Source for 24 volts?

[Bucolic]

I'm going to install an inverter on my 151A1. When I rewired it, I used a front harness for an A2 and had to splice in the #5 wire to the regulator from the generator. I'm not 100% sure it was the #5 wire but whatever the number, it works fine at keeping my batteries charged. Anyway, would this wire be a safe and reliable source for the 24 volts I need for the inverter? That wire for the positive and the body as the ground. The only reason for the inverter is to power a bunch of LED Christmas lights, nothing else. It's a 400 watt inverter so I won't be trying to run anything like coffee pots or power tools.

[Fil Bonica]

Tap the 24 volt side of battery.
Ground negative wherever.
Makke sure it is properly fused.

Fil Bonica

[m3a1]

Yeah, I agree. I do that all the time on mine with no dramas whatsoever.

[rickf]

Electrical was my specialty when I had a shop and I have to agree with the others. Also be sure to wire it according to the directions on the inverter which should have you using a wire and fuse that will cover the maximum output. You say you will never use it but much better to be safe than sorry. Just remember that whatever the output amperage is it will be multiplied by five on the input side. One amp out equals five amps in, 10 out equals 50 in. And that is not accounting for efficiency loss that is in all inverters.

[Mark]

I put a 12 volt am/fm radio inside a rt-524 shell, tapped the hot wire from the one battery to power the radio.(ya, I put a fuse in the line too)

[Bucolic]

The wire at the generator was just an idea. Tapping off the 24 volt side of the batteries is what I'll end up doing. And yes, the inverter will be fused.
Thanks for your comments.

[Fil Bonica]

Tapping off # 5 is the same potential but just not as safe as at the battery terminals.
A short at that point could cook the alternator.


Fil Bonica

[svramselaar]

hi

for 12v use alwais a dc-dc converter 24-12v
if you take from one battery the power it will cost a battery
if the total voltage is 26 volt (full battery`s ) at the midle 13 volt`s
if you use a radio +/- 3-6 amps form one battery the voltage go more down as at the set
example battery one 11 volt second battery is still 13 volt total 24 volt
if the generator works to 28 volts the second battery will get a overload and go bad

you can use terminal 5 wire for the converter the wire is thick anough
better is at the battery`s
use also a heavy ground cable
if the engine is running all power for the MUTT is coming from the alternator
the battery is only a suplier if the engine is not running
if the engine is running it is a user
the construktion off the alternator is he can not deliver more as 60 amps


george

[m3a1]

George, for his stated purposes he'll be just fine running off of one battery. I can assure you of that. I previously stated I do that very thing and there are no ill effects even if a parade lasts for hours (which most don't). If he's lucky enough to have a power inverter that will allow him to hook up to 24v he could use both batteries and be out there running heavier loads but LED light strings are just ridiculously low-power.

Cheers,
TJ

[rickf]

He has a 24 volt inverter so he will be hooking up to the batteries as a unit just like everything else in the vehicle. Basically the exact same setup as the radio. 12 volt does not play into this at all.

[Bucolic]

The reason I was considering using the wire at the generator was solely because I could then mount the inverter on the inside of the left fender thus making the wiring and access easier AND running the wires for the 110 volt Christmas lights easier as well. I figured they could exit the under-hood area through the fording cutout next to the blackout light.

[svramselaar]

hi

aboud the 12 v from one battry
i have seen the problems at the 40 years i am a car electrician
mark has this item as replay above my replay

george

[SturmTyger380]

I could then mount the inverter on the inside of the left fender

If you do that put a fuse inline before the inverter.

[m3a1]

All due respect, I am not posting to argue with you George. I am merely trying to report that I have done (and will continue to do) the exact same thing we are discussing here, with no ill effect whatever. These LED lights just aren't asking much of the inverter. Now, if he said he was wanting to use power tools, or power up incandescent lights or leave the inverter on for hours and hours then yes...there will be issues because as we all know power inverters are hungry little beasts as evidenced by the amount of heat they give off and that will be one heck of a draw off of a single battery. But for a night parade, and used judiciously, hooked up to a healthy battery...no troubles. All of this is a moot point since it has been reported that his inverter can run off of 24 volts. So, all is well.

As for the fuse, most new inverters have a fuse, located prominently in the chassis of the unit.