HAM Radio to AUX Switches

[Liquidtravel]

So now I am intrigued, how do you have this set up because I have been researching dual battery setups?

I don't have it set up yet. I am trying to get information to determine how best to set it up.

Sponsored

 

[Rydfree]

You do understand the upfitter switches activate a relay?

Yes , a tiny one that is wired with tiny wire.

 

[Johnny Rebel]

Yes, I do

Nice! Did you install the Genesis setup or something else? I’d love to see a pic of that.

Back to the subject at hand- I’ve installed Yaesu FTM-400’s in our Big Bend and Raptor, but both of them have a SwitchPros SP9100, so I opted to use one of the 30A outputs on it instead of using one of the upfitter switches. I was mildly concerned with the wire size coming out of the upfitter relays, but I was more concerned with being able to power the radio without having to turn on the accessory power of the Bronco. The SP9100 allows you to set a minimum voltage level so that accidentally leaving the radio on won’t completely drain the battery.

If I decide to install the Genesis dual battery setup, I’ll reconnect the radio or SwitchPro power lead to the Aux battery.

 

[Liquidtravel]

Nice! Did you install the Genesis setup or something else? I’d love to see a pic of that.

Back to the subject at hand- I’ve installed Yaesu FTM-400’s in our Big Bend and Raptor, but both of them have a SwitchPros SP9100, so I opted to use one of the 30A outputs on it instead of using one of the upfitter switches. I was mildly concerned with the wire size coming out of the upfitter relays, but I was more concerned with being able to power the radio without having to turn on the accessory power of the Bronco. The SP9100 allows you to set a minimum voltage level so that accidentally leaving the radio on won’t completely drain the battery.

If I decide to install the Genesis dual battery setup, I’ll reconnect the radio or SwitchPro power lead to the Aux battery.

I just got my bronco and it came with a main and aux battery. I didn't set it up.

 

[Johnny Rebel]

I just got my bronco and it came with a main and aux battery. I didn't set it up.

Gotcha. Are both batteries under the hood or is the Aux battery in the rear of the Bronco?

 

[Brandon Miller]

I have that same radio running of the upfitter switch. Head unit above the visor and the main unit passenger foot area where the wire for power is. No issues

 

[n5mj]

The highest load would be seen during transmit, otherwise powering up the transceiver pulls a max 1 amp. I run an Icom IC2730 (similar specs to OP's transceiver) on switch 1, the radio powers off when powering off the bronco. No issues with current - wire size is adequate for the max expected current, high current is never hot-switched via the AUX1 relay. de N5MJ

 

[TRACKTOY]

Good morning
A relay does not need much current to operate 10 AMP is sufficient. When it receives 10 AMP it will close and allow current to flow from the battery to the connected device, up to 40 AMP DEPENDING ON THE CAPACITY OF THE INSTALLED RELAY. With the size of the wire ( 12 Ga) from the battery to the relay ( protect with a 20 AMP FUSE NEAR THE BATTERY CONNECTION) and (12 Ga) to the device. In this installation the uplifter switch is protected in capacity with a small fuse and small wire. The BRONCO MUST BE IN accessory or running mode.
So this system will prevent draining the battery if we operate an accessory without the vehicle running.. My installation....
TRACKTOY

Sponsored