We recently purchased a 2007 Horton Type 3 ambulance based on the Ford E450 Super Duty 6.0 TD. We've had starting issues when not on shore power, so I pulled the 3 Motorcraft BXT65-850 batteries and took them to be tested at Oreilly's Auto Parts. All 3 are within the 3 year replacement warranty period, but they will not cover under warranty because I didn't buy them (even though the manufacture dates are 1/18 and 2/16). I have 3 new NorthStart built X2Power Premium AGM Batteries (930 CCA with 4 year free replacement) on order at Batteries Plus to replace them.
The ambulance has a manual battery disconnect switch on the side of the driver's seat, and all wiring appears to be led to the electrical box behind the driver's seat. There is oe very large cable running from there to the battery tray on the passenger side where the 3 batteries are wired in parallel.
I've confirmed that there is no other starting battery by disconnecting the main lines to the battery tray and cannot find a battery isolator anywhere.
Do I need to separate the batteries (1 for starting and 2 for house?) by installing a battery combiner (possibly the Victron Intelligent Battery Combiner) or do I need to an Automated Charging Relay (ACR)?
I'm assuming that I would have to disconnect the module in the wiring box behind the seat and install a second set of battery cables between the box behind the seat and the house battery bank, then use a battery combiner or ACR to charge both when plugged in to shore power or the vehicle is running.
Has anyone done this?
Any guidance on the wiring changes needed would be sincerely appreciated!
Tony
The ambulance has a manual battery disconnect switch on the side of the driver's seat, and all wiring appears to be led to the electrical box behind the driver's seat. There is oe very large cable running from there to the battery tray on the passenger side where the 3 batteries are wired in parallel.
I've confirmed that there is no other starting battery by disconnecting the main lines to the battery tray and cannot find a battery isolator anywhere.
Do I need to separate the batteries (1 for starting and 2 for house?) by installing a battery combiner (possibly the Victron Intelligent Battery Combiner) or do I need to an Automated Charging Relay (ACR)?
I'm assuming that I would have to disconnect the module in the wiring box behind the seat and install a second set of battery cables between the box behind the seat and the house battery bank, then use a battery combiner or ACR to charge both when plugged in to shore power or the vehicle is running.
Has anyone done this?
Any guidance on the wiring changes needed would be sincerely appreciated!
Tony