[MRCA] 24V Power Distribution in a Vehicle

[W2HX]

Breck, thanks very much for this info. Question, do you not fuse the individual circuits coming off the bus?


73 Eugene W2HX

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of B. Smith
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 6:36 PM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MRCA] 24V Power Distribution in a Vehicle

I prefer simple barrier strips, you will always have a "power" connector, in a emergency or during a "field exercise"  you can simply strip the end of the wire and put the wire under the screw and tighten-   -   -   -  but it is best to use terminals crimped with a professional crimp-er. With this  barrier strip system you can hook up some one else's equipment easily as well as emergency equipment and accessories.  Throw powerpole and other "ham"  junk connectors in the trash.  Install a master barrier strip connected direct to the battery and then run wiring to sub strips in the vehicle. PAINT positive  screws RED and NEGATIVE screws BLACK to help prevent those little screw ups while your are in the field.

Run your DC "BUSS" wiring from the "positive" and the "negative" terminals of the battery  for best  noise reduction. DON'T use the vehicle ground. Run a ground wire. Use the largest wire you can find for positive and negative wires. Hint: go to a welding supply store and purchase welding cable. Run wiring through insulated grommets etc.  FUSE both the positive and the negative AT THE BATTERY  with , I prefer a cartridge fuse and a cover.(shown in the photo to the left)

When fusing your mobile equipment make sure that the radio's fuse holder connections grasp the fuse completely around each end, some fuse holders just make connection by pushing on the tip of the fuse via spring force and the this does not provide very much contact area.  It doesn't take much resistance in a connection to lower your voltage at 14 volts and it also over heats.

Battery Connection: Obtain side post converters , see picture, CAUTION check the length of the bolt  when installing and make sure you do not go through the battery case.

Best noise reduction  replace the cable to your radio with larger cable.  Cut off your original cable near the radio within a couple of inches and splice in another cable (solder the splice with a "large iron".

Z


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On 6/24/2013 9:44 PM, W2HX wrote:
Ok, along the lines of my recent posts about 24V converters. What are you folks doing to distribute 24V around you vehicles (comm shelters, etc)? Are you just hardwiring into a fuse panel? ATC or Glass fuses? Is anyone using circuit breaker panels that double as on/off switches for the units? Anyone using some meters to watch VDC and Amps?

Is there an email group for combination milradio/milvehicle owners?



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