| Author |
Message |
ChuckMC8 (68.154.4.191)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 7:17 am: | |
(MC8) I'm considering replacing my factory bus generator (belt drive) with a 12 volt model of the same variety to power my house battery bank.
I'll add a much smaller 24v alternator for my coach needs (basically, starter,marker lights and instruments)
In my books, I don't see model number for the factory generator (24V) listed. I think that I/ve seen these refered to as "DN-50" Delco.
I want the same thing in 12V. I'd rather not have my 24V modified.
What is it? Would a 12V from one of the Eagle or GM buses fit? Thanks |
Earl-8-Ky (207.162.163.19)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:40 am: | |
Chuck I have a MC8 with the belt drive gen. It is one of the best going. I put a one wire 12 volt alt. on the engine for the house batts. I made a bracket for it and put it where the old AC comp. was. I drive it with a belt that runs in the bottom of the grove where the AC belts ran. It works very good. By the way I only used a 37 amp 12 volt alt. After a days run on the road the house batts are charged and I never have to add water because they got hot. Works for me. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.169.27.139)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:33 am: | |
Something to consider when going to a 12v from a 24v alternator is the wire size. If you expect the same wattage out of the alternator, the amperage must double. This means a really BIG wire. I don't know the capacity of a 12v but the 24v was used to put out 270 amps. To get the same in a 12v you need 500+ amps. If you are thinking of doing this to run roof a/c's while driving, you might not have the amperage needed. 15 amps + 10% inverter inefficiency= 16.5 amps at 120v, at 12v thats 165 amps. If you want 2 a/c's thats 330 amps. Very do-able with the 24v alternator which would bring it back to 165 amps for the two. It just ain't gonna happen on 12v. Is it too late to have a 24v house system?
Jim |
ChuckMC8 (68.154.4.191)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 4:49 pm: | |
Thanks Earl and Jim. I havent bought an inverter
yet. So, I can still go either way on the house bank voltage. I'd like to run at least one a/c while driving off the alternator and inveter.
I have been leaning toward the 24V house bank and a converter for my 12 loads, but am curretly researching advice given from the last Inverter/bus electronic system person I spoke with. He discouraged the 24V house system. Everyone has their own take on it. I don't see it as right or wrong, just different solutions to a situation.
I've got a great solar panel setup on the roof of my bus. Its 4 panels that are about 12" wide by 48" long. They are framed and wired together
and connect to a 21amp controller. I havent checked to see if they could be wired for 24volt.
They workk great and I want to incorporate them in my system.
Thanks for the input, guys. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.148.100.233)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 6:47 pm: | |
I don't know much about solar, but if you have 4 putting out 12v it would seem you could put 2 pair in series and get 24v. Kind of like batteries?
Jim (who has no solar. Does that make me a shady character?) |
Dale MC8 (69.19.175.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 11:21 am: | |
Chuck, what would you be using in the house system that you can run on 24V? Thing about appliance availability and reliability (and cost.)
You might be better off using a bigger inverter and making the house system 120 VAC. FWIW
Dale MC8 |
Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8) (65.3.16.123)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 12:34 pm: | |
Dale, My bus conversion is finished inside. (after 2 years)
My 12V usage is quite small, lights, fantastic fan, the blower on the LP furnace and the controll circuit on the 2 way fridge.
I can do that easily with a vanner 24 to 12v converter if I should go with the 24V system. So, I can go either way with the house battery system, 12 or 24. I'm waiting on mounting the aux alternator till the inverter question is solved.
My solar panels and 1 deep cycle 12V battery has ran all my 12 V loads for months, without any other charging source than the solar. The fan runs all day every day ( unless I have the a/c on)
The fantastic fan has a rain sensor, so I keep it on and the ticket window open to keep the inside of the coach reasonably cool-works great. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (65.74.66.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 1:47 am: | |
Chuck, you are going to find that a good sized inverter will require that you have a good sized battery bank for it to make any sense. Otherwise, it sounds like you are working on the right problems.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suuncatcher |