Anyone know if a dual voltage Alternator is available?

[MCrossley]

I am trying to find out if anyone makes a 12/24 VDC unit that will replace the factory setup. I have a fifth wheel that runs both 12 and 24 and would really like to be able to charge the 24 system from the truck also. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed. Line-X bed-liner. DTT's TC & VB, Pac Brake, Power Edge, Edge EZ, Grover Air Horns

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

http://www.ramtaz.com

Add on's to come: any other Ram Runner required modifications...

 

[LandShark]

Check out the AuraGen combination 110/220/DC engine mounted power generator at aurasystems.com This is the big bucks way to go (over $5k)

I had a boat for many years with 12 and 24v systems. I found the most economical and reliable way to go was to have two separate systems (a 140 amp 12v alternator plus a 100 amp 24v alternator).

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1995 2500 SLT Club 4x4, auto, 3. 54, 3300 pound Elkhorn slide in camper, AirLift air springs, Ricka dual wheel adapters (used only with the camper on), K&N, DC tow hooks, Rancho RS9000, Hellwig rear sway bar.
110,000 miles and counting.

[This message has been edited by LandShark (edited 03-15-2001). ]

 

[BK]

if you cant find a dual dc voltage alternator, you can buy at probably the same price a dual alt would be, a dc-dc converter that will produce the 24vdc , isolated from the 12v.

 

[David_VT]

update:
I found this on a site advertising a new bus and listing it's components:

"Alternator, belt driven, is an oil cooled 24/12 volt Delco Remy 50 DN series hot rated at 270 amps at 3000 RPM generator speed. "

Site link: http://tnc.ware.net/ngv/ngvorg99.nsf/VehInfoView2/D0CF0F83AD8DE9378825675A0064E4E8?opendocument

Hopefully you can glean enough from this to find something small enough to not need a Cummins G as that one does. . #ad


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Follow the double alternator path, or upgrade to a high current primary alternator and feed a battery charger with 24v output. Some info and links here: http://www.cetsolar.com/solar.htm

Looks like Delco is going to make something: http://www.delcoremy.com/html/products/Alternators_Main.htm

IMHO, I would avoid the AuraGen for now. While I am told it has a fantastic generator (which mounts like a big second alternator), the electronics that creates the AC voltage has not yet reached maturity. I have no doubt that it will become a great product, given time to mature.

I did some homework looking for something to run off the truck that could eliminate the need to keep a dusty generator in the barn for the occasional power failure. The Aurogen sounded great, but one of their dealers more or less talked me out of it.

That some guy suggested the more traditional inverters that have been around for years, in combination with one of the beefy high current alternators that are available to replace our sytems.

Another though I have had is to pursue the inverters that are found for homes that are 'off the grid', something that you californians are starting to get used to #ad
.

Those full sine wave inverters are very very efficient and can charge both 12 and 24 volt battery banks. I learned about them after talking with you about the wind generator ideas you were looking into for your trailer.

Currently I am in the midst of getting a quote to install a grid=intertie system on my home that can actually spin my power meter backwards thus saving me money on sunny days...

[This message has been edited by David_VT (edited 03-16-2001). ]

 

[David_VT]

MC,
Check the 120VAC head on this website.
I just sent an email to them asking about ways to use this in an engine compartment.
http://www.geoduck.com/epicenter/order. cgi?page=power_sources_generators_and_batteries.html&cart_id=

Anyone out there every try something like this? (i. e. take a generator from one of these Y2K type 5KW generators and mount it on your engine to create 120VAC)

Looks like these folks are selling just the generator head for under $400. They also have stuff for creating your own generator using perhaps an unused gas engine you might have...

David

 

[MCrossley]

hey David thanks for some of the great ideas, actually if you are looking into the home off the grid system you should be giving me a call, I have the full blown Trace SW4024 inverter with solar and wind chargers on the trailer, it is a full line-tie system and yes my meter does go backwards very cool. Also I can get you a good deal now that I signed my company up with them so I am getting good pricing.

The only thing I do not like about the generator head thing is the fact that it has to be exactly 3600 RPM no matter what if you change that then you will be altering the frequency and or voltage significantly. The reason I am looking for such an application is for going down the road power so I can have my a/c on the trailer along with the a/c fridge running on those 110 deg. trips with the cats inside. My inverter is capable of running the A/C for about 2 hours off battery and thought it would be a great setup to run 24V back to the inverters batteries to keep the a/c running as long as the truck was running. The auragen is way more efficent of a system for this purpose and I am curious what problems they are seing in that it has been fully approved for military specs along with several other very demanding qualifications.

How is the weather back there anyhow?

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed. Line-X bed-liner. DTT's TC & VB, Pac Brake, Power Edge, Edge EZ, Grover Air Horns

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

http://www.ramtaz.com

Add on's to come: any other Ram Runner required modifications...

 

[David_VT]

I agree on the 120vac head issue for your application. I was thinking about it for a backup power source, but the truck would have to be stationary in that application as I don't have a hitch on my house (nor the correct marking lights on the roof) #ad


My read on the Aurogen is that it has a way cool bulletproof generator under the hood. However, that only creates DC which must feed into a box hung under the truck to make AC. The guy I talked to gave me the old, 'hey I will sell you this if you really want it, but... ' speach. He talked about several users having many problems with the DC/AC box, again it sounded like maturity issues.


I have not given the following much thought, but... why can't you charge a bank of 12v batteries in parallel with 12V and at the same time find a way to feed a drain with some of those in series to create the 24 volts?

I seem to recall some dual field alternators that would be creating two 12 volt outputs. (typically wired in parallel for more current) I guess they must have a common ground that would preclude running them off to two unique banks of 12 volt batteries... maybe... I have to give that more thought...

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OK, what about selling that 4024 back to your company and try going with two PS2512's and a parallel kit. You end up with 5kw in the stationary mode (I think) and the entire setup (or half)can run on 12volts.

I would not try running both on your truck alternator as you would need a s-load of current.

==============
OR #ad

Go with a modified sine wave inverter (i. e. cheaper) for your rolling power needs. http://www.geoduck.com/epicenter/order. cgi?page=dc_to_ac_power_converters_and_inverters.html&cart_id=%%cart_id%%

---
Back in CA on the 31st #ad



[This message has been edited by David_VT (edited 03-17-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by David_VT (edited 03-17-2001). ]

 

[Doc Tinker]

Anyone seen a PTO assembly that would allow us to hook a generator head to our manual trannies? If I could use the generator head from my Generac that would be cool.

Doc

 

[Doc Tinker]

The link that David_VT gave us has some pretty cool stuff. I like that propane/NG convertor for the Tecumseh engine.

Doc

 

[MCrossley]

The reason I am running the SW4024 is because I need the pure clean sine wave over the modified for many different reasons and I am running the 24V system because as it is I am running 4/0 cable to the inverter I sure as hell do not want to have to run bigger than that for the 12V application. I think what I have decided on is the suggestion of the Surepower 12-24VDC converter equalizer sytem for about $900 that gives me 40 Amps of 24VDC If I can talk by boss into the Auragen that will be the #1 choice I think I will just take my chances witht eh control ECU. Also it is the only solution that I can run on the road all systems and not worry about current on DC wiring and also it is very useful if the power fails where I happen to be.

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed. Line-X bed-liner. DTT's TC & VB, Pac Brake, Power Edge, Edge EZ, Grover Air Horns

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

http://www.ramtaz.com

Add on's to come: any other Ram Runner required modifications...

 

[David_VT]

If you can get him to pay for that Aurogen and get away without having to paint your company name on the doors of your truck, go for it... !

Seriously, I urge you to call around to a few dealers before you bite on that Aurogen. Maybe the growing pains are cured, but that is a ton of cash to find out the hard way. .

Another thought I had was to buy just the Aurogen generator portion and send it's output in DC to the Trace inverter (if compatible).

 

[MCrossley]

I am bringing this back to the top after a long sleep... It is now that time of the year and we are already having power problems in the area. I have considered the converter and the auragen systems but now being unemployed I need to think more cost effective. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with running maybe 2 alternators one being the stock 12V and running a 24V along with it, anyone know of any reasons not to? Would there be a way to have it not run a 24V battery onboard (like a controller disconnect or something... Anyhow any ideas would be great