mrburlingame
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- #21
Electrical System & Communications
My previous experience with a dual battery setup in my 80 was a positive one, though I wished the second battery held more juice, and longer. Fortunately, technology has improved, and I was super curious about lithium batteries for a 200 build, particularly given my positive experiences with Goal Zero’s incredibly lightweight lithium batteries. After doing some online research I came across an American lithium battery outfit called Relion, which conveniently makes around two dozen batteries of different dimensions. My only requirement was the battery needed to fit within the relatively narrow wing opening on either side of the Trekboxx. Fortunately, with Relion’s wide selection and detailed measurements by David @TrekboxX and advice from @indycole, we found the perfectly sized battery.
After a phone call with a friendly rep there to confirm the type of conditions I’d be using it in (basically not extreme cold), I placed the order for the RB100 100 aH battery.
In the below photo, you can see the custom bracket David created to hold the lithium battery in place, as well as a small stand for the rear sPOD Bantam controller.
We also added an sPOD in the front just behind the sunglass holder in the same location where @indycole mounted his. I was anticipating filling up this sPOD as well but I hadn’t realized the winch would be separate, and the Rigid light bar had its own custom switch (mounted to the left of the steering wheel), so at the moment the front sPOD is supporting the ARB Twin Compressor only, which is mounted under the hood.
As a keen follower of the handy Adventure Curated blog based in Australia, last winter I read their detailed post about the RedArc Manager 30 which informed my thoughts on what I could do. It seemed to check the boxes for an effective power management system. I liked that it could handle inputs from solar and house power, was compatible with lithium, and of course support charging while the vehicle was driving.
David and I struggled on where to install the screen (the system is mounted in the right wing of the Trekboxx) and settled on a custom bracket above the left wing and next to the refrigerator. After my first trip, my takeaway is it’s a solid product. I’m not knowledgeable enough to fully understand how it works, but the information on the display is super helpful. Knowing the percentage of charge left in the lithium battery is awesome, and it’ll also display how much time you have left before the battery runs out based on your current load use so you can effectively manage your power usage. After a night of electrical usage (lights and fridge only), the lithium battery was at 89% the next morning...barely made a dent.
Communications
One of my favorite things about the outdoors and being in the backcountry is being away from email. However, from a safety perspective, there is a sense of comfort I have even knowing I have one bar. I came across the WeBoost Drive 4G-X which can magnify a cell signal by up to 30x. A little antenna mounts on the roof, and connects to a small controller box that we mounted in between the Trekboxx and the second row. The box then magnifies the signal throughout the vehicle. When I’m driving (or at camp and want a signal) I just keep it turned in via the rear sPOD. On my trip to the Lost Coast, the first night we stayed at a remote campground in the Mendocino Forest and not surprisingly no one had service. I powered up the WeBoost and after a few seconds my phone miraculously had one bar which was enough to make a phone call. I don’t plan to use this much as the goal is to disconnected.
For redundancy, I also carry an Iridium Extreme satellite phone stored in a Pelican case and an ACR ResQLink 400 personal locator beacon in case the battery on the Iridium phone were to die.
At some point I’d like to figure out a good mounting solution for the sat phone, an iPad for navigation instead of relying on my smaller iPhone screen, and installation of a ham radio transceiver soon.
My previous experience with a dual battery setup in my 80 was a positive one, though I wished the second battery held more juice, and longer. Fortunately, technology has improved, and I was super curious about lithium batteries for a 200 build, particularly given my positive experiences with Goal Zero’s incredibly lightweight lithium batteries. After doing some online research I came across an American lithium battery outfit called Relion, which conveniently makes around two dozen batteries of different dimensions. My only requirement was the battery needed to fit within the relatively narrow wing opening on either side of the Trekboxx. Fortunately, with Relion’s wide selection and detailed measurements by David @TrekboxX and advice from @indycole, we found the perfectly sized battery.
After a phone call with a friendly rep there to confirm the type of conditions I’d be using it in (basically not extreme cold), I placed the order for the RB100 100 aH battery.
In the below photo, you can see the custom bracket David created to hold the lithium battery in place, as well as a small stand for the rear sPOD Bantam controller.
We also added an sPOD in the front just behind the sunglass holder in the same location where @indycole mounted his. I was anticipating filling up this sPOD as well but I hadn’t realized the winch would be separate, and the Rigid light bar had its own custom switch (mounted to the left of the steering wheel), so at the moment the front sPOD is supporting the ARB Twin Compressor only, which is mounted under the hood.
As a keen follower of the handy Adventure Curated blog based in Australia, last winter I read their detailed post about the RedArc Manager 30 which informed my thoughts on what I could do. It seemed to check the boxes for an effective power management system. I liked that it could handle inputs from solar and house power, was compatible with lithium, and of course support charging while the vehicle was driving.
David and I struggled on where to install the screen (the system is mounted in the right wing of the Trekboxx) and settled on a custom bracket above the left wing and next to the refrigerator. After my first trip, my takeaway is it’s a solid product. I’m not knowledgeable enough to fully understand how it works, but the information on the display is super helpful. Knowing the percentage of charge left in the lithium battery is awesome, and it’ll also display how much time you have left before the battery runs out based on your current load use so you can effectively manage your power usage. After a night of electrical usage (lights and fridge only), the lithium battery was at 89% the next morning...barely made a dent.
Communications
One of my favorite things about the outdoors and being in the backcountry is being away from email. However, from a safety perspective, there is a sense of comfort I have even knowing I have one bar. I came across the WeBoost Drive 4G-X which can magnify a cell signal by up to 30x. A little antenna mounts on the roof, and connects to a small controller box that we mounted in between the Trekboxx and the second row. The box then magnifies the signal throughout the vehicle. When I’m driving (or at camp and want a signal) I just keep it turned in via the rear sPOD. On my trip to the Lost Coast, the first night we stayed at a remote campground in the Mendocino Forest and not surprisingly no one had service. I powered up the WeBoost and after a few seconds my phone miraculously had one bar which was enough to make a phone call. I don’t plan to use this much as the goal is to disconnected.
For redundancy, I also carry an Iridium Extreme satellite phone stored in a Pelican case and an ACR ResQLink 400 personal locator beacon in case the battery on the Iridium phone were to die.
At some point I’d like to figure out a good mounting solution for the sat phone, an iPad for navigation instead of relying on my smaller iPhone screen, and installation of a ham radio transceiver soon.
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That’s quite a closet on the right, there!
