Hello, I’m new to the community and in the beginning stages of converting a M1010 military ambulance into a camper. My goals are self contained camper with heat, water, ability to cook and sleep with maybe a toilet and A/C. My vehicle is a 1984 M1010 military ambulance on a 1 ton 4x4 chassis with a 6.2 diesel engine. I want heat and a/c, running hot water, heat and stove with lights. The truck has a 12/24V system in it now. 12V for all the ormal car stuff…lights, horn, fan, glow plugs, radio and 24V for the starter. It has two (2) 160A alternators in it…one charging each battery with are in series. The first grounded to the chassis and supplying all the vehicle power and the second grounded to the first batteries positive supplying power for the 24V starter. I am thinking I want to keep the 24V system but have trouble thinking on charging the batteries…house via the existing alternators…Can I charge the house batteries with two (2) 12vdc - 12vdc chargers and use the first for the required 12V stuff in the house and both in series for the 24V stuff. I am thinking my house lights and pumps will be 12V and the A/C, heat and refrigerators will be 12V off the first house battery…If I choose to go 12V I could just swap out the 24V starter for a 12V stater and move some wires around and then use the second alternator for the house batteries. I have read that 24V would be better for solar charging and my biggest load…A/C would be 24V bit I can go 12V there too if it makes more sense…What do you guys think?
I’d go for a 24v system and add an balancer to the existing system. I’m just worrying about your roof space to get some significant amount of solar energy…
I have 75” x 107” so think I can get four (4) panels up there and working on a way to tilt on one axis.