| Author |
Message |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 9:15 pm: | |
I'm so confused with this subject..My bus is a 79 MC5C...
Are the lights, and dash electronics 12 volt? Was there a split somewhere that would make it easy to install say a stereo or will I need an additional Battery Equalizer? Thanks. |
Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 11:48 pm: | |
Im mostly sure you bus has a equalizer some place . Just need to find it and tie into it.
Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon |
Rick Johnson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 3:41 am: | |
Sean, your coach is all 24v with the exception of the headlights. They are wired into a panel on the ceiling in the front bay, about the middle forward part of that area. Your coach batteries are wired in seriers to create the 24 volt environment, but the headlights are wired to only one of the two 12 volt coash batteries, so if you don't have a equilizer, that's why one battery is always charged more than the other. I think MCI did this because 12V headlights are so much easier to replace.
You want a 24 volt inverter because your alternator is 24 volts, and if yours is a Saudi bus, it was designed to handle two huge A/C units so you have alot of available power for charging. Also the 4024 series of Trace inverters is best setup to run roof top type A/C units for over the road cooling, fridges and assorted electrical devices at the same time. If your going to use 12V for lights or other applications in the coach, you can still do that with the 4024, you just need some additional stuff to break it back down to 12V on the output side of the 4024.
The difference in cost savings between the 12V and 24V invertors is lost in the additional cost of a second altanator and installation, then the cost of the additional cable to connect the 12V invertor and alternator to the front of the bus. Your still going to need 4 plus house batteries to support the invertor no matter which way you go, and depending on your needs for boondocking, you still have to face the additional cost of a generator.
In my case, the invertor solution was about the same as a healthy generator, and I don't have the addititional fuel consumption and noise to deal with on the road. We don't do all that much boondocking were A/C would be an issue. Having enough battery power for a couple of days for the 110V fridge is a consideration, but that would be all.
RJ |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 4:06 am: | |
Thanks Rick...I do have a Saudi bus...I need to find a good 24 volt inverter..I will look into the Trace units but they seem REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!!...I may need something smaller just to get me through for a little while. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 5:24 am: | |
A Trace is great because of its features, Pass thry , battery charging and a true sine wave that will allow a heavy motor in an air cond to operate with near house power efficency.
If you only want some TV or a microwave reheat , a smaller cheaper unit will be hust fine.
Sams club or one of the Pay to Buy places had 1500W for under $100, that should cover your bases for a long time.
FAST FRED |
Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 8:24 am: | |
Fred..I can't seem to find a 24 volt version at Sams or Costco! LOL!!! |
Rick Johnson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 5:37 am: | |
Sean, you don't need a 24V invertor to run a small refigator, coffee pot or microwave. And there are some guys who run roof top air off of a 12V invertor, just not one that you would buy at Costco.
Your going to find that the invertor solution is about the same investment as a good generator. The mature coach, would have both systems, setup for how you want to support your traveling and camping needs. In other words, if you do alot of boondocking for long periods of time, than you want a strong generator solution. If your 110V needs are more for demand while traveling, than your going to look at a full size invertor with generator backup. Climit plays alot into this. Your needs will be much different if you live in Seattle verses Dallas or New Orleans.
Your stong point here is you have this huge 24V alternator that was designed to support two A/C units and now the only thing it does is charge 2 8D starting batteries and run a bunch of low voltage light bulbs while driving at night.
You can spend about $2200 plus for a 24V invertor, or between $1000 to $1500 for a like 12V system. Batteries and installation extra. I'm just now getting to that point where I'm ready to step up to the full monte and my system with 6 gel cell batteries and a 4024 invertor will cost me about $3500 to $4000. But that will run everything, and since we don't do much in boondocking, I have a little Honda generator that I can plug into the shore power outlet and re-charge or support me if I get in trouble between power poles. Happens about once or twice a year, $400 gen set works just fine.
RJ |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 9:04 am: | |
Is/has anyone used these modified sine wave inverters?
http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/24_volt_power_inverters.html
(Item Code: PBI3500-24 )
The price seems nice.. A smaller, less expensive pure sine wave
inverter can be used for those appliances that need it, right?
http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/pure_sine_power_inverters.html |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:47 pm: | |
Hello Sean
I saw too many people upgrading, complaining they were limited by their inverter, or having to fool around turning things on and off to manage loads, adding chargers, alternators, regulators, generator starting circuits, etc.
I decided to just pony up for the Trace 4024 from the start and be done with it. Perhaps I've cheated myself out a part of the adventure?
It currently runs off a set of old 8D start batteries, and a collection of old batteries that were given to me until I get some good golf cart ones. Running a bar sized refrigerator, the volts stay up for a day or two with these sad batteries, which is good enough for my style of operation for now.
I count myself fortunate to be able to make that choice.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
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