Ed i really like your setup. I did something similar with my 891 abt 4 years back, i just never got up to setting up a control center, with an Apache 4800. I made a mount plate to mount the radio and tuner on with battery, antenna and accessories under it, made it real nice doing POTA. But now the arthritis has my hands in knots so carrying that heavy brute to hard so i'm working on a wheeled version next, I'll be using your control center as a reference. Thank you for the great video, 73 de W8MJL.
Ed, Outstanding ! Great work on the go-box. For me this is serendipity, because just yesterday I ordered a new ICOM 7300 with Bioenno 1220A battery from Gigaparts ! I was still searching for a good portable solution and YOU presented to me. Thank you Ed ! Excellent solution. Hopefully I receive my radio in 7 - 10 days, then I'll put your ideas to work. 73 - Chuck - KI5WHN
@@edwhitney1862 I must have bought the cheap ones because mine did not come with wires attached :) Watching the video I am trying to see what wires go where, do you by chance have a schematic?
@@boatsyoung Hi Glenn. The hook up on the control box is really easy: 1) Hook the + wire from the battery to either terminal on the Switch. 2) Hook the other side of the switch to ALL of the + wires from all of the components. Just use a red size wire nut to tie them all together. 3) Hook the - (negative ) wire from the battery to ALL of the negative wires on the components. I just used another big red wire nut. That's it. If you have any more questions, just contact me on QRZ (my email is good there.) -Ed W8EDW
Aloha Ed, I just subbed your channel. I believe that you could also leave the battery off and plug is a standard 13.8v power supply to the second Anderson PP connector and the voltage meter will still work verses connecting directly to the radio. Plus I like the option of doing a quick change of batteries if you want to run a 100 or even a 60 watt fold up solar panel kit in the field. Plus I have a few mobile rigs connected inside my Jeep with two extra Anderson PP connectors if I want to charge up a battery for my radio go bag, doesn’t take very long to charge a battery while driving from one POTA to another if needed. Unfortunately, we don’t have any Harbor Freight stores here in Hawaii but those go boxes sounds like really good deals. Lastly, that plywood you installed under the radio side, you could take a router and make a “L Shaped” cavity for heat dissipation or storage for a mobile CW Keyer also. I ❤your “Go Box”! WH6DWF Honolulu, HI 🇺🇸
Hi Digital Dreamer. What great ideas! I need to get a solar panel. That’s a good idea hooking power through the Anderson Power Poles when the battery is unplugged. Thanks for the ideas and subscribing! -Ed. W8EDW
Yes, the box is just a 4” by 4” PVC electrical junction box found at Home Depot etc. I used the one that has the tabs sticking out to mount it down to the plywood. Thanks for the nice comment Rick! 73 -Ed W8EDW
New subscriber here. I really like the idea of a portable radio unit such as what you developed. But what antenna would you use in a "portable" use of such radio? Camping? Traveling? Mag mount antenna? Please advise Sir! Thank you for your videos, Sir!
Hi Robert. In my next video I will be taking my Screwdriver Antenna with Unique Radials out in the field. Look up “Screwdriver Antenna mount with Unique Radials” on RU-vid. That’s just one choice. Thanks for watching! -Ed. W8EDW
Hi Ed, thanks for sharing your build! I am working on my own build and am having trouble finding switches capable of handling the peak draw of my radio (Ft-891), which is 23 Amps. DX Engineering says the peak draw of the IC 7300 is 21 Amps. So, my question to you is where did you find your switch and what is it rated for? Would it be a bad idea to use a switch that is rated for 20 Amps even though my radio may draw 23 Amps when running full power? Thanks again for your video, I really like your setup.
Hi Bobby. I got all of my components from Quicksilver.com Unless your switching the main switch on and off while transmitting, you will probably be fine with a 20 A switch. Thanks for watching! -Ed W8EDW
Nice box! My only concern is that your battery/power distribution is not fused. I have a similar case as the Harbor Freight Voyager you showed and may do something similar with my FT-857 or FT-891. (Or a portable AREDN mesh node, not sure yet.) I definitely like the use of the power junction box for mounting the different power connection outlets. 73
Hi Jay. The battery is fused. I should have showed that. They are “in line” fuses on the wires between the battery and the control box. (Not easily seen in the video.) Good luck on yours and thanks for watching! -Ed W8EDW
@PlasmaStorm73 [N5EVV] Hi PlasmaStorm. Yes, I should have mentioned that in the video. Those white “boxes” are in line fuses from the battery. Thanks for watching! -Ed W8EDW
Hi Pastor JC. I just used a standard 4” x 4” PVC junction box. I got the one with the mounting tabs so I could screw it down easily. You can get them at Home Depot etc. Thanks for watching! -Ed. W8EDW
Ed, What is the name brand or part number of the camera case (not the Harbor Freight cases) ? Also, where can the gray high density cushioning foam be purchased ? Does the IC-7300 have sufficient ventilation space, as currently packaged, to keep it cool ?
Hi C, The name on the case is GoPro but I couldn't find that case on the internet. The only ones that have the right measurements and quality are the Pelican V300C and the Apache 4800. (Amazon) Both come with the rubber inserts that you can modify. The way that I tip the radio up in the case works very well for ventilation. Thanks for comments and watching! -Ed W8EDW
Hi Matt. I operated 6 hrs at 100 watts. And still had juice. I kept transmissions fairly short. Really impressed with that battery! Thanks for watching! -Ed W8EDW
That will definitely work for a full day of portable fun. I've gone a little different on my portable ops. I did a go-bag for my motorcycle. Maybe we will hear each other on the air. I general do portable QRP once a month at a park. My condo is not too RF friendly due to noisy HVAC units. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nShDYlZGKlc.html
Hi Viron. That sounds like great fun! I feel your pain about local noise. My email is good on QRZ. You’ll have to send a pic of your set up. Thanks for watching! -Ed. W8EDW
Bioenno, I have tried a lot of LiPo4 batteries and Bioenno are worth the money. I have 3 of them and they are still running strong after 7 years. I have tried Ecoworthy and others, they can't even compare to the Bioenno batteries, Spend the money now on the battery because in the end you will be spending twice as much replacing the China batteries. Buy American Get American.
Hi Edward. I agree with you 100%. I debated on spending the money and I am glad to hear that you like them even after 7 years! Thanks for the comment and letting everone know! -Ed W8EDW
Great video that battery is outrageous price For only $70 can get a “ECO-WORTHY 12V 20Ah Lithium Battery, 3000+ Deep Cycle Rechargeable LiFePO4 Lithium Ion Phosphate Battery with BMS for Trolling Motor, Fish Finder, Kids Scooters, Power Wheels, Outdoor Camping”
Hi Bill. Sorry yours didn’t com with wires. I used 12 ga stranded. I got it from Q S as well. It was the black and red on a spool. Thanks so much for watching the video! -Ed. W8EDW
Do you happen to know the dimensions of the battery?the one I'm finding online with the same part number says it's 9inches long. Trying to figure out before I order, thank you
I did not see any comments about the type of antenna tuner etc. what you were using if you were out in the field obviously on the band you were on 40 m did you just drink some water out whether tutor tell us about the antenna you
Hi Wb. I was using a 43’ ground mounted vertical antenna. I use an SGC-235 automatic antenna tuner at the base of it. If you go to my QRZ page, you can see the set up. Thanks Wb for watching and the comment! -Ed W8EDW
