Tech in the Deuce!

[mattg2448]

Well guys, since I will be driving my M35A2 on the road, I decided to install a radio, And it turned out pretty good, I made it so if someone ends up getting into my truck at school, its hard to see the radio, so i mounted it under the Pass. Seat. When i get in, just lift the seat and put the faceplate in, lower the seat, and use a remote and point it at a mirror to bounce back at the radio! It's actually pretty clever!

So my question is, can i run the standard 12v radio on one of the batteries that run the truck? Or should i buy a reducer?

 

[wreckerman893]

Good job there Young Gun.

 

[Gunwriter]

looks pretty clever to me!

 

[gimpyrobb]

Where are the speakers going to go?

 

[AaronW]

Nice mod! Now, where will you put the amp so that you can hear it?

 

[gunboy1656]

Looks good, How are you going to listen to it?

 

[wikallen]

So my question is, can i run the standard 12v radio on one of the batteries that run the truck? Or should i buy a reducer?

Just get a cheap 24v to 12v converter off ebay. I have 3 that cost me about 10 bucks each. They claim 30amp output. I put two up front, and one in the box of my m109.

 

[mattg2448]

Just get a cheap 24v to 12v converter off ebay. I have 3 that cost me about 10 bucks each. They claim 30amp output. I put two up front, and one in the box of my m109.

And do they hold up, or just fry after a months of use?

The speakers are going in the top rear corner of the hardtop, but is gonna be attached to the cab wall, so i can remove the top. I figured that it would be close enough to hear, so why not. But i dont wanna get carried away with modern technology, try for as stock as i can.

 

[Flyingvan911]

Nice job. I want to make a universal quick mount so I can move my ham radio between my deuce and van quickly and easily. That looks like a good start.

 

[Rustygears]

Where does the subwoofer go?

Nice install!

 

[A/C Cages]

You going to use RF headsets so you can hear it?

 

[Billy Bobbed]

Very nice.

 

[Steaminjim]

Great Job and nice shop also. Good planning on location. My comment on the use of one battery is that if you only plan to use it when the engine is running - then the electrical system wouldn't even see the 12/15 watt radio. But if you plan to use it a lot when the engine is off or add some megga AMP, then get the converter.
Semper Fi

 

[mattg2448]

Thanks guys! Now if i go with running it off of the battery, i should run it off of the one connected to the ground.. Right?

 

[Rustygears]

Correct. If you use the bat grounded to the frame then you can share that ground. If you were to use the other bat, the negative lead is floating at +12V relative to the frame. That's a bad situation in case any metal touches metal, etc. You have the potential for a short on either the positive or negative side in that setup. Using the 'low' side battery avoids this situation.

I would recommend using a converter as suggested by other posts. This actually converts the +24 (+28 when alternator is running) to a nice, regulated +12 and you can still use the negative ground. Just be sure that the converter is not a real cheap device burning off the extra +12 in a resistive load (aka heater). These waste huge amounts of power, generate lots of heat and have no regulation. Most of even the lower cost devices are true electronic converters. A way to determine which is which is to look at the 'conversion efficiency' specification. If they claim 80% or more, it clearly is a real electronic converter.

 

[59apache]

nice install! do your self a favour and buy one of tm-america's Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite - View Profile: tm america
alternator bracktes , add an old chevy alt and you have a independant 12V system.
12V add-on will come, from cooler to cell phone charging, subwoofer....