iv been looking for.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/exide-stowaway-deep-cycle-utility-battery/pid-791646?N=126241233&Ntt=deepcycle+battery&Ntk=All (http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/exide-stowaway-deep-cycle-utility-battery/pid-791646?N=126241233&Ntt=deepcycle+battery&Ntk=All)

Its about the size of a motorcycle battery.

Very cool battery but at 23 pounds it will make your go box go a lot slower.

I had an 18 amp-hour battery in my old go box, which was a contributing factor to my old go box being an epic fail. It was just too much. I ended up selling the barely-used battery at a hamfest for less than half of what I paid for it.

I'll be posting about my new go box soon.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on July 04, 2015, 09:00:02 AM
Very cool battery but at 23 pounds it will make your go box go a little slower.

I had an 18 amp-hour battery in my old go box (which was an epic fail). It was just too much. I'll be posing about my new go box soon.
my 7AH battery I can carry was just not enough,
the larger batteries were not that possible to carry
so...
I ordered 8 of these (took over a month to ship and I should get them in a few days)
http://www.electriccarpartscompany.com/10Ah-32V-35C-br-32L-05W-53H-in-br-82-12-135-mm-br-9-oz-255-g-br-Bestgo-Power-Pouch-Cell-br-EV-LiFePO4-Lithium-Pouch-Battery-br-Model-BP-HK-10E_p_274.html
I will get 20AH at 4.5 pounds (total cost is about $200 )
it should be 5 pounds by the time I get done with adding protection circuits and some sort of case

Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on July 05, 2015, 09:06:56 PM
WOW,,,,,Now thats different. Let know how they work.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on July 15, 2015, 11:09:00 PM
Finally got my distribution block done in my go box.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on July 15, 2015, 11:10:47 PM
Close up
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on July 16, 2015, 11:07:16 AM
that looks fantastic
have you tested your circuit breakers to see how well they work on 12V ?
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: DragoSapien on July 16, 2015, 09:17:22 PM
Well I use them out in the field on SCADA systems with 12v battery and solar power. But this is the first time Iv used this stuff in ham radio. Ill be testing it.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: Tevin on July 17, 2015, 07:07:50 AM
Close up

DC circuit breakers in a go box? I'm impressed. Very well done. Almost over done.

But yah, nice work.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: spacecase0 on July 17, 2015, 11:08:10 AM
circuit breakers are super handy, not sure about over done (you need every advantage you can get),
I have had issues with them not tripping fast enough in the past, or tripping at more than double the rating...
they are good at not over currenting your batteries and keeping wires from melting,
but they don't usually protect silicon devices very well (I usually use fast blowing fuses)
that is why I had asked if he had tested them,
I am pretty sure that someone makes ones that work for protecting silicon
and if they are out there, I would love to know what ones they are.
Title: Re: My Go Box
Post by: GreekMan on July 18, 2015, 12:50:24 AM
are they household power breakers of 12V marine ones?