I needed so badly, a step by step. All things electrical scare the heck out of me. Yes even little 12 v batteries. I tip my hat and truly honestly thank you.

Nice build, and a very well organized box. FYI, your batteries are in parallel giving you a 12V 18Ah system. If anyone is curious, you can also connect them in series and get a 24V 9Ah system (I hope that's right, college circuits were a long time ago). Just depends on what your needs are. Thanks for posting.

Thank you very much for the patient explanation and willingness to make this video. I’m studying to be an electrical engineer, though I’m still a novice amateur at best, therefore this power-box project is an ideal learning experience for me to make something for practical applications, and it will be fun and enjoyable, and I can do it w/ my dad who is a retired electrician. Have a great day, JDS Outdoors. You’re the man!

Absolutely the best pedagogic video, no stirr, no stress ...perfect, thanks👍👍👍👍👍

check out the updated version kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qtWihqilz7a-Yn0.html

Just finished building mine. Thank you very much. A clear cable explanation would be the best. But everything worked fine for me. Wish you the best, my friend. Greetings from Argentina.

Can't thank you enough. Just finished my go box. Your video and explanation regarding the wiring were what got me through. I did add a couple of items you don't have but everything works great. Thanks again and hope to see more of your videos.

I bought a Powerwerx premade power box, a battery, and a battery charger. It cost me about $200 for all 3 items. It saved me a lot of work. Now my thoughts are about improvising so I can do more with it. For example, I will after learning to use this properly for small wattage electrical things, connect much higher Ah battery(ies) so I can power a lot more stuff. For those of you who want to save time cutting up and connecting wires, you could consider the Powerwerx power box to get started quickly with little work.

Very nice job. Actually bought the same swiches for redoing my old Jeep. Only change I would make is to connect the hot leads coming off the fuse block to the swich beneath it rather than running the wires diagonally. But, that's just my OCD kicking in! Suscribed.

Excellent build and very precised tutorial too! Of all the DIY power box/power stations I've watched on KZfaq, this is the best and easy to understand and follow. Thank you for this great tutorial. Subscribed forever! More power!

I've been wondering all about these power boxes. You described it right on! Clear and simple. Great job!

This is solid work mate. The video is detailed enough for anyone to understand and build one.

Been looking for a way to build a battery box for my Kayak. Best video yet! Great job. Will reference this when I get ready to build. Only will have to figure how to wire up a control panel where I will be sitting. Thanks.

Nice build. I used a 30 ah battery on mine. So far it does all i need.

Thanks JDS Outdoors for the video. I basically duplicated your box for using in my fishing canoe. Worked out great!

Awesome. I gotta build one of these for my camping, fishing, and my Astrophotography rig

Wonderful video. I am building my portable power box now. Still waiting for components to come in from Amazon and Ebay. I will be adding a MPPT Solar charge controller, an Inverter, and a external AC plug. Thanks for posting. Really appreciate your discussion about wiring the fuse block and switches.

I bought the same set up you have here and haven't done it because I wasn't sure where to start or how to do it exactly. This video will be watch A LOT when I make mine. Very easy to follow and clean! Nice work! Thanks for the help!

There are loads of videos here on how to make these boxes: this is one of the better ones. Only suggestion I'd make is to lay an insulating sheet of plastic or rubber over the batteries because the working parts get a bit close when the lid is closed: adds a second line of defence if anything wiggles loose in transit and prevents shorts. I like the master fuse and master switch.....

thanks for taking the time to show how it is done, please keep them coming,

great video. Maybe put a peice of that bar across your batteries so they don't short out anything of the box gets tipped over. Just a suggestion.

Love the box build, very thorough description. Thank you for sharing.

Marc Velo yes everything was ordered off of Amazon I typed in 12v switches, volt meter, USB, and fuse block and found the ones I thought would work best for my needs. thank you

I’ve been looking for a tutorial on how to assemble my box and this video is simple and easy to follow. Just one thing, I was thinking of adding a socket to charge the batteries either from a charger or solar panel.

Hi JDS Outdoors, this is awesome and I am aiming to build one to go fishing! I am no electrical expert so what would really help is a list of the items you used...e.g. 7amp fuses / 10amp wire etc... if at all possible. No worries if not I can muddle through. Thanks for the video!

Great job, the box was big enough to put the batteries to one side and wire in a 200 watt inverter for the most important camping item, (the TV). Looks very clean build, thanks for sharing.

Bloody good video, feels great to be able to make your own stuff, keep producing those vids, big hi from Australia!!

a stepper bit will help with holes in future...

Cool project. Getting all the pieces together to make something similar, not as many bells and whistles. But you've done a spectacular job describing the setup process.

great video, I'm going to build something like this for my kayak, thank you

👍Also a step bit works great for holes!!

This is by far one of the better boxes I have been looking at. Great job!

Boy, that's nice and tidy wiring. Fantastic design. Thanks for sharing. I have no idea what your time is worth to you but I'd be willing to pay a guy $50 to source and build one of these. I'll be using this wiring design but will be solar charging. Will also add a connection for 2 hand crank chargers so can charge the battery if not sunny.

Great advice... I've made one following your video with a 130ah leisure battery.

The step bits work for all panel builds I picked up harbor freight

Easy and simple. Great product.

I just got the last of what I need for my box, which will be a power source for a trolling motor on a canoe. My box will have a cig lighter, combo volt/amp/watt panel meter (ebay), combo battery charging port & battery status panel (NOCO chargers), PWM motor speed controller with variable speed and a reversing switch (ebay). I plan on having 2 sets of power lugs. 1 set of lugs will come out of the PWM speed controller (for the trolling motor) and the other set of lugs will bypass the speed controller. I had already planned on doing almost all of the wiring on the inside of the lid like you have done. I am using one 35ah battery (Amazon).

Wow, I just came across your video. Thank you very much. Your video was very informative and it helps me out a great deal. I’m going to make one of these out of my Milwaukee pack out box. Thanks again

What an absolutely fantastic video. Well done mate. Many thanks from across the pond.

Terrific video. Looks like a fairly simple weekend build. I would probably add a three way switch (on-off-on)for charging via a wall adapter and a solar controller. Also a connection point to add in a another ammo box with just a pair of batteries for additional run time.

Great DIYer power box. Great "How To"!

Hey cool, man. I was looking for something simple for emergencies and camping. This will go along with my 40w solar panels I just bought. Good tutorial. Five stars!

Uni-bit for the holes would work. Cool idea.

Thanks for posting.

Very cool! I like this project. Will be making one of these for powering a mobile amateur radio soon.

Great video how to make and wire up the box would you do a video of this but adding a solar charge controller and solar panels.

what a fantastic video, very well put together, clear and concise, thanks

great video, I a was looking for something like this for ice fishing and my kayak and canoe. Only improvement I can think of is a built in charger to charge the batteries. You should build and sell these, there is a market huge market right now for these. thank you for sharing the idea and how to!

cheers for sharing mate, im just about to make another little battery box, your wiring is heaps neater than what i did last time. that fuse box is brilliant

Almost five years ago now, did something similar but most of the lights were replaced with a Bluetooth amplifier and some car stereo speakers. Wound up changing the battery to a Lithium Ion one as the sealed lead acid was no longer holding a charge for more than an hour.

Finally a very clear and neat video. thanks

Great Video!! Learned alot. That makes a great power box for anything!! A water proofed one would be good for my Kayak. Maybe with some silicone will make it more waterproof.

very well made mate, you’ve earned a sub

❤ Excellent video and info….🙏🏻😎

good video and well presented and clearly set out , nice one JDS Outdoors

Thanks for the information man! Appreciate it.

Good Video, However a couple of Safety tips. All jewelry should be removed before working on anything electrical & The Battery should be the very Last Connection ALWAYS.

You are a great teacher. Subscribed.

Great video. Excellent tutorial. I have watched a lot of these videos. This is the best so far.

hello great job fella i watch your other video on the small one's made two of them so far going to make some for Christmas gifts for family .love the 20 min videos make's it easy too hook them up thanks again for in formation . P.S. also watch the LED lights like it thanks again .happy holidays to you

Thank You, great video 2 questions - can you provide links for the items used to build, and how is the voltage reduced for the usb port?

Very helpful video. I'm getting ready to build one myself and you have given me some very good ideas. Thank you.

Tks for sharing buddy 👍👍👍

Great Video, very clean and professional looking.

Thanks, very clear explanation on the wiring!

Cool video! I'll be making one of these for the portable this weekend.

finally the best power box!

Hey JDS... this is "heaps" lol (@Sunshine Coast Aus.) great.... with the total 18amps - ideal for those led lights & the little spotties are a great idea & excellent wiring setup & vid.

So helpful. Thanks bro

OMG you rock man; ever think about using Lithium Ion Battery pack instead?

How do you charge the batteries without removing them? Through the posts with the switches off? Thanks for the help.

Thank you so much for making this video! really helped me a ton.

GOOD JOB !!! :) Regards PP.

Awesome love your work mate 👍👍👍👍

good video im planing on making one with 18650s in a steel ammo can

Perfect build

Yes this is a great video also. Thanks for sharing!

Shouldn't you put the fuses connected to the negative terminals? As with electron flow, not conventional current?

Great video mate. You should sell these. I'd buy one 😊

very nice presentation. But how do you charge the 2 batteries?

Great video!

Nice job on the video!

I'm examining multiple videos and I have ordered two books. I'm doing a lot of thinking on how to handle a situation where the power grid fails for a long period of time. When I researched power generators I discovered that most required significant amounts of gasoline which might not be available if the power grid fails. Storing large amounts of gasoline is a safety hazard so I'm looking for other methods to counteract a power grid that fails for long periods of time. Terrorism, EMPs, and just ordinary warfare could destroy the power grids.

Great video, thank you for sharing!

Great setup

Good video and nice box. The info at 6:40 about connecting the positive (+) wire to one battery and the negative (-) wire to the other battery is not necessary. No matter how you connect them power is being drawn evenly from both batteries at once.

Great video. Thank you.

Thanks for the share sir.

Very clean like it

Awesome video, thank you!

Thanks for such a great video. The wiring you made look so simple. One question: How do you charge it and what with?

U can make use of Velcro (2"w), hot glue female or male to bottom position, glue opposite to battery bottom, saves time. Hot glue is overkill bc battery removal sometimes does a number on Velcro

What charger do you use?, how is it connected? and should batteries be in parallel like that? since the stronger one will always try to charge weaker one leading to loss of charge totally !

how is the battery able to be recharged?

Well explained. Great idea.

Made this. Works excellently. Thanx for the great idea. I am thinking about how to make another (smaller) battery source. Any ideas.

Great video! will be making one soon

Now you need to install a charging port, to recharge the batteries.

Great video, thanks!!

Cool Video very nice👍