Stone,
What happened to your pictures???
I would love to see them again.
And any that you have Greg.
What happened to your pictures???
I would love to see them again.
And any that you have Greg.
Solar Converter - Final Setup.
- Thread starter Stone
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #42
The Dude said:
Hi Brad:
Sorry about that...I was cleaning up my photo website and I thought that the Solar Converter pics have been up for a while and that I could take them down. I'm out of town right now (visiting family in Kelowna), so I'll put them back up when I get back to the Coast on Sunday.
Cheers,
Stone
Stone said:
Here is a picture of the HD relay and the converter install location on my BJ74.
Best diagram is the wiring schematic that Stone made up detailing his manual load balance/strict convert mode. Simply substitute the manual switch for the relay.
The relay is just below the left side hood hinge, close to the batteries to minimize run length. I used ignition power from the underhood "Power Box" to trip the relay and go to load balance.
hth's
gb
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- Thread starter
- #44
Hi Brad:
I put the pics of my own Solar Converter install in my BJ74 back up for you. Also put up the wiring diagram again with the marine switch for Load Balance/Convert modes.
Here's a couple of pics of one install that I did in a HJ61. The location is on the inside fender, passenger side of the vehicle. Same idea here with fabricating a simple metal bracket to hold the converter and use empty factory bolt locations to avoid drilling more holes.
When the wires are run neatly and loomed properly, it makes for a clean install. Can't really even tell that there's extra wires from this pic:
I put the pics of my own Solar Converter install in my BJ74 back up for you. Also put up the wiring diagram again with the marine switch for Load Balance/Convert modes.
Here's a couple of pics of one install that I did in a HJ61. The location is on the inside fender, passenger side of the vehicle. Same idea here with fabricating a simple metal bracket to hold the converter and use empty factory bolt locations to avoid drilling more holes.
When the wires are run neatly and loomed properly, it makes for a clean install. Can't really even tell that there's extra wires from this pic:
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thanks guys!!
I have all the pics dl so I won't lose them again!
I have all the pics dl so I won't lose them again!
Did you fab that mounting bracket for the converter yourself Stone? Is it possible to buy one?
- Thread starter
- #47
Diesel Weasel said:
Yup...it was really easy and nothing fancy. It was a matter of using some cardboard to shape the right template that will have holes in the right places for two bolts in the empty factory locations. I then just kept those templates and now have one for a BJ74 (without the fancy headlight washer system) and an HJ61.
Not sure why the focus on a solar convertor to do the battery balancing act when it's not built for this purpose. In my HJ61 24v I use a Redarc Battery Equaliser to do the job. Works fine.
I've installed it upside down underneath the high 12V battery (there's a great hidey hole underneath these if you've not discovered that) and feed the equaliser from the +ve and -ve of that same high 12v battery. Not the best place for creek crossings, but fine for the dust I'm usually encountering. I've installed a relay to the ACC to ensure the Equaliser switches off, other than that, it's entirely automatic and faultless.
Redarc is an Australian company with a good reputation here.
http://www.redarc.com.au/new/ce.htm
Tim
I've installed it upside down underneath the high 12V battery (there's a great hidey hole underneath these if you've not discovered that) and feed the equaliser from the +ve and -ve of that same high 12v battery. Not the best place for creek crossings, but fine for the dust I'm usually encountering. I've installed a relay to the ACC to ensure the Equaliser switches off, other than that, it's entirely automatic and faultless.
Redarc is an Australian company with a good reputation here.
http://www.redarc.com.au/new/ce.htm
Tim
- Thread starter
- #49
Tim-HJ61 said:
Huh?!? What makes you say that the Solar Converter is "not built" for equalizing batteries? This is a direct quote taken from Solar Converter's site regarding the converter:
http://www.solarconverters.com/product_frame.html
As for Redarc, I have heard good things about their products, and spent some time on the phone with them a little while ago regarding their 24-12v trailer logic circuit. Very nice and helpful people on the phone. But...I haven't been able to find a dealer on this continent, and I'm not about to ship a product back and forth to Oz if there are any warranty issues. Solar Converters have been well suited to our applications here so far, and they stand behind their product very well.
I stand corrected.
I did not check the exact product you had been talking about and was trying to be helpful in suggesting an alternative I knew to work. I 'assumed', clearly incorrectly, you were talking about a solar regulator.
Tim
I did not check the exact product you had been talking about and was trying to be helpful in suggesting an alternative I knew to work. I 'assumed', clearly incorrectly, you were talking about a solar regulator.
Tim
Sorry to be annoying but I was wondering where you put the diagram back up, hope to install one this summer and get rid of my factory converter.
- Thread starter
- #52
Eric: Post #14.
Tim: No worries. Like I said, Redarc puts out good products...I just wish they had a North American dealer. I guess with even the big rigs going to a 12V system, there really isn't much of a market on this side of the ocean to sustain that type of dealership.
Tim: No worries. Like I said, Redarc puts out good products...I just wish they had a North American dealer. I guess with even the big rigs going to a 12V system, there really isn't much of a market on this side of the ocean to sustain that type of dealership.
Such a nice diagram, looks nice and easy.
Where did you get the switch from and fuse box from?
Where did you get the switch from and fuse box from?
- Thread starter
- #54
Any marina will have the proper HD switch.
BiffS
Too many projects... ooh, look. Something shiny.
Ground Issues?
so if using a 12V stereo with a Solar (or similar) convertor, I beleive that the stereo case is a chssis ground style of set up.
Would this present a problem if feeding a 12+ and a 12- to it if operating on a pure 24V truck? The metal frame of the deck would come into contact with the live chassis points, and I have a totally 24V truck.
so if using a 12V stereo with a Solar (or similar) convertor, I beleive that the stereo case is a chssis ground style of set up.
Would this present a problem if feeding a 12+ and a 12- to it if operating on a pure 24V truck? The metal frame of the deck would come into contact with the live chassis points, and I have a totally 24V truck.
Wasnt a problem on mine or anyone elses set ups
I dont think this would be a problem as ground would need a hot relative to it to create a circuit.
As long as you use the same negative/earth as the 24v system, then it won't be a problem.
The only time this would be a problem is if you take your +12 and -12v off the high battery - then applying this voltage to the radio that was earthed to the radio and vehicle body/chassis would mean the radio would be fed 24v - a very bad thing I would imagine. Bad smell, sparks, sad and forlorn looks....
Do like most do, and take the +12v off the low battery and the - goes to the chassis/body.
Tim
The only time this would be a problem is if you take your +12 and -12v off the high battery - then applying this voltage to the radio that was earthed to the radio and vehicle body/chassis would mean the radio would be fed 24v - a very bad thing I would imagine. Bad smell, sparks, sad and forlorn looks....
Do like most do, and take the +12v off the low battery and the - goes to the chassis/body.
Tim
Yeah, that would work using the chassis ground. If you ran wire to the +12 and -12 of the high side battery you would have all sorts of magic smoke, heat and maybe even a light show. Try to avoid that.
Are you using a Solar Converter to balance the batteries? If not, the draw on the one battery will cause damage over some period of time with unbalanced batteries. Good luck.
-kevin
-
Are you using a Solar Converter to balance the batteries? If not, the draw on the one battery will cause damage over some period of time with unbalanced batteries. Good luck.
-kevin
-
hey,
New to cruisers, saved pennies and bought an 89 hj61. Love it but having trouble wiring in cd player. Have wired in stereos in all my other vehicles but for some reason cant figure out speaker wires???
also the oem deck is 12v, anyone know what the factory converter(in dash above glove box) can handle, want to run deck,amp,subs, alarm, dvd.
thanx
New to cruisers, saved pennies and bought an 89 hj61. Love it but having trouble wiring in cd player. Have wired in stereos in all my other vehicles but for some reason cant figure out speaker wires???
also the oem deck is 12v, anyone know what the factory converter(in dash above glove box) can handle, want to run deck,amp,subs, alarm, dvd.
thanx
- Thread starter
- #60
I've figured out the speaker wiring and made a diagram of the factory harness...but it's in my tool box at G&S's shop.
The OEM converter is only rated to run the factory deck...if it even works at all. Most of those heat boxes fail after 10 years or so. You're better off installing a Solar Converter or some other high quality step-down converters (like ICT) to run your 12V accessories.
