Date:         Wed, 26 Feb 2003 10:54:19 -0800
Reply-To:     Mike Pedersen <mikeped@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Pedersen <mikeped@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: +24v electrical system
Comments: To: vw4x4@fyi.net
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Eric,

You can get 24v alternators from marine or big RV sources. Think diesel,
they'll be big....  Diesel Landcruisers were 24v.  The funny part was the
head lights were 12v.  Each light came off of it's own battery, since they
were equal loads.  It was important to replace a headlight if one got blown.
Remember that in series (not parallel), the batteries do not balance each
other out. So if you tap off of one battery and discharge it, the other one
takes the excess from the charging system. In other words, if your batteries
are unbalanced, one battery will get progressively get weaker, the other
will progressively overcharge. Both batteries will eventually need to be
replaced, unless you swap them.  Might want to put a Perko switch in there
too.  I've also seen dual alternators.

IMHO, the whole thing sounds like a headache too me.  But, hey have fun, and
post pictures...

Mike


----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Zeno" <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: +24v electrical system


> In any wiring system, current is the main limiting
> factor to the wire itself.  Having problems with this
> in the head light circuit, rather than re-wiring with
> thicker wire it is easier to keep the same power
> to the lights by doubling the voltage and running
> half the current. Half the current thru the same
> wires mean the wiring no longer acts like
> mutch of a limiting resistance problem, and light will
> be as  bright as they were intended.  Other Vanagon
> wiring problems could be solved in the manner.
>                                              Eric
>
>
>
> Stan Wilder wrote:
>
> > > So now I'm considering
> > > running only a portion of the Vanagon on 24v.....Just food for
> > thought...
> > ---------------------- Clip ----------------------------
> > Stupid question ........................... why?
> > Please explain what benefits you expect to gain.
> >
> > Stan Wilder
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
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