24 volt to 12 volt converter

12thgenusa wrote:

brulaz wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Getting a 24 volt DC to 12 volt DC converter which could handle a 2000 watt inverter may cost more than replacing the inverter.

Exactly. And a double conversion like that is very inefficient.

Some advantages of 24V are:
- increased solar array size can be handled by your MPPT controller
- less percent voltage drop from battery, wire, connector resistance under loads (especially under high inverter loads).
- smaller wire sizes needed.

But you do need:
- a 24V Inverter. Mine is a 2000W Kisae.
- a 24V to 12V converter for the rig' other 12V loads. I got a Victron 40A unit.
- a shorepower charger of some sort for the 24V batteries. I use a 500W Meanwell Power Supply.

There may be other issues.
- your truck's 12V line can supply 12V to the trailer's 12V loads but can't charge the 24V batteries. But then most are not very good at battery charging anyway. So I installed my old 1000W 12V Inverter in the truck and run an extension cord to the trailer's 24V charger.
- If your batteries are not all the same brand/age (internal resistance) you will prolly want a balancer so they charge properly. Mine is made by Victron.

Just a question. Do the gains/advantages of a 24v battery bank really outweigh all this other stuff?
*24v inverter
*24v - 12v converter
*24v charger
*Double conversion of 12v to inverter to 24v charger for TV charging

Wouldn't it be simpler/cheaper to size the controller properly and leave all the other stuff alone?

for 600 Watts and above, the higher voltage system is a win if you are designing from scratch. in this particular case, half the gear is already purchased, so the OP must now make the best of a poor design. the least expensive option would be a new CC.