24volt questions !!

[tim2658]

Hi I have a pacific 22 running a 24volt system, this might sound stupid to a lot of you but 1st question :: can I use normal 12v nav lights just with 24v bulbs, and 2nd how can I change lower the voltage to fit a vhf and fishfinder ???

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by tim2658

Hi I have a pacific 22 running a 24volt system, this might sound stupid to a lot of you but 1st question :: can I use normal 12v nav lights just with 24v bulbs, and 2nd how can I change lower the voltage to fit a vhf and fishfinder ???

Fitting 24v bulbs into 12v fittings won't be a problem as long as the bulbs are physically the same. There are electronics that will work on 12&24V, Much of the Raymarine range is dual voltage.

Assuming that you have 2x12V batteries on the boat in series to give 24V, you could take a feed from one, to supply 12V to the electronics.

[tim2658]

Ah!! Right I see what your saying, that makes sense, I have two 12v 75amph battery's , so it would be fine just to come off one battery !!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by tim2658

Ah!! Right I see what your saying, that makes sense, I have two 12v 75amph battery's , so it would be fine just to come off one battery !!

Yup, just create a 12V system. I'd come off one battery through a battery isolator & feed a separate 12V fuse board for the toys. Just make sure that all the negatives are brought back to the same point & keep them tight.

[tim2658]

Will do cheers Dave !!

[Daniel]

What Dave suggests isn't such a good idea and frouned upon in a professional install.

It creates an unbalanced load on the battery bank and will wear out one battery quicker than the other. Perhaps in reality one VHF wouldn't make a huge difference but we would never do this.

What you need is a "dropper" - a box that runs on 24v and outputs 12v. You need to make sure the amp rating of the dropper EXCEEDS the total amp load you will connect to it.

As Dave said a lot of Raymarine and now more & more garmin and simrad is 12 and 24v. Icom are 12v only.

[Will75]

Google alfatronix pv6s, that's what you need.

[ncp]

Step down down converter is what you need. They are ~$400 here in the US and I know of two different manufactures. (I'm running 24v on my rib too).

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