VE6AB Mobile Ops
Maximizing Performance - The A...B...C's
The title makes reference to the three AGM batteries installed in my mobile, batteries being the lifeblood of any good performing mobile.
This photo is of the A and B AGM batteries that are mounted in the engine bay.
The third AGM battery (C) is located in the cargo bay, and powers my ROVER-15 weather station, although it has various power outlets available for powering other devices.
There are two 12 volt DC to 110 volt AC inverters, one at the radio stack, and one at the rear available for powering smaller 110 volt devices.
Battery A mounted on the left side of the engine bay in the stock battery position is a AGM crank battery rated at 800 CCA with 120 minutes of reserve power that I replaced the OEM battery with.
This type of battery is the optimum choice when you are replacing the OEM battery as I did here.
Since replacing the OEM battery with this AGM battery, it has proven to be a good choice for a crank battery, and with the reserves required to power the radio stack.
The B battery as seen to the right of the photo is another AGM crank battery (55 amps) also rated at 800 CCA and 120 minutes of reserve power.
This battery is mounted in the optional battery position, that fortunately had the OEM battery mounting plate in place from factory.
All I needed to do was purchase the correct sized battery, and the OEM wedge and bolt required to fasten the battery in place.
The B battery is connected to the charging system with a smart solenoid, and via the trailer towing wiring that has a B+ wire allowing for the battery in a towed RV to be charged.
This was a necessary work around as the Avalanche does not have a OEM battery option, but does have a battery management system with the computer monitoring the charging system.
The vehicle computer will turn on the check engine light as the B battery comes on line for charging if the second battery is connected as per normal in a two battery system.
Connecting the B battery to the B+ wire that is part of the trailer towing electrical harness eliminated this problem.
This work-around worked out well.
If you look close at the photo, you can see that I installed a 200 amp quick-disconnect at the B battery, that is a duplicate to the one mounted on the power-pack in the cargo bay that houses the C battery.
This C battery is a true deep-cycle AGM battery rated at 75 amps.
This allows me to use the same quick-disconnect equipped jumper cables that I originally made up for my power-pack (battery C) that also powers my weather station.
If my main battery (A) is accidently discharged to the point that it will not crank the engine, its as simple as connecting my jumper-cables to battery B, and then connecting them to battery A.
When required the B battery is easily removed from my mobile with the optional handle, allowing the battery to be used with the C battery power-pack as a part of a two battery storage bank, for use in a remote back-country camp, or for emergency preparedness situations.
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-z4M2Zs9
I carry a 50 watt solar panel in the cargo bay for charging the batteries under these conditions.
In case your wondering, all the power cables used are 4 gauge.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
C battery - part of my ROVER-15 weather station seen here.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-8KFRffK
Info on the smart power meter in the photo.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-gwjskTz
