Couple of questions

[5B Steve]

  Hello,

  I have 2 questions, where is a good place to buy the windshield seals for my MCI-5B?  (1975) Secondly, since

  mine is a 24v system can a 12v inverter  be wired to one of the start batteries to be used , or will it take a 24v

  inverter to do the job?   

  Thanks again for any info.

  Steve 5B.......

[Oonrahnjay]

Hello,    since   mine is a 24v system can a 12v inverter  be wired to one of the start batteries to be used , or will it take a 24v   inverter to do the job?     Steve 5B....... 

      Steve, since you have a 24V available, I'd go with a 24v inverter.  There are many factors involved but here are some benefits:
1)  24V wiring to the inverter can be smaller and still have less voltage drop,
2)  24V inverters are generally available in higher wattages (ie. they will put out more 120V amps),
3)  If you use 12V off one start battery, you'll have to have some kind of equalizer with sufficient capacity to handle the amount of unbalanced you're pulling off that battery (not impossible but added expense and complication),
4)  24V inverters are often available with more advanced features than most 12V inverters.

      Have you thought about the issues of using your start batteries to power an inverter?  It's easy to inadvertently draw batteries down too far - if you do this with your start batteries, you'll need a way to power them up again for engine start.

      Many factors involved, but if you have 24V, my advice would be to consider a 24V inverter.  Want to fill us in on the other features of your electrical system?

[Ralph7]

               My magnum is 12/24 by 2,000 and  inverter/charger  pure sine. I can hook it to 24 or 12V. Also the only time I would hook it to the start battery system is in an emergency!
              Even a small inverter will suck the life out of 1 12V. battery.

[pvcces]

Steve, try converting the power storage of the batteries and the power consumption of the inverter loads into KWH. Then, your problem should be immediately apparent.

For example, a golfcart battery can store about 1 1/3 KWH, so discharging it to a DOD (depth of discharge) of 80% means that you could take nearly 1 KWH out of it before recharging.

A portable heater takes 1 1/2 KWH every hour that it runs on it's high setting which means that a golf cart battery will not run a heater for 1 hour. This is why four golf carts are about a minimum if you don't have a household refrigerator. If you do, you ought to be looking at eight golfcarts.

You are limited in how fast you can recharge your batteries once they are discharged. If you are going to run liquid lead acid batteries, you should not recharge them faster than five hours. Other batteries can be recharged faster, but they all are limited.

I recommend that you put your system together by balancing the system so that you get the most good out of it. Possibly, practicing running your first set of batteries down will give you good feel for your needs when you replace them.

For what it's worth.

Tom Caffrey

[Slow Rider]

Have you tried Luke at US Coach for the windshield?  I know he is a good source for my MC8, just don't know about the 5's.

888-262-2434

Frank