Planning a middle seat entertainment communications center

[thegeneral]

2000 Yukon XL

I am planning on getting rid of the smaller seat that is in the middle section.

In it's place I want to build a box that will house 2-3 bluetop optimas, a Blu Ray player, a 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter, a smaller 1000 watt mod wave inverter, two amps (sub 1000 and speakers 600watt), a CB radio, A hi def TV tuner, a 5 way audio/video switcher for Ipad, Iphone, Ipod, etc, and several storage compartments for straps, tow strap, jumper cables, tools etc.

Any thoughts on what type of pure sine inverter is best?

Any thoughts on bluetop Optimas being in an enclosed space? I will build the battery tray on a slide out shelf at the bottom, but am most worried about venting, supposedly with these batteries you don't need to vent.

Has anybody else done anything like this?

I know i'm losing a seat, but the storage/entertainment/communications outweighs that.

I plan to do it this weekend.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

I will be running a 270XP DC alternator to the bank of batteries to power everything.

The box will be made out of 3/4" MDf and covered in carpet. I also plan on having a slide out shelf for the third row for a laptop to sit on.

Am I crazy??

 

[chauncey0337]

You're totally nuts, man






















But I love the idea. Can you squeeze a microwave in there somewhere? Lol. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

[carcrz]

sounds to me like you may need a mobile home bud, just kidding please post pics when you start

 

[LOUDHOE]

Blue top in the car is not smart...go with kenetik, powermaster, oddesey, etc.

 

[thegeneral]

After speaking to Optima, i'm thinking about doing a 31 series bluetop. It has a built in vent tube which i'll vent down through the floor.

A while back I put a battery in a Mercedes and I remember it had a vent tube that was routed down so I don't think it'll be a problem.

The blue tops don't vent except under overcharging situations, and since i'm using a DC 270 amp alternator, the overcharging seems as though it may happen (more than with the stock 130 amp).

I've heard of Odyssey, but not the others... Do they not vent like Optimas under heavy overcharging?

 

[LOUDHOE]

No they dont vent, they are a sealed gel cell battery. You could also try X S power

 

[thegeneral]

I spoke to Odyssey today and they said there is no such thing as a completely sealed battery. The Odyssey and all other "sealed" batteries have emergency one way vents in the event that it is being "overvolted" from the power source. (Alternator,Solar, wind,etc.)

They said it is very rare that a battery will be over volt charged from a car alternator.

I went with 2 Odyssey group 31's. 100 amp hours a piece. They weigh 77 pounds each.

Heavy ass batteries!

With some research I found these to be the best, and the longest warranty. (4 years)

I'm just starting to build the framework. Using the bolts that the seat was attached to, i've secured 2 layers of 3/4" MDF for a solid platform. Now I just need to build vertical!

Also ordered some 0 guage wire last night and a couple of distribution blocks to spider out some 4 guage for accessories. And ordered 2 inverters. A pure and a modified wave.

This weekend is gonna be filled! Will post pics as I go along...

 

[chauncey0337]

Can't wait to see some pics. Don't forget to do the big three upgraqde if you haven't already.

 

[thegeneral]

Some pics from the weekend project- not quite finished, waiting on some parts...

 

[thegeneral]

and some more.

 

[thegeneral]

So i've added rear cargo door Xenon lights, a Xantrex battery monitor, a West Marine 6 place switch, and just finished the third seat desk. I've also gotten mobile Internet which i'm using now. I think i'm almost ready for a Yosemite weekend.

 

[thegeneral]

Thinking i'm going to change the battery shelf...

As it is now, it supports 100 lbs which means I have to shim it up in the center to support the 160 lbs. I'm looking for some 200lb drawer supports, any suggestions?

 

[thegeneral]

A couple more pics. Still have a lot of tweaking.

 

[chauncey0337]

Wow, looks good general!

 

[puckhead]

Doin work! Nice job so far!

 

[thegeneral]

Thanks Guys!

A lot more work than I thought, but it'll be worth it.

So far-

DVD player
HD TV tuner
1000 watt sub amp
600 watt 4 channel amp
4 way audio video switcher
2500 watt pure sine wave inverter
infrared remote system
Mobile WIFI
Desk for rear seat with light
200 amp hour Odyssey dual battery bank
2 Marine 300amp switches (1 for inverter, 1 for everything else)
Marine 6 switch panel for various lights/accessories
HDTV antenna mounted on roof cargo rack

One more thing I want to add but cant decide on which to get-shorepower battery charger in the event i'm at a camp site that has a hook up. I've looked into marine chargers around 150 amps.

Should have the dual alternators hooked up in the next few days and get it powered up!