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24V to 12V

Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 11:31 pm
by slacker
With the 24v electrical system on the MQ's i was told u have to change the globes in anything you wish to tow that has 12v globes. Is there anything else besides changing the globes on a trailer i can do. Is there like a 'reducer' or anything i can buy that wont blow the globes on a 12v trailer.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 12:54 am
by Patroler
You could fit the trailer with LED tail lights, they can operate on a range of voltages, something like 9-33v.
As far as a reducer or transformer goes to lower the voltage, it may be possible, but i think you'd need one for each positive wire going to the trailer.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 1:17 am
by slacker
it's not for me, my sister wants to use the 4wd for towing a horse float, but the horse floats not hers but don't think she'l want to change globes when she usues it every few weeks or less. ill ring a few places tomorrow and try and find out more.

thanks for your reply

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 4:55 am
by RMP&O
all you have to do is get a trailer plug converter. This would be fitted to the 24v truck, is fairly cheap and used a lot by owners of military trucks. I can show you examples if you need them....

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 8:54 am
by Screwy
All i did was change the tail light globes. For the cost for a converter or similar ist not worth it.

The job should take no more than 5 mins cause its only a few phillips head screws.

Mines converted fully o 12 volt now so no need to worry about any of that anymore :D

Screwy

Voltage question

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 10:54 am
by giffo
Screwy,

How hard is it to convert to 12 volt and at what cost and who can do it?

I too have had to put 24 volt globes in on my trailer. My MQ did have a transformer (whatever) but it pooped itself. Replacement cost was about $100, so I put in 24 volt globes.

Giffo

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 12:42 pm
by V8Patrol
Cheapest way is to stick in 24volt globes in the trailer and forget em ...... they will still work ok but be dull when being towed by a 12volt rig.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 8:15 pm
by slacker
Yeah i was told and assumed that kingy. I might find out how much these things r to convert ot my sister can ask the owner of the float to see if it's ok to swap globes and go from there.

thanks for your help guys

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 8:07 pm
by Screwy
Giffo, check out my thread in the members section ( The Screwy Creation ) and the last post has a list of all u need to change. All i easy as cept the alternator and starter motor and u will have to grab themfrom a late model SD33T.

Screwy

Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 9:30 pm
by DR Frankenstine
Screwy_ScrewBall wrote:Giffo, check out my thread in the members section ( The Screwy Creation ) and the last post has a list of all u need to change. All i easy as cept the alternator and starter motor and u will have to grab themfrom a late model SD33T.

Screwy
Have a starter, wiper motor, dash, rear wiper etc (if anyone is interested) :)

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:07 am
by Scrapper
My friend had a MQ SWB 24V that had two trailer plugs. One was 24V and the other used relays and a regulator for 12V. You will need relays for each 'wire' in the plug (with the exception of ground!). Bit of messing around (and you get weird clicking sounds from all those relays stashed in the rear quarter panels) but gives a pretty good result. The trailer lights will flash slightly slower due to the mechanical delay in the relay switching.

I have heard the convertors are not cheap. If you put the 'high wattage' 24V bulbs as someone suggested, then they will be very bright on 24V (not really a bad thing unless you melt lenses...) and it will not be too dim on 12V. !2V bulbs in 24V systems last about 2km...

I'm considering changing over to 12V as the 24V starts _really_ well, but is proving a pain in so many other ways.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:25 pm
by PJ
I just run a 24V to 12V converter (a 3A unit will cost about $25-$30 from Jarcar), with a series of small 24V relays that hook into the rear-end electrics. as each of the lighting functions are activated, the corresponing 24V realy switches 12 through to the trailer electrics (via fuses). It took a couple of hours to set up, but now I can run any trailer without worrying about having to change light bulbs.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 6:42 pm
by mud13s
How about a light board with 24V globes in it that you tie to the back of the trailer

Then take it off when done

Could also use it on any other trailer you want to tow

Paul

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 7:23 pm
by GOT MUD
mud13s wrote:How about a light board with 24V globes in it that you tie to the back of the trailer

Then take it off when done

Could also use it on any other trailer you want to tow

Paul
this is what i use :D cant go wrong