RSL Propagation Van

Description

The RSL Propagation Van is a 2002 Chevrolet Astro mini cargo van. Used by TELUS as a service vehicle from 2002-2007, the van was refurbished by Ensign-Pacific Lease before we acquired it in 2008. is now used to:

  1. to transport test and measurement equipment to remote sites,
  2. as a mobile test lab, and
  3. as a drive test vehicle for both fixed and mobile data collection.

The van has been modified in order to support its new mission.

First, Knight-Hill Automotive (Richmond, BC) installed duraboard flooring, fibreglas insulation, a fabric ceiling and plywood walls, a high speed ventilation fan, and a 19-inch equipment rack attached to vibration suppression mounts in the cargo compartment and three cable ports along the port side of the cargo area. The brackets that supported the ladder rack in the van’s previous role have been retained for use as antenna mounting points, and a 20-ft (6-m) telescoping mast has been installed on the rear bumper of the van.

Next, UBC Building Operations Garage installed a vehicle immobilizer and alarm system, high security locks and a backup camera in order to enhance both safety and security.

Finally, RSL students installed a laptop mount in the driver’s compartment and a 2 kW electrical power system system in the cargo compartment.

Used to power the wireless test and measurement equipment carried aboard the vehicle, the 2 kW electrical power system is based upon a Xantrex ProSine 2.0 true sine wave inverter/charger and a bank of four 6-V lead-acid storage batteries with a combined capacity of 464 A-h or 5.2 kW-h. A shore power plug permits battery charging from AC mains and a connection to the vehicle’s alternator permits battery charging while the engine is running. Procedures for operating and maintaining the electrical system have been documented for future reference.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

UBC Radio Science Lab
2356 Main Mall, Room 4034,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Tel: 604.822.3544
Fax: 604.822.5949
E-mail: david.michelson@ubc.ca

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