[Rover] 12v Power Budget & Delivery

[Ev Tupis]

Very nice, Rick!  A couple of questions...
How long is the #8 wire between the main battery and the "aux" batteries?
I'm interested in the "dressing and termination" of the power cables, too.  How do you route the #8 wire to the operating location? -and- How do you terminate it at the operating location when not in use as a rover?
Also...are you a 1-op rover (1 band at a time) or do you use this setup with another op (TXing on multiple bands at the same time)?
Finally...which voltage booster (make/model) did you decide upon?

Again, thanks for your very thorough reply!
Ev

      From: Rick R <rick1ds at hotmail.com>
 To: Ev Tupis <w2ev at yahoo.com>; Rover's for VHF Contesting and Grid Square Collecting <rover at mailman.qth.net> 
 Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 10:48 PM
 Subject: Re: [Rover] 12v Power Budget & Delivery
   
I have six 12V deep discharge batteries in the rover. Two in parallel for bands ABCD and their amplifiers, Two in parallel for all micros and the 300W AC inverter for rotors and keeping laptop charged and small 12V DC bulbs for interior illumination. Two others in series for the amps that require 24-28VDC. I charge them (not the 24V series ones) continuously while operating by running my engine. I have a 400W 2m amp, 160W 6m amp, 120W 222 amp, 100W 432 amp, 100W 902 amp, 120W 1296 amp, 80W 2304 amp, 40W 3.4amp, 10W on 5G, 8W on 10G and 2W on 24G. The two in series generally last all contest as the 903 and 2304 amps that use it are only on briefly for a few dozen Q's.

I use a 50 amp fuse from the main battery, #8 cable to a 100 amp solenoid to switch the charging from the van's stock alternator, which I think is about a 65A unit (2004 Ford E150). I monitor the charge amperage and the battery voltages with analog meters. I have, but have not used voltage boosters that can supply 13.8V from your 12V batteries, but drains them quicker. As it turns out, when my battery power sags, my FT736 behaves poorly, especially on 432. I ought to add the volltage booster for that rig.

I have not experienced any problems with this arrangement, although there are those that will tell you that charging the batteries in a closed environment is problematic--but I keep some open window and the heat on in winter, and open the doors in summer, and I have also kept the A/C on.

When I have the opportunity, I can use a 35 or 50A Astron to put in parallel with the batteries. I also have a Honda 2KW Inverter generator and a battery charger. But I have never used them in the rover. My batteries have a lifespan of about 5 years.

Others have used those gigantic golf cart batteries (if you can lift them) and the Jacobson Accuvolt boosters. They charge the batteries only while in motion between stops. Many have also upgraded their alternators into the 100-150A range.  GL, 73, Rick  K1DS/R
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