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joe (Joe_Littlewind) (12.14.225.130)

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Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 12:47 am:   

Sorry to clutter up the board with such basic stuff; I know I can get all this out of a number of publications but I am feeling a bit squeezed for time. This is my first bus and I'm just spooling up on the electrical systems and trying to install a TV (for my kids) and a stario (for my wife-woman). As I understand it, the bus basically has three elec systems: 12 VDC, 24 VDC, & 120VAC. The 24 VDC is for engine starting, supplied from the 2 batteries in the aft bay. The 12 VDC is for anything that uses 12 VDC (radio,lights, gauges), supplied from the batteries in the forward bay (I have 8 of them). Now the 120 VAC I'm not too clear on. 120 VAC is supplied by one of the following: 1) the large battery bank via the inverter, 2) the gen set, or 3) shore plug-in. And I guess the reason I run the generator to operate the airconditioner(s) while going down the road is cause they will drain the batteries faster than my engine driven alternator can charge them? If this is too basic, and I shouldn't be taking up space with such, just tell me and I will go cry for a while... and then come back. Joe 4106-2119
FAST FRED (63.215.225.110)

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Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 5:42 am:   

You have got the basics , the only thing to be wary of is running the air cond on road.

Although a cheap inverter will run a TV or house fridge ,
if real power is needed {what air cond uses} the true sine wave inverters are the best choice.

And one to run two air cond is very expensive,, so most folks just run the gen set for road cooling and get by with a cheaper inverter, sized just for the much smaller loads of a TV.

FAST FRED
Wulf P. Ward (63.59.218.150)

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Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 9:51 pm:   

Yes and no. I run two Freedom 25's in my Spaceliner. Each one has it's own sub-panel of
30 AMP each. One does run my front A/C and I will run a 1,500 watt electric heater off that in the winter. It is my experience that the the driver seat is always the hottest in the summer and the coldest in the winter. I am using a single Inverter in my RTS the same way and it has worked well for one exception. It will overload some times with the Refrigerator cutting in. So in my Spaceliner I am using a second Inverter for the Refrigerator and some other loads. By the way, I am using 24 V Inverters, to also charge my 24 V battery bank. After all the 24 V X 250 AMP Alternator puts out 6 KW, so why not use it. Two 2.5 KW Inverters in 24 V will set you back about $ 3,600.00 and you could purchase a small Gen-set for that kind of money. But the two Inverters also give you 130 AMP's of charging at 24 V when you need it. By the way I do get my 12 V off two
Vanner 50 AMP (each) Equalizers and a small 12 V 105 AMP Alternator. I am also using a 12 V Eagle
Starter and I have changed everything on the bus to 12 V except the 24 V Alternator to run the Inverters. This may sound backwards to you, but it works well for me. I guess that is why we are called Bus Nuts. And I am the "Wayward Wulf".
jim Lewis (152.163.207.78)

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Posted on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 12:04 am:   

Joe I don't know about yours but my 4106 is 12 volt and the Grayhound alt is 12 volt they do have two 8 D batteries for starting,sure you have 24 vt on yours?
joe (Joe_Littlewind) (12.14.225.167)

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Posted on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 8:41 am:   

Hay Mr Jim Lewis, I'll bet you're rite. I will have the bus out of the shop in about a week, then I'll check. Thanks. Joe

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