Running a 12 volt light on a 24 volt system??

[kb0jyl]

Baios, makes sense, as the winch draws a whole lot more power than a revolving light, thus drawing the volatage way down on the one battery. It will do the same in a 12 volt system with only one battery. When using heavy duty items, you to make sure your batteries have a whole lot of extra amps. I would also guess that you are going to need a very large invertor to run the winch, and I imagine that will run into the big dollars. I have winches on my plow truck as well as a dump bed, and I have to keep the biggest battery I can get into the battery box or else it will go dead. There is no perfect answer as there are so many variables in each persons set up. What works for one person may not work for the next one.

I also use car batteries as a back up for my ham radio station, and I have to make sure not to run any one battery down to far or else it will not charge back up.


Just my 1.5 cents worth again.

[rickf]

Baios, You do know that they also make 24 volt winch's don't you? Sell that one and buy a 24 volt version, problem solved.
Rick

[Joe]

Dan, I'll keep that in mind if I go looking for bulbs.... I believe my beacon has clear bulbs along with the red dome but red's will work in there, as well. In the mid-1960's, I used to volunteer to drive a very cool Cadillac ambulance (meat wagon) that sported a Federal beacon with a clear dome and 3 red lamps, so I know they were manufactured at one time.

Funny story but true: After an ambulance run, my partner and I would always change the sheets/pillow case/blanket on the litter so that everything was a go for the next run. Now on this night, a very good-looking Candystriper (young lady, high school age, volunteering her time to gain experience prior to entering the nursing field) was on-duty at the local hospital emergency room when we showed up to 'change the sheets'. Instead of an empty litter, we wanted to be funny and my partner laid down and pulled the sheet over his head. Now this is in 1965 in a small coal town in northeastern Pennsylvania and the place is always quiet, especially on this night. No one is around except the good-looking Candystriper!!! I wheel the litter into the hallway outside the ER and ask her for help finding the morgue. She's giving me directions while staring at the sheet covering the body but screams repeatedly and runs away when she notices first twitching, then VIOLENT THRASHING from the 'corpse' under that sheet!!!!. Now, we thought this was very funny!!! Bottom line: we never did get a date with her, EVER........

[Mr. Recovery]

Good one Joe! I'll bet she had to clean her own "sheets"

Dan.

[SEABEE62]

So, if you want to charge up the batteries ( two 12v ) , do you charge one at a time/ the upside ( or downside) of one battery/ while connected, or disconnect each and charge each seperately.

[raymond]

Tom

Glad to see you made it over here to join us. You can charge each battery individually using a 12volt charger without disconnecting them. at least I have the only 2 times it was necessary in 11 years. Properly maintained and stored, batteries should set for months with no large loss of charge. If you are having problems, get out your meter and look for whatever is drawing power. I know over at G503 on the M38/38a1 page, someone reported that some of the 24 volt foot starter buttons pass enough electricity during starting that they can develop a carbon buildup that can lead to a very slight current going through the starter button. It is slow enough that it takes weeks if not months to drain the batteries. Some of the guys have bought 24volt chargers and rigged the cables up to a slave cable and trickle charge their batteries periodically during storeage through the slave socket. Of course this only works if you have the slave receptacle installed.

[SEABEE62]

Thanks, I really didn't know this was here. So I start over in rank again, almost like being busted in rank for not knowing something. I'll have to check both now, which is a lot better than looking ALL OVER THE NET. Thanks, Tom