MTM Mini Ammo Can Battery Box Hard Wiring Prep...Video #8

[@John-of5sh]

The only thing I would like to change on your "box" is the location. I think it would look much better in my house instead of yours!!! Thanks to you Sir I have already started placing orders for the goodies you show in the video's. I'm having to wait a couple weeks just to get the box so in the meantime I replay your video's over and over and I never get tired of looking at your Creation! You managed to speak in a language I can easily follow which helps tremendously. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer yet I can follow your directions easy-peasy. I am sure I will have a bazilliion questions for you, but I will try to keep them to a minimum. Once again, THANK YOU SIR!!! for sharing your time and knowledge!

[@thisoldmanchannel]

John, this was a design build as I went along... When I started the project, I thought, yeah I would like to expand on it, and there was no room (time) for making a mistake and starting over because like most people out there watching I'm working full time too and other obligations blah blah blah... So part of the fun with this project for everyone is thinking, trying out components, measuring, and just plain using your imagination. Make your project uniquely your own. That's part of the fun... Thank you Sir!

[@John-of5sh]

@@thisoldmanchannel I am just the opposite of you as far as working. I'm retired which means every day is Saturday!Not sure just how I stumbled on to your site, but mighty glad I did. I started off thinking I was going to build basically a small battery box. But I seen the flasher you installed and thought "What a great idea!" And then the light at the other end. "Well that would be handy!" And then I just knew it wouldn't be complete without the switches and voltmeter and charging plug and all those other goodies! I'm about as far from an electrician as one can get but you put everything into a language I have no trouble at all following. My only complaint is setting here waiting for my goodies to start getting delivered. This is gong to be so much fun! I can see me building a second box!! Or 3 Or??? Again I just can't Thank You enough for sharing your wisdom and time, and a Special Thank You for helping me find the SAE plug. Got a couple on the way. Should have bought more. Oi !!!

[@GeoffWildehawkphoto]

you can also install the screws with the heads inside. Easier to remove if necessary, and easy to get a wrench on the outside of the box

[@thisoldmanchannel]

Yes Sir, I made the exact comment in the video.. There's a shot of it with the nut mounted backwards on the SAE Plug... Thank you for watching!

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

Very cool build! If you are like me, once you start making them you can’t stop

[@thisoldmanchannel]

Thank you! Working on a build right now that is what I believe to be a good step forward in the evolution of these boxes. So people can either build it or retrofit their existing boxes with this feature... Thanks for watching!

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

@@thisoldmanchannel Awesome! Can’t wait to see it!

[@2326TX]

This is after the fact. You should have used 10awg wires off the battery and then place t splice on the main battery wire. Then run 16 or 14 awg from t splice to the accessories.

[@2326TX]

Okay, should have left a little longer tail on the SAE. Go to Amazon, look for a 2x2 wago connector (2 in 2 out lever lock). That way you could use the tail you cut off the SAE bulkhead as a universal quick connect adapter, like the banana plug you put on it.

[@thisoldmanchannel]

I'm with ya, left enough tail to install Anderson Powerpoles and make a pigtail from the left over SAE. Notwithstanding video taping and actually design build time, it took a while to to make these videos. I'm not a big time youTuber, like most of you I'm working full time, overtime, plus a lot of other stuff... I'm just doing what I can on a budget and for fun with what I have.

[@thisoldmanchannel]

I used 12 ga for the main cables from the battery to the fuse and negative terminal block. 14 ga for the positive lines to the switches and accessories, and 16 ga for the negatives. It works for what I'm running on this can and it's all the wiring I had left.. This can just started out as a beginner build and I was hoping that would have been it. Took some time to figure out how to integrate a bunch of other stuff into it and make it look somewhat elegant.

[@thisoldmanchannel]

2326TX, You know what, I'm just happy that I didn't make serious a mistake during the build and start over because it's really a prototype. So off camera I'm trying to figure out how to make it work then I'm trying video tape the thing and kinda also show why the design went the way it did. Hey man, thank you so much for watching. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@2326TX]

@@thisoldmanchannel hey it works and looks good. I'm old commo, Army and civilian communications. Over the years I've picked up a thing or two installing DC power to cell sites. A lot of parts and tools that make the job straight forward, simple, and quick. Unfortunately the specialty connectors thay I got spoiled on using, can't be found at the local hardware store. The lever locks, go into Lowes, they don't have them. Ask a "pro" at Lowes, and they look at you like you're making it up. Jump online, find them all day long. Yep, you didn't do anything wrong, laying out the wiring, it works. Just offering suggestions to clean up and eliminate some wire.

[@inmoraa7613]

Great Video, glad you like my recommendation.

[@thisoldmanchannel]

Great suggestion... Think people really like it. Looks so much cooler and heavy duty. Thank you!

[@inmoraa7613]

@@thisoldmanchannel Do you by chance have a "master" list of the items you used to make the box? Was just curious.

[@thisoldmanchannel]

No as it was design build... Other than what's evident, 10 feet of 16 ga black and red silicone wire, fuse block, negative block, 3/4" aluminum "L" channel, 12" 12 ga silicone, blue flag connectors... Pretty basic really.

[@inmoraa7613]

@@thisoldmanchannel cool, thanks, same thing here, just need a battery lol