110 FFr 24 Volt system.

[philmcdau]

Just a few questions about the 24 volt system.

I think the batteries in mine are stuffed due to age, sitting there not being used etc. I am intending to get them checked.

Initially I had no power to the box. I charged two of the batteries manually and then had voltage in the back, the rooof lights worked and there was 24 volt reading on the outlets. It even seemed that the alternator was pushing out voltage back to the batteries. I though it was good, but after time the voltage has dropped and now I am getting nothing. Even the trip from QLD to WA did nothing to charge the system up.

If I need to replace the batteries, can it run on just two or does it need the four ? I am only planning to run one or two 24 - 240 inverters and some step down to 12 volt for 12 volt stuff. No heavy duty stuff. Could it even work with one battery ?? If this is the case I can turn the other side in to a storage locker.......

Do the batteries need to be heavy duty or would a 'standard' 12v work. As mentioned I will not be running any hard core systems like they did when it was working with radios.

Thanks in advance.

Phil

[THE BOOGER]

You should have 2 alternators 1 x 12 volt and 1 x 24 volt is the 24 volt one there and if so is it connected to the batteries?
here's another thread to look at

http://remlr.com/forum/index.php?topic=1452.0

[Diana Alan]

The 24V alternator is a big lump of a thing on the LHS of the engine below the 12V alternator.  You may find that the belt has been removed so the 24V system is not charging.

[philmcdau]

The alternator still has the belt and when tested with a multi meter it is putting out a voltage. It just seems to stop at the batteries

[Diana Alan]

Are the cartridge fuses inside the top of the distribution box still intact?

If run without batteries, they may have blown.

[philmcdau]

Fuses are all cool.

As I mentioned earlier I have had power through the system when I charged the batteries from an external battery charger.

That is what lends me to the thoughts that the batteries are on the way out or already gone.

[Diana Alan]

I know the Perentie battery boxes are different to the SIII design, but I have three 12" 12V batteries in the one side of my SIII FFR which leaves the other side for storage.

Perhaps you can put your two batteries on the one side of yours.

[Diana Alan]

The batteries may be shot, but a couple of other things to check, is the relay from the 12V vehicle system activating the 24V charging circuit and when you test the charge from the 24V alternator, what voltage are you getting?  It should be about 28V.

[richard c]

I initially has some difficulty charging the batteries in my 6x6 ambulance.  The new 24v charger wouldn't do it - I think they were too flat.  I disconnected the jumper/joiner lead and charged each of them separately with my 12v smart charger, they seem fine now but it did take a couple of days to bring them each up to 'float'.  My ambulance has only 2 12v batteries for the 24v system.

On a similar note, can anyone tell me what the various output sockets are on the control boxes are? - the large one with the fuses behind the passenger and the smaller one behind the driver

thanks

richard c

[B 52]

The batteries in mine initially appeared dead but after a few days on a batterry charger came up fully charged and are holding a charge of 25 volts+ for weeks without further charge. To check, the switch on the distribution box needs to be on obviously. I only have the left pair in at the moment with right side terminals taped up
Brian

[philmcdau]

That is what I have ended up doing. Picked two of the batteries that charged better than the others. I now have it reading 24 volts in the back and when the engine is running the needle flicks up to the charging side. 

I will see how long the charge lasts and if it is in fact keeping them charged. I think the two batteries will meet my needs.

I have some 24 - 12v invertors I have fitted so I can get 12v out of it.

Lets see what happens