[VHFcontesting] DC Power Distribution

[Nate Duehr]

Matt Patterson wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I'm putting the final touches on my rover for September and I was 
> wondering if I could get some ideas on what other rovers use for DC 
> power distribution.  I'm especially interested in what you use to 
> distribute power to your high power amplifiers.
> 
> 
> 73 Matt
> W5LL

Ditto just about everything everyone said... heavy gauge wires to the 
battery of the vehicle, proper safety-minded installation fused, etc... 
and then I like the big 75A powerpole connector for that "main" 
connection (6 gauge), then a powerpole distribution block from DCPower 
(complete with LED voltmeter that can be read in the dark or daylight 
for monitoring battery health) which also has a kill switch on it, and 
will power off the connected loads if voltage goes too high or too low.

I used to be a big anti-powerpole person, whining that they had no 
locking mechanism, etc... but I took the plunge and bought the 
distribution block at Dayton a couple of years ago, and haven't had any 
problems at all... even with it mounted vertically with the cables 
"hanging" from it with little support, I only typically have one "fall 
out" during a rove...

Nate WY0X