| Author | Message | ||
| Dallas Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 110 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.204.52  Rating: N/A |
I've charged many a bus that has a 24V system with a pair of simple, dumb 12 volt chargers. The way to do it is to hook them up the same way you would as if you were hooking up a couple of jumper batteries. Place positive and negative clamps of one charger to the upper battery. Place the positive and negative clamps of the next charger to the lower battery. Now, I will say that this is what I do with dumb chargers, and only to get enough charge in the batteries to start the engine. There is no need to buy a high dollar 24V battery charger that can only be used on the bus... But, then gain, do it your way! | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1024 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.1.12  Rating: N/A |
Dallas" I have an older 24 volt charger from a golf dart and it works GREEEEAAAT It will charge 10 amps and then will maintain it without drying it all up LOL Gomer | ||
| Dallas Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 111 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.204.52 Rating: N/A |
Gomer, yeah, if I had one of those, (and a 24V system), I'd use it too, the point of this thread was to say that there is no real reason to look for dedicated 24V chargers if you are looking to just get enough power into the batteries to let the engine start. By the way, have you checked out new golf cart charger prices lately? | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1025 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.1.12 Rating: N/A |
WHEW!!!! Just a LITTLE pricey LOL I agree that 2 12 volt oone will do the same job tho. Gomer | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 603 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 98.204.115.204  Rating: N/A |
I know a bus charter place that takes a "center tap" off one of the batteries in the 24v system to run entertainment circuits (Sirius radio, CD player, backup camera, etc.). If they run that battery down (or just have low batteries), they put a 12V starter-pack on one battery. Engine fires up every time. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1117 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.39.12.225 Rating: N/A |
IF you're lucky enough to get two chargers where the primary and the secondary are completely isolated, all will be well. However, if one of the two chargers has a bad spot in the transformer insulation, (which won't show up when using it by itself) you can get a flash when you connect one, or a way more voltage than you bargained for, or damage to your bus electronics, because the fault injects AC into the charging. G | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
On a MCI all lights etc are 12 volt taped off the center post of the two start batteries and a vanner battery equalizer is used to keep the battery load even. I have a problem with my equalizer right now and am finding that even with everything turned "off" the parasitic drain is enough to draw down the 12 volt battery in a few days. I have repaired my vanner and will install a battery tender (24 volt- 2.5 amp) charger that will maintain the chassis batteries at best level. It doesn't matter how good your two "dumb" chargers are, they will not charge both batteries even so when you do start the coach one battery will be under charged and the other over charged..... or so I read Les | ||
| Dallas Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 112 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.204.52 Rating: N/A |
Funny, I keep hearing how it won't work, and that the world will fall apart, but, we've done it for years with no ill effects. If in doubt, just remove the +/- jumper between the two batteries and you've solved all the problems. | ||
| steve wardwell (Steve_wardwell)
Registered Member Username: Steve_wardwell Post Number: 105 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 75.202.164.240  Rating: N/A |
we've had a 24v. boat for years and used 2 12v. micro chargers....simple,cheap....why spend the money for 24v. ?...never a failure in 20 + years...moocho bang for the buck........s...... | ||
| Dallas Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 113 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.204.52 Rating: N/A |
Les, Most MCI's are not using 12V lights, that's why CJ's in Mpls sells a kit with a bunch of 24V bulbs. Also, if you read the first post, this isn't to KEEP the batteries charged, it's to get enough charge in them to allow the engine to start. | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 132 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
Checked. Not a 24 volt bulb on our coach Les | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1329 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.173.21.187  Rating: N/A |
The folks that simply use 24V to spin the engine may have fine results. Those that need 24V to run electronic engines or trannys may find a real 24V charger worthwhile. ESp if the charger is planned on powering the bus operation with a noisemaker , in an emergency of a dead alternator. FF | ||
| Brian Elfert (Belfert)
Registered Member Username: Belfert Post Number: 89 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.72.107.232 Rating: N/A |
What I have been doing is to use two dumb 12 volt chargers connected in series to produce 24 volts. I only do this if the batteries won't start the bus. I use a 24 volt smart charger to maintain the batteries normally. (When I remember to plug it in.) |