Mobile Ham Radio

Some Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries can be bought with internal heaters. However, most batteries don’t have them. I added my own heating pad in the bottom of my battery box. Still, I had to ask myself, “Is a heater really necessary in my application?” Is one necessary in yours? Sometimes I take a bit to get to the point. So, here’s my answer right from the start: If your battery is portable and will be brought indoors when not in use, then the easy answer is NO. I think most hams use or build portable batteries. But what about everything else? Continue reading →

When I last posted, I had shared that my four year old component-built 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4 or LFP) battery had degraded to a capacity of only 74Ah. Given the cost and shipping charges for a replacement cell and the chance that it might only present a different problem, it seemed faster and more economical to just replace my setup with a new 100Ah battery. WattCycle’s 100Ah Mini LiFePo4, just $160 in December 2025, could probably fit perfectly in place of my existing battery for less than 25% of what I paid for 100Ah in 2021. It would also restore my lost 25Ah of capacity… for a while, anyway. Remember, all batteries degrade over time. How long would it take for another 100Ah battery to wind up right where I was in November 2025? Continue reading →

Originally published at StealthGTI.com on 3/24/2025.

I have been a fiercely independent traveler for a very long time, both in vehicles and on my bicycles. I often carry more tools or parts than necessary. I had been carrying cargo in bags, then boxes, and even some stackable cases. Then I discovered the new Build-Out series of tool cases by Husky. I bought my first units in 2024 to support my side job as a bicycle tour mechanic. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the Build-Out boxes are a great fit for my in-car use. I use an extra lid as a mounting base to stack my boxes (click here for an alternative). Husky does not currently sell the lids separately. Instead, I bought a small box, removed the lid, and then saved the base to use as a ¼-height crate. Continue reading →

So, you want to add a “house battery” to your van or an “auxiliary battery” to your touring rig? Adding a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4 or LFP) secondary battery is not as simple as simply placing it in parallel with the vehicle’s starter battery! Believe it or not, a passenger vehicle’s alternator is NOT appropriate for charging lithium batteries (dedicated secondary alternators are an exception). First, its output voltage is not quite correct; nor, is it intended to charge two batteries (starter and aux) with differing chemistries at the same time.  Next, and perhaps more important, lithium-based batteries will draw far higher charge current than a standard alternator should supply. My particular LiFePo4 battery management system (BMS) will take as much as 120 amps of charge current while others can take 200 amps or more. That can lead to alternator damage and possibly start a fire under the hood! The goal is to find a solution that adjusts charge voltage, limits charge current, and isolates the lithium battery from the starter battery. Continue reading →

I charged my LiFePo4 auxiliary battery with an Orion Tr 12|12-30A for nearly three years with good results. My only complaint was that the unit heats quickly and then de-rates its power output. The “30-amp” output was usually closer to 22 amps after about 20 minutes. It was tolerable, though, because it still isolated the two battery circuits and would not overdraw from the alternator. Still, I was fairly pleased when the new Orion XS 12|12-50A was announced late in 2023. I knew that I’d want to upgrade! The first units were sold and tested in Europe early in 2024, with shipments arriving in the United States a few months later. I was finally able to order mine in June and received it in July. I had to upgrade some wiring, but I was quick to install the charger afterwards. Continue reading →