Ham Radio In FWC

I got my Ham Radio License a couple years ago, in part to stay in contact with friends on hikes, safety off-grid, and amusement. I was initially licensed as KC1KOV. 

PS. After testing up to the top of Hsm Radio levels, I was given a vanity call sign of WM1T.  I waned the change to designate I was operating at the Advanced level and shorten the phonics of the call sign, Whisky, Mike, One, Tango.  Much easier than Kilo Charlie One Kilo Charlie Victor.

My Vandweller friend Dan Cordray KD4PWP had recommended The Rafio in the picture above.  It’s a a Yaesu FT-891.  I was lucky enough to find one on sale from a Ham in a neighboring city and bought it.

There are a couple things you need to use the radio in addition to a license, and they are power and antenna

Above is my solution to power for my Ham Radio.  I added a bulkhead Anderson Power Pole connection to plug into.  This is connected to my solar charging battery system.

For the antenna I needed a way of getting the antenna outside and not leave the door cracked with the wire hanging out.  Above is a straight hole through the front wall of the camper.

On the opposite side I made a bulkhead connector for my antenna to tie into. As shown above.



Lastly I needed to mount my antenna.  I chose a stick antenna system where I have a magnet base mounted to my FWC roof.  (Picture above) This antenna system has a different stick to screw into the base based on the shortwave frequency band I am operating on.

I can switch to VHF and UHF using the same antenna bulkhead connected to an antenna to match those frequencies connected to my portable

On my travels this past winter, I checked nitro a number of shortwave contacts up around 500 miles away.  In case of emergency and no cell service this method can get a message out if needed.

I do not drive with that tall antenna mounted and I am only on VHF/UHF while driving. Usually monitoring 146.52.

This antenna will also mount to the top of my painters pole antenna mount, I built and covered under separate blog post to mount tv antenna.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Mounting IPad In My FWC

After mounting my IPad , shown above, I wondered what took me so long to do it.  To the right and rear is my TV/DVD player.

I mostly sleep on the lower bench, and often with the roof down for a bit of stealth or warmth.  The IPad is mounted within the length of my arm and tv has the remote. 

I wanted an adjustable mount and not specific to IPad.

I also wanted a ball mount system as they are highly secure and durable.

Of course I wanted a mount that would articulate for various viewing angles.

Yes, that’s Bob Wells and Suanne Carlson on the screen as I watch their YouTube video on NomadLand movie.

I decided on the mount above as it screws into the FWC cabinet for a secure mounting base and holds the IPad using 4 grips.

I don’t leave the IPad mounted while traveling as I spend much of my time on dirt roads that rock and shake everything, although normal driving would not be a problem leaving it mounted.

This mounting system is much more enjoyable than holding the IPad in my hands on my lap.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Upgrading Solar Charge Controller on FWC

My entry into solar on my Four Wheel Camper (FWC) included a LiFeP04 only Charge controller from Bioenno for my 50 Ah Bioenno battery (photo above)

This charge controller worked fine gor me for my last 3 years of my FWC travels, but technology got me to change.

When I worked with my friend Bryce on his hybrid RAV4 vandwelling design he wanted solar for his 100 Ah Renogy battery.  He also chose a 50 Ah multi chemistry charge controller from Renogy.  The charge controller he selected was designed no only to pull in solar to charge his battery, but it also had an input from the engine to charge from that too.  In fact it would split charge from both, deferring to solar if available.  

I liked this concept as I had a power connection from my Tacoma engine to the FWC but to not overcharge the battery I manually had to manually switch between solar Vs engine charging.

What better solution to have, than to have this done all automatically!

So, I decided to get the 30 Ah version of the 50 amp charge controller that Bryce got.  The model number for mine is DCC30S.(shown above)

It required wire routing changes and luckily I had enough space to put the Renogy charge controller where the Bioenno one was.

I also put labels on all the wires to and from and upgraded the Bioenno AC to DC charger to 15 amps from 10 amps for when charging from shore power. (Partially shown in bottom left of picture above)

There are 4 lights in the Renogy charge controller above.  From right to left;

- Blue - LiFeP04 chemistry charge

- Green - Battery is attached

- Red - solar power (blinking when maintaining battery)

- Red - engine charging

This charge controller change to include both functions has made a big difference in my 2021 travels. It also will make a big difference with simplicity of charging going forward.

I use an isolator between the engine and the FWC charging to protect my truck battery.  This charge controller is the same one from prior years and only sends power to the FWC once the engine battery is fully charged and this takes about a minute.

In theory I don’t need the separate isolator from the engine as the Renogy charge controller does this and also maintains the engine batter from solar once the FWC LiFeP04 battery is satisfied.  I don’t need this function and I keep my original design.

I’m thrilled with this upgrade and the ability to ignore the charging system.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com