PORTABLE CB RADIO BOX PORTABLE
PORTABLE CB RADIO BOX FREE

Putting the DC power pack together is about as basic as it gets. Use all of the parts from version 1 except replace the automotive DC block and the busbar with a Rig Runner 4005 $69.00 from West Mountain Radio Note: The 4005 comes with fuses.

In my example (photo 2, below) I used a bar intended for a 120 volt breaker panel but any kind of terminal strip will do. Therefore, you will have to make your own common negative. This feature is built into the Rig Runner in version 2, but an automotive fuse panel has no negative terminal because the car frame is used for this purpose. You will also need a busbar or some common point to connect the negative side of each circuit back to the battery.

PORTABLE CB RADIO BOX FREE

Plastic ammo box $7.99 from Harbor Freight –these are often on sale for much less and are sometimes given away free as a promotion.Īutomotive DC distribution block $10.00 from Advance Autoĥ amp-hour SLA battery $14.97 from Amazonġ2 volt automotive male lighter plug $5.00, available almost anywhere (auto parts store, Walmart, etc.)Īssorted wire, fuses, connectors, sales taxes, shipping fees: $12.04. Batteries come in different shapes so your results may vary from mine. You can arrange the components to fit your taste. All the wires and components fit neatly into the case. Photos 1A and 1B above are the finished version 2 DC power pack. The entire system weighs only a few pounds and is completely contained in a small, easy to carry plastic case. The second uses a West Mountain Radio Rig Runner which offers ease of construction and a cleaner appearance. The first is a “budget model” that will cost about $50. The Off Grid Ham DC power pack can be made in two configurations.

PORTABLE CB RADIO BOX PORTABLE

The Portable DC Power Pack Project Overview: Two Options. This project will fill that void, and like all Off Grid Ham DIY projects, it respects your wallet. I don’t know why a decent, affordable, ham radio-specific DC battery box does not exist on the commercial market, but there is definitely a void out there.

I’ve also seen hams use automotive “jump boxes” that are great for jump starting cars but are not particularly well suited for ham radio purposes. There are the effective but quite expensive “solar generators” that do not deliver enough energy to justify their price tags. Light duty portable DC power for ham radio is somewhat hard to come by. Welcome to the Off Grid Ham DIY portable DC power pack. I’ll take you through a very easy one-afternoon project that will give you enough juice to operate your handheld radios & other light electronics for a long time without draining your wallet. The Off Grid Ham 100 Watts For $300 Solar Power Plant is one alternative, but that can be too much for the ham who only needs to run a handheld/QRP radio or a cellphone off the grid for a weekend or so. There are not too many options for radio amateurs who want portable DC power beyond the batteries in their devices.

Portable cb radio box