LiFePO4 Ham Radio Battery Box / Solar Generator
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- A look at my LiFePO4 Ham Radio Battery Box / Solar Generator
Get it here: k8mrd.square.site
Watch the Video: • Big Geek 12V Ham Radio...
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Follow me on Twitter. / k8mrd
Here are links to what I used to build the boxes:
Usb outlet:
amzn.to/3fhPORt
Watt meter:
amzn.to/3fg0sIo
LED lights:
amzn.to/3yCT4yb
Wire:
amzn.to/34bO2uG
Powerpole Crimping Tool:
amzn.to/34hvGZc
Switches:
amzn.to/3ffV5J2
Anderson Powerpole Chassis (4):
amzn.to/2StpBXe
Anderson Powerpole Chassis (2):
amzn.to/3wxd6IU
Miady 16ah batteries:
amzn.to/3bTCMYh
Bioenno 20AH Battery:
www.bioennopow...
Bioenno Charge Controller:
amzn.to/3vw2Pg1
Harbor Freight Small Ammo Box:
www.harborfrei...
Harbor Freight Large Ammo Box:
www.harborfrei...
Here's a bunch of links to stuff I use.
Yaesu FT-891:amzn.to/2XaTkof
Xiegu X5105: amzn.to/2U4jrtM
Xiegu G90: amzn.to/30fszPD
Bioenno BLF-1203W: amzn.to/3bXsRhP
Bioenno BLF-1203AB: amzn.to/39OAW74
Bioenno BLF-1206A: amzn.to/2XaWQ1L
Bioenno 20AH LiFePO4 Battery: amzn.to/2XfZPWT
Bioenno 12AH LiFePO4 Battery: amzn.to/2WHU9kp
Bioenno Charge Controller: www.bioennopow...
Battery Charger: amzn.to/2YARsSt
Rich Solar 100 Watt Panel: amzn.to/3enp4vD
Carhartt Lunch Box: amzn.to/2xQfbGO
Shakespear 20' Wonderpole: amzn.to/2Rd9IiG
Powerwerx Power Pole Crimping Tool: amzn.to/3eDbpSo
Powerwerx Power Pole Distribution Block: amzn.to/2WHI3Ym
Powerwerx Volt Meter: amzn.to/2IG8AAw
Ailunce HD1: amzn.to/35HqBYZ
Baofeng UV-5R: amzn.to/2Ot3NX7
Tactical Backpack amzn.to/2k6jya7
Condor Rip EMT Pouch: amzn.to/2XjLUPG
iPad mini Bluetooth Keyboard: amzn.to/2IOtI7o
Red Rock Outdoors Sling Pack: amzn.to/2FdCKdf
Portable Operating for Amateur Radio Kindle: amzn.to/2X3I7EU
Portable Operating for Amateur Radio paperback: amzn.to/330xW7J
I may make a small commission on purchases made through the links above.
Be sure and subscribe to these great channels:
Ham Radio 2.0: / hamradio20
Ham Radio Crash Course: / hoshnasi
KG6HQD: / @kg6hqdjerrysota
N0SSC: / n0ssc
K6UDA Radio: / k6uda
K8MRD Radio Stuff: / k8mrdradiostuff
Signal Search: / channel
Ham Radio Now: / hamradionow
Kyle - AA0Z: / kyleaa0z
SevenForty1: / sevenforty1
100 Watts and a Wire Podcast: 100wattsandawir...
DX Commander: / m0mcx
W6RIP Radio Adventures: / 11dayscrape
The Smokin Ape: / thesmokinape
Goodgame Ham Radio, Bees, and Outdoors: / goodgamehamradiobeesou...
Temporarily Offline: / temporarilyoffline
K0LWC: / k0lwc
#solargenerator #lifepo4 #hamradiobatterybox
Big geek and little geek were the submersible drones from ‘The Abyss’. Great movie that I have been waiting for to come out in 4K HDR.
Hey you got it!! Love that movie.
I knew the names sounded familiar, couldn't put my finger on it while watching. Ive got one miady and been wanting to get a second to do something similar to big geek. KE0VNY
Yes that was it!! I couldn’t remember and when I saw Abyss it all came back to me. Have a good one!
Cool movie and great reference.
Thanks for listing the components. Might add/replace some on my box. I was glad that I used a metal ammo can on mine. Ran over with my trailer last weekend but survived & was able to Pota hard. Only killed a few of my bulkhead connector items from grinding on the trail. Thanks!
No problem, thanks for watching. Stop running over your batteries though lol!! Good thing nothing was damaged too much.
I love your builds. Thanks for the flashy USB-C port idea, nowadays I find I'm only using that for charging my devices since it's so FREAKING FAST.
Awe, thanks Dennis. It was pure luck that I picked that usb from Amazon! It really is stupid fast.
MIKE, you can tape the whole inside of the box with Aluminum tape then spray it with Flex Seal (so it does not short anything) to give it a little more RF suppression. I did that for a small portable battery PS I made. it cut my noise down from some of the cheap Buck converters and charge controller to almost nothing!!! de N6KV.
That’s a really good idea. I may have to do that with Little Geek. Thanks for the tip.
Hi Mike,
Great video. Little Geek and Big Geek is from the movie the Abyss. I once saw the directors cut and what they cut out made a huge difference than in the theatrical version. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
Thanks Don. I'll have to check out the directors cut if I can find it.
@@hamradiotube Hi Mike,
The scene where he types "Have some new friends down here" the next ten minutes in the directors cut has you making sense of the movie. Off all the cuts made, they should have kept that one in.
Mike, I like your build. I was wondering how are you connecting your battery charger?
That's a nice little meter.
Fantastic video mate. You explain things the way my brain works. That box is amazing!
Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice piece of kit if you got the space, the Uk sell them for around $75 with x1 Anderson connector t bar, 10a cigarette lighter socket, 2x USB and volt metre.
This a great little build BTW 👍👍
Surprisingly there’s few people using Anderson powerpoles on their solar generators. Glad to see it and I hope it catches on in the commercial generators too
Yeah I know. It's an imperfect world for sure. Most of the boxes I've seen weren't made by hams though so it makes sense. A lot of ice fishing guys have done boxes like these that I've seen. If only they know of the awesomeness that is the Anderson Powerpole.
Thanks for the video & links! I could use a power-distribution box. I've currently got the Bioenno battery, the power meter, & the charge controller separate so transportation is cumbersome. BTW I agree w/Aaron that the names come from The Abyss. 73!
Well put it all in a box and you’re good to go. And it is The Abyss.
Love the names Mike. They come from an awesome movie, The Abyss.
Hi Mike ... Gud vidieo! My batt box is much like your BIG GEEK box but yours has a few more innovations that I really like... so mine might get revamped...😁 I think your boxes are well laid out. My mess inside is much like yours . You can see my go boxes on my QRZ page. Thanks to your channel I’ve been inspired to set up my POTA ops! My first activation was last week and came off without a hitch...👍 keep up the great work. I’ll keep an ear out when POTAing to get a QSO with you.... 73... Fred ... W0SP
Hey look at that it is, I like the orange color too! Awesome to hear you're getting involved in POTA too. Its such a great program. Love the DX Commander setup. I've been thinking of doing something similar at my qth.
I just wired up that same meter to my solar subsystem in my shack. Cool device.
I've got the Movie The Abyss. Love it. One of the newer classics and earliest CGI movies.
Heck yeah. Not too many people get that! Great movie.
🤜🏻👍🤛🏻❤❤❤
I love this after dark idea!
Me too. I'm never home anymore when the regular one goes on. Honestly this is way past my bedtime usually I just really wanted to get this filmed and posted so I stayed up late.
Good tines when you need to get the batteries out lol. Nice build
Hi Mike great video I really did enjoy you talking about your power boxes. As far as the wiring yes concern it looks good to me. Fantastic job in building them thanks for sharing.
WD5ENH
Steve
Cool, thanks
Really nice job! I love that you built your own stuff. 73 N2MXX
Thanks. Thats half the fun with ham radio I think.
Lots of great idea's, always fun to watch. Thank you!
One gotcha with those meters, if you turn the screen off, they go into a dormant mode. In the dormant mode, they stop tracking power usage. At least according to the manual. So you'll have to live with the bright blue backlit screen if you want to keep an eye on the battery draw.
Yeah that’s ok though as I always have it on when I’m using it.
Found it Mike thanks.I never saw this video
Bro your wrist watch is ridiculously YUGE.
And look!! My questions were answered. Thanks. 73, KM8RTY
BTW--your call sounds very similar to mine out loud.
Looks fine to me.
Mike your electronic skills and ideas are fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
I don't know if I'd go that far but thank you.
Ive used the 16ah Miady battery since my second POTA.. it has worked great, so great in fact, I bought the 36ah one and it is performing great also. My first battery was the bioenno 12ah.. it cost as much as both the miadys put together.
I've seen you running them in your videos. They aren't first quality cells but they seem to work just fine for what we're doing.
@@hamradiotube I am however thinking about that smaller bioenno you were using I think with the g1m review. 4ah or something like that? Those battery boxes are super nice that you built.
@@DewayneW4FDT yeah they are 3ah Bioenno's. Absolutely perfect for QRP radios. I use a 6ah with the G90. The G1M was just a loaner so I never took it out into the field but it sips power too.
$700 for Big Geek is definitely high but you have made a nice box with great features.
There's a lot of stuff in there. It adds up quick. Plus, I need to make a little too!
Actually, it's not a bad price for the work you have to do to build it. In addition, wire is getting more expensive and he doesn't use cheap batteries. I just built a 100ah version and it seems like it took forever to get it wired. Why 100ah? To power my oxygen concentrator (thanks to Covid-19), radios and trolling motor.
little geek big geek, the movie the Abys- great flick
Outstanding kickass Solar Generators! Looks like I may have to upgrade mine!
Thank you good sir. Now get your upgrade on!
@@hamradiotube Will be ordering the meters first!
@@WJ6FRadio Nice. The instructions are terrible on how to calibrate the capacity meter. Let me know if you have any questions.
Awesome video I am currently working on a portable power box for myself as well.
Awesome. They are great to have.
One of the best Ham channels
Well thank you very much.
Hey Mike, great builds! For Big Geek, if you didn’t have lights and raised the lower power pole connection, could you fit 3 batteries in the bottom?
When charging a phone can you push the on/off button to disable the LEDs? During the day not a problem but I could see late at night that would get annoying.
Nice breakdown.
You might be able to abate some of the controller noise with a small 3d print enclosure with some faraday shield in it.
That's a good idea!
@@hamradiotube I'll try looking up a footprint for the controller and see what I can mock up for you.
I am curious. Did you opt not to use the load side of charge controller so that it's only need is to re charge the battery pack?
I see you’re a fan of The Abyss. Great build.
You caught that!
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing your ideas!!!!
Enjoyed this video Mike. Don’t think I can take on a project like that.
Really want one of those 20’ poles listed in the link section. They are all sold out 😒
Sure you can. It's not that hard. Doesn't surprise me about the pole. The whole world is backordered right now.
I like them both. I never looked at these before but now I want to make one. Im an electrician, thanks for the warning on big geek! haha👍🤓
No problem!
just what I was looking for! got my 20ah
Right on. Now get to building!
Great Video! just an idea, but doing a tutorial on these builds would be fantastic. 73!
I know. It took me so long just to figure out how I wanted to build it I didn't have time to actually film it too. A lot of people are asking so I'm sure I'll tear it all apart at some point and film it. It's just a lot of work. Thanks for watching though.
Will they take the pressures of the original little geek and big geek.
I don’t know. They may fold 🤪
@K8MRD what makes the Bioenno a way better battery compared to Miady?
Purdy darn awsome. "I love those things, I use them all the Frikken Time..." you said that so nice, Mikey. Then just go ahead, use them all the Frikken Time and have fun with it. I love what you doing, Mikey. Uncle Guenter is probably your biggest fan on europeansides. Keep up good work. 73's
Haha, I have to try to keep it G rated.
Named from 'The Abyss'?
You got it!
Nice builds. What kind of charge controller did you place in little geek? Thanks
It's a cheap little CC from Ebay. They work great but they're RF noisy. Cant find one small enough and cheap enough to fit other than those.
@@hamradiotube excellent. Thanks 73. KE8ARA
Hey Mike, I’d like to build one of these but am a novice when it comes to electronics. Do you have recommendations for videos I could watch to learn more about building a power bank like yours?
I don't have one specific video, just search Ammo Can Battery or Portable Solar Generator. I will tell you most everything I've learned about batteries was from watching Will Prowse and OH8STN.
@@hamradiotube Thanks, I will check out Will and OH8STN.
So you recharge Big and Little Geek with the solar panel right?
I can charge with solar or a charger. Gotta have options.
#TeamReplay, I am totally building one of these
Just one? This is the last piece of the puzzle for your cpap stuff.
@@hamradiotube agreed, ok there will be two. I have to batteries
Nice
Thanks
I like the bigger one better.
Me too.
Great power boxes. 🇦🇺
thank you
GREAT JOB GUYS (special disclaimer related to K6UDA below) .... I obtained my novice in 1986 and for most of the years between then and now have been an ARRL member and have held several calls, including American and VE7's as well as VK2's while living in Australia, as well as working for Icom for a period of time in Bellevue (Hi Ray, it's Jen the service advisor). I've seen a lot of ups and downs in our community in that time but I have to say, from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you. As someone who was watching our community go silent key while the ARRL stood by doing little more than send us more junk mail to buy their junk I have to say that you all have done more in your few short years on RUclips than I saw the ARRL do in the almost 30 years I've had my license. When it comes to making Amateur radio cool and inviting to young hams, the ARRL has been a huge disappointment (in my opinion), happy to sit back and do little more than pretend to fight for our rights in DC while we continue to see our spectrum disappear to UPS and other companies... where were you ARRL? You sure weren't on RUclips making our hobby look cool like these wonderful examples of hams were/are. If they offered a stand alone subscription to QST, I would have cancelled my membership 10+ years ago, the mag is all they have left to give and when they recently came with a magazine targeted towards younger hams, it was obviously in response to how awesome you've all done to getting young people excited, a bit too little too late ARRL. Great job guys!!!!!! YOU all are what the ARRL should be, it's a real shame they still haven't done anything more than toss the occasional lab report on RUclips but where there's a vacuum, something will rush in, thank you all for filling that void for our next generation or radio amateurs. All that said, you all are shining examples for our community and great examples for our kids... OTHER THAN K6UDA! You sir are a shockingly poor example of how to respect woman, and a bad example to the young community the other members of this group strive to bring in. I do NOT want any child I know seeing your half naked bikini women and smart ass comments, bikini clad women are not props for your videos, all the work these guys do to help us, you in one half naked female smart ass think you're funny video blows.....Unless this groups motto is to only bring in new MALE hams, try to remember there are a lot of female young ladies that would be a great addition. Your attitude belongs in the Rugged Radio drinking ATV ripping up trails and leaving trash community, not the amateur radio community... please tone it back!!!!! Thank you all........ 73 KB6JEN/VE7OTH (formerly VE7JOD, VK2WD)
Thanks.
Oh my god. Nobody is reading this rant.
@@Impedancenetwork You are obviously.
Any tips to cut straight lines in the Plastic box for square the Meter and the Power Pole outlets, what did you use to cut the lines so perfect???
I just traced the outline of the watt meter and cut it with a razor (make sure its a new blade). Was pretty easy. I did the same with the power poles but I measured them out and copied that onto the box. Cut it a bit smaller at first. You can always cut a little more but you cant add back to it. I actually screwed the first one up and had to buy another box. I cut the wholes out with a step drill bit.
Thanks Mike, I will try your method!
Great video Mike. Gave me some ideas!
Awesome glad it helped.
Hi Mike - love the build.
Q: Do you only use this for QRP? Or do you run your 100W radio off of it? What is the maximum current you pull?
Reason: Some of your main wiring looks a little light duty (arm-chair critic from the other side of the world).
How to tell: Operate for 10-15min (QSOs, not continuous tx) at 100W, lift the lid of your GEEK and touch your wiring.
This will be a far easier (practical) way to tell them a totally over-engineered theoretical assessment.
Enjoy! de VK6PAW
I run 100 watts off of it no problem. Prob about 13 amps max.
Hat fuse “box” did you use on “Big Geek”
I think it's this one I picked up from AutoZone. www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/fuse-block/bussmann-6-position-atc-fuse-panel/32322_0_0
Awesome Mike 🎉
Thank you thank you.
Great Project. Abyss....
Thank you!
Hey there Mike. I do have a possible random maybe not so random question for you.
I have not found many forums out there for this thus my writing to you regarding your builds. I am not doing any HAM radio stuff but instead I have a Kayak that I use a LiFePO4 12v / 12Ah battery in it. Of course because of the weight factor. I have recently purchased a 10W / 12V solar panel to use to try and charge this battery when I go Kayak camping for serval days in a row and no access to AC power to use the wall charger. What I am wanting to know is this. Do I need to have some kind of regulator (like what you put in little and big geek) between the panel and the battery or is it safe to just connect the panel directly to the battery. The battery model number is LF120A1 with an output voltage of 14.6V-9V (Nominal: 12.8V), Output current 15A max. The limited Charge (if needed) is 14.6V 6A. I tested the output of the voltage output of the solar panel and in shade it puts out ~ 19V and in direct full sun it puts out 21V. Even in more partial shade it will put out around 14V to 15V pretty consistent. What I do not want to do is damage the battery or have it "blow up" on me while Kayak camping thus leaving me with no power for my electronics. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much in advance.
You definitely need a solar charge controller made for LiFePO4. It’s going to regulate the voltage and current going into the battery. Otherwise you could damage the battery. You could use something small like this amzn.to/3vTB7d4 you would just have to wire it and keep it protected from the elements. Or you could spend a bit more and get the Bioenno one I have amzn.to/3fT2P4e. For what you’re doing the smaller one would work great. That’s like what I have in little geek.
@@hamradiotube Thank you very much for the information. I do not want to do a bunch of soldering though. What do you think of this product? www.amazon.com/dp/B07F85CDM6?psc=1&pf_rd_p=458f4e61-a03c-4c6a-8ada-0781336521d5&pf_rd_r=5QSYJN3DTQYNWJXRR5A6&pd_rd_wg=1BMyk&pd_rd_i=B07F85CDM6&pd_rd_w=pul8b&pd_rd_r=d2aa38d8-7812-4d52-9aef-5824cbc3d71f&ref_=pd_luc_rh_rtpb_02_04_t_img_lh
@@krismullenberg6899 That should work...kind of. It won't fully charge the battery as it cuts off at 14.2v where lifepo4 charges to 14.6 volts, but its close enough. Also its cut in voltage is 13 volts. Meaning it won't start charging until the battery is less than 13V. Lifepo4 batteries will stay a constant 13.2 ish volts almost the entire time until the battery is almost dead. Unless you have a load large enough to get the battery voltage to sag below 13 it may never turn on. You can always try it and if it doesn't work you can return it.
Nice looking boxes, Mike! I'm starting plans to make something similar myself for POTA excursions. Quick question, if you have a minute to answer (and I hope I didn't just miss the answer in the multiple times I watched it). I know your top-left port is for the solar panel - but what if you want to charge it at home, say from your shack power supply? Do you just feed the shack supply into the solar port or something else?
Thanks Jeremy. Pretty sure you missed it but that’s ok. To charge non solar you can just plug into any of the other power poles.
Do you still make this?
Virgil Brigman back on the air
Had me worried sick
Love it!!!
thanks
Hello Mike have you tried to run your 7300 at 100W with your big Geek box? and did it work ok??
Oh yeah. No problems at all.
Does the shunt get hot ?
Not sure, I've never thought about that. Nothing else gets hot so I wouldn't imaging so.
Great video Mike ! Waiting for next episode 🙂 73' SP3AJ
Thanks Adrian. Shouldn't be too long.
Cool
thanks
Love it♥️🇧🇩nice
thanks
Hey Mike do you have a email I can send you a question? I can't seem to find one on q r Zed or RUclips
@k8mrd radio stuff
Just K8MRD on the zed. My email is there but it’s k8mrd@icloud.com
Extremely useful, thanks! Linas LY2H
Awesome, thanks for watching.
Big Geek had a tactical nuclear warhead strapped to it and released by a mentally deranged Michael Biehn after what can only be described as the most intense underwater fight scene ever filmed. Little Geek was released to check for radiation on the sub, beyond that I forgot what happened to Little Geek, I don't think anything.
Mike…terrific video. I love all your build and go box videos.
Thought you might like to know about this battery health monitor for your next build…it’s just a few dollars more than the shunt one you’re using but this one uses a Hall sensor so you get bi-directional monitoring for both in and out with true battery % tracking. Also handles 200amps compared to 100amps:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07B4CWKRJ
Wait....did he just say; "vestigial"??
I gotta try some big words every now and then.
Name of the subs in "The Abyss"
You got it.
First 👍😊
So very very close but Ian Perkins beat you to it. Just #hamharder and you'll get it next time. Thanks for being here!
@@hamradiotube I blame RUclips it was blank when I started to comment. ☺️
@@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953 Those trixters!
I see you are a religious man. Read john then romans,
First
Fabulously Played!♡♡♡
You are the official first! 2 of you got here quick though.