Milwaukee Battery to Run IP / Wiring ?

Black dawg

Registered User
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Posts
4,057
Reaction score
763
Location
sw mt
I dont know why, but this thread reminds me of a guy I know, that since the heater core was plugged in his truck, used a small diesel fueled torpedo heater on the seat to keep warm. Generator in the bed.
 

Kizer

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Posts
815
Reaction score
382
Location
Denton, Texas
I dont know why, but this thread reminds me of a guy I know, that since the heater core was plugged in his truck, used a small diesel fueled torpedo heater on the seat to keep warm. Generator in the bed.

Pretty funny.

I've wanted to try this idea since I was stranded in BFE Oklahoma.

I drove an '03 F150 to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with my equipment hauler and dog in tow, to purchase an IDI.

I bought the IDI, swapped the trailer over and loaded the F150 on the trailer.

The IDI slung the alternator belt (that took a couple of other belts out too)...I was STUCK.

No alternator, drained batteries and a pissed off dog (she got over it).

Anyway, from that moment on, I've wished that I had an alternative way to power the FSS.

So, there you go, funny guy.
There's a reason for everything.
You may not appreciate it, but there's a reason.
 

Kizer

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Posts
815
Reaction score
382
Location
Denton, Texas
The only problem with that scenario is that, without the belts, there's nothing to turn over the water pump. Hopefully you'll never find yourself in that situation again.

Man, I wasn't really even thinking of getting home .

I just wanted to get (all of us) off of the side of that 2 lane road.

Turns out that 17 miles would have gotten us to an abandoned fuel station...not great, but better.
 

Black dawg

Registered User
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Posts
4,057
Reaction score
763
Location
sw mt
Sorry, wasnt really poking fun, just for some reason reminded me of that guy.

Removing the arm of the fss, makes the fss unable to close the metering valve, also letting the engine run with no power.
 

BeastMaster

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Posts
359
Reaction score
318
Location
Orange, California
Since we are talking these


It looks like we have 8 Ampere-Hours or so, and a 2 amp inductive load ( FSS solenoid on IP ), and you only need it for a few minutes.

Edit: I see some batteries are 5 Ampere-Hours...some only have 2 Ampere-Hours.


Theoretically, you should be good for four hours.

Edit: 5 Ampere-Hour batteries will theoretically give you 2.5 hours powering a 2 ampere FSS. Likewise one of the 2 Ampere-Hour batteries should be good for an hour or so

I don't know if those Milwaukee batteries shut themselves down if they drain too far. One of the things lithium batteries hate is being drained too low...and this setup has no under voltage lockout at all. Pure simplicity.

I am not familiar with those batteries. They may have under voltage lockout circuits in the battery itself. This is only a heads-up over what might go wrong.

I'd go for a pigtail


And a 3 ohm ballast resistor


And run the wire to the FSS.

I would probably mount the resistor to any handy metal support member and tie all the electrical cordage down to that just to have some place to store it, ( and the resistor also functions as a mechanical stress relief to take unwanted tugs on the longer battery lead. Resistors are a lot cheaper to replace than IP connectors ). Just store it all in place and tied down out of the way awaiting the day you need it.

You probably have a handy spot to connect to ground nearby where you mount the resistor. The ballast resistance should swamp out the resistances of the lamp cord.

Terminate the lamp cord at the resistor and engine ground. The other end of the resistor goes to a connector that fits the IP.

In the event of disaster, unplug the IP from vehicle control and replace the feed wire with the wire coming from the resistor. Release the Hank of lamp cord with the Milwaukee pigtail attached, stretch it out ( 10 feet or so? ) Out the hood, over to the window, back into the cab, plug into the Milwaukee, and push away.

IDI BRONCO brought up an excellent point above. You have no coolant flow either.

Carry a spare? I am aware of these but I have never had any experience using one ..


I understand powering the IP solenoid without the engine running is not a good idea as the IP solenoid uses the flowing fuel as a coolant. A few minutes, fine, but don't let it sit there and cook. Another member here ( I think it was Jesus Freak ) had a sour experience with that and shared it here.
 
Last edited:

Kizer

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Posts
815
Reaction score
382
Location
Denton, Texas
Since we are talking these


It looks like we have 8 Ampere-Hours or so, and a 2 amp inductive load ( FSS solenoid on IP ), and you only need it for a few minutes.

Theoretically, you should be good for four hours.

I don't know if those Milwaukee batteries shut themselves down if they drain too far. One of the things lithium batteries hate is being drained too low...and this setup has no under voltage lockout at all. Pure simplicity.

I am not familiar with those batteries. They may have under voltage lockout circuits in the battery itself. This is only a heads-up over what might go wrong.

I'd go for a pigtail


And a 3 ohm ballast resistor


And run the wire to the FSS.

I would probably mount the resistor to any handy metal support member and tie all the electrical cordage down to that just to have some place to store it, ( and the resistor also functions as a mechanical stress relief to take unwanted tugs on the longer battery lead. Resistors are a lot cheaper to replace than IP connectors ). Just store it all in place and tied down out of the way awaiting the day you need it.

You probably have a handy spot to connect to ground nearby where you mount the resistor. The ballast resistance should swamp out the resistances of the lamp cord.

Terminate the lamp cord at the resistor and engine ground. The other end of the resistor goes to a connector that fits the IP.

In the event of disaster, unplug the IP from vehicle control and replace the feed wire with the wire coming from the resistor. Release the Hank of lamp cord with the Milwaukee pigtail attached, stretch it out ( 10 feet or so? ) Out the hood, over to the window, back into the cab, plug into the Milwaukee, and push away.

IDI BRONCO brought up an excellent point above. You have no coolant flow either.

Carry a spare? I am aware of these but I have never had any experience using one ..


Damn Brother!
Thank you very much for the insight and information!
It's much appreciated.
I promise to let you know how this works out .
 

BeastMaster

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Posts
359
Reaction score
318
Location
Orange, California
I think either approach ( ballast resistor or dc-dc buck converter module ) will work fine. Each has tradeoffs.

Resistors are simple, cheap, and robust...but will need to be mounted on something as a heat sink. Since we are way overrating the resistor ( spec 100 watt, but running it at 12 watts ( 6 volts x 2 amps ), it will need some heat sinking, a metal surface should suffice. To be on the safe side, put some silicone sealant/ gasket maker stuff under it when you mount it. In addition to transferring heat, this will also keep it from vibrating loose.

Or use the module. If it powers kid's cars ( motor-inductive load) ok, it oughta power a solenoid just fine.

This is one of those decisions that have two equally valid solutions.

Edit: Oh..I looked again...some of those batteries are 2 Ampere-Hour...that will only give you an hour at 2 amperes. But will still work.
 
Last edited:

Kizer

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Posts
815
Reaction score
382
Location
Denton, Texas
Or use the module. If it powers kid's cars ( motor-inductive load) ok, it oughta power a solenoid just fine.
The link that I posted, for the "stepdown" is advertised as working with the kids' cars.
With the information that you shared, I believe that I can make that work pretty nicely .
Thank you again.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
91,933
Posts
1,140,547
Members
24,755
Latest member
Jt64

Members online

Top