QuestionQUESTION: Our Fire dept. has a m35a2 6x6 that we have made into a tanker truck and would like to know if there is any type of dual output charging system that we can install so we can run all of our 12 volt equipment as well as the 24 volt truck systems, we have tried using a 24 to 12 volt converter that was supposed to be rated at 60 amps continuos 80 amps peak but it falls way short of that, please any ideas would be helpful, thanks alot
ANSWER: Just tap your 12 volt stuff to the cable between the batteries, where there is 12 volts.
May occasionally need to charge that first battery, but not often, if at all.
Use the converter only for the radio.
Van
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QUESTION: I have heard doing that will overcharge and cook the first battery in line, thats why i was looking for another solution any truth to what i was told about it? thanks
AnswerI have been maintaining a fleet for over 27 years.
I have always had some military surplus vehicles in the fleet.
Usually they were fire trucks, tankers, etc.
All had two way radios. Some had light bars, pump engines, and electric hose reels.
If the only thing I was using 12 volts for was the radio, I would use the 24 to 12 volt converter. Takes a 30 Amp converter for a hundred watt radio, but a lighter converter will work for a 35 Watt radio.
All the other stuff gets tapped into the connection between the batteries.
I don't honestly remember ever cooking the first battery. It will give more trouble than the other battery, due to operators occasionally forgetting to turn a radio off, and just draining that battery.
The military 1008, 1009, and 1010 Chevy pickups and Blazers, with the 6.2 diesel, come stock with the center connection tapped for the 12 volts, which is everything on the truck except the starter, but they do have double alternators.
I have about five of them right now.
I also have a 1200 gallon nurse tanker on a M35. It is center tapped for the pump engine and fuel pump, hose reel, and emergency lights, and it has been working just fine for the last eight years.
You could add a third battery, and use the 24 to 12 volt converter to charge that battery. That would take the heavy load off the converter.
Van
