| Author | Message | ||
| Johnny (63.159.129.37) Rating: N/A |
OK, I'm considering this plan: 2 totally-separate electrical ststems, one for the "chassis" (dash, engine, running lights, bus rear heaters, etc.), and one for the "house" stuff. I'd like to do this by running a second alternator for the "house" batteries (probably 4-8 T-105 golf cart batteries), & to run rear A/C & stuff while on the road. Other than figuring out mounting stuff (doable), any obvious problems here? Engine is a gas 460 with dash A/C & no power steering, in a 1984 Ford schoolie. | ||
| FAST FRED (4.245.170.61) Rating: N/A |
Sounds great , but you may wish to consider a systen to emergency join the systems. A marine rotary switch would work fine. You will also need to contemplate how the start system will be charged if you ever linger at a campsite a few months. The second alt should have a 3 or 4 stage Voltage regulator , to better serve the charge needs of real deep cycled batteries. FAST FRED | ||
| Johnny (63.159.129.37) Rating: N/A |
"You will also need to contemplate how the start system will be charged if you ever linger at a campsite a few months." It sat for ~5 months, & started right up. Worst case, I always carry a jumper box. | ||
| Loydd Fones (Tbird) (69.29.244.125)
Rating: N/A |
how are you going to run a rear AC with it ?? Tbird | ||
| Johnny (63.159.201.145) Rating: N/A |
I found a source for 9800BTU 12V rooftop units. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
my opinion... yeah, "trick" systems can satisfy your ego that you "got one" on the other guy. BUT simple always works best. One alternator is enough to keep everything working properly, with a well thought out design. Design your system to be the simplest and the most efficient, then you'll enjoy your bus a lot more and have less roadside hassles....Put a lot of fluff in your system and you may impress some people, but you'll pay for it in the end...unless your goal of creating your bus is mostly to impress people with your "trick" junk..... Oh am I in a weird mood tonight!!!  Jes' my opinion... gary | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.130.11.40)
Rating: N/A |
If you have one alternator and it fails, your trip is over until you get it repaired. I like redundancy. I have two alternators, both 24 volt. Using the same voltage for RV and bus circuits makes it possible to connect them. I used to use a solenoid for connecting the systems, now they are permanently interconnected for charging by an Echo Charger that I bought a Bussin' 2004. Since I put it in I have never had a dead battery in either system. The RV batteries are charged by an inverter with a three stage charger while plugged in. The Echo Charger keeps both systems charged if either of them have a working charging system. It is smarter than the ususal dual battery connector that has been used forever. It has solved a storage problem of keeping all batteries up for me. I highly recommend it. I spent $130 for it. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
But Stephen, that means you should have two of everything.... heck with that philosophy, maybe we should all drag a whole extra bus along as a toad, just in case Alternators fail, yes, but they are a lot more reliable than many other items on your bus that can kill your trips. I've only had one alternator fail in my entire 55 years, and that was only because I let the brushes wear down after 200,000 miles! Sorry, you'll never talk me into dual alternators, or any other redundancy on my bus, other than what the factory built in to it, multiple CO sensors and a good kit of tools. Complication is what makes things fail! Just "my way" Cheers Gary | ||
| Johnny (63.159.185.134) Rating: N/A |
"my opinion... yeah, "trick" systems can satisfy your ego that you "got one" on the other guy. BUT simple always works best" Which is why the 2 systems will be COMPLETELY separate. The only common connection will be the engine accessory drive. If one craps out, I'll have it set up thatboth will have the same connections, so I can run the "chassis" stuff off either one in the event of a failure. | ||
| joe shelton (67.242.199.211) Rating: N/A |
johnny, sound good to me. Go to amplepower.com and down load their primer. It includes the best info on this and other related subjects along with schematics. |