609albert Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 what exactly is the purpose of the rectifier on my L model Mack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Converts AC to DC Being a firetruck maybe for on site lighting or other FD related equipment? Paul Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macktech689 Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Rectifiers convert AC to DC, Inverters convert DC to AC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevink1955 Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 They convert the 3 phase AC alternator output to DC to operate the vehicle electrical system and charge the battery's. Newer alternators use internally mounted Diodes to do the same thing. Last time I saw one was on a 62 Mack fire pumper, it took up a lot of room and Leece Nevile had a smaller Diode/heatsink to replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 I remember some years ago doing electrical work at a Ambulance station and all Ambulances had a plug on the side to plug them into mains power when not being used I guess because they had so much electrical stuff in them and were never really turned off as in the radios were always going and lights and stuff on inside them They also had a cutout so when it was plugged into mains you couldnt start them I wonder does a fire truck have they same type of thing ???? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ff6cav Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 7 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said: I remember some years ago doing electrical work at a Ambulance station and all Ambulances had a plug on the side to plug them into mains power when not being used I guess because they had so much electrical stuff in them and were never really turned off as in the radios were always going and lights and stuff on inside them They also had a cutout so when it was plugged into mains you couldnt start them I wonder does a fire truck have they same type of thing ???? Paul Modern apparatus (both ambulances and fire trucks) have "shore lines" to keep things like portable radios, flashlights and other handheld electrical equipment charged while they are in the station. I believe it also helps keep the batteries of the vehicle charged, but that may not always be the case 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Since modern fire and EMS units have the same types of parasitic losses that plague all modern stuff they all use some type of on-board charging system that is plugged into "shore" power when they are in quarters. The really neat feature about most of these plugs is a built in solenoid that "kicks" the cord out of the socket when the truck is started if the driver fails to unplug it before trying to leave quarters. (We always left the cord looped around the steering wheel or driver's door handle to help prevent that little boo-boo.) Most older stuff, 1940's and 50's, also used a rectifier based system to keep the batteries charged while in quarters. Perhaps you have noticed an odd shaped electrical outlet on older trucks that typically has two horizontal slots in lieu of the standard vertical slots for a plug to fit into. That was the standard plug for an on-board charger at the time. Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 this is all interesting to me The untis I was working didnt have a solenoid there was a switch that would open the circuit to the starter motor when the flap was lifted to plug the lead Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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