Marque Ambulance Electrical

[The Campulance Man]

Hi all - I have an '02 E450 based Marque class III decommissioned ambulance that I've been building into a permanent living vehicle and I'm skiddish about one part of the electrical. When I bought the truck the inverter had been removed. The wiring is still present and was properly terminated, with the incoming AC shore power wired (plugged in to) what was the inverter AC output. This allowed the AC outlets to function when plugged in to shore.
I spoke with a tech at Marque who explained how I put the inverter back in and I now understand that I need an inverter with a transfer switch. No problem. I've spoken with AIMS Power and have selected an inverter/charger with transfer switch.
Now my question concerns the stand alone charger that the truck also has. This is a 45 amp AC powered charger/power supply that is plugged into AC power and it's output is wired to the the main house DC switch on the side of the drivers seat. It's attached to the hot side of this switch, which tells me it's feeding the batteries. From what the previous owner told me, when plugged into shore power the batteries get charged. This converter/charger is obviously doing this.
Here my question - with my new inverter/charger can I simply disconnect this stand alone charger?

Unfortunately Marque has no records from my trucks era - they've been sold 2 times and told me the older records didn't come with. I was lucky enough to get a tech on the phone but can't rely on that as a support resource. Is there anyone reading this that can give me some insight on my truck? Thank you reading this far.

 

[Alloy]

If the charge doesn't take up too much room leave it place (unplugged) as a back up.

I use an inverter/charger and a battery charger.

When I'm working on the trailer and when I'm away from it I don't like to have the 110VAC running in it so I plug the battery charger in.

Also don't like to leave an expensive inverter charger running if a less expensive battery charger will do the same thing..

 

[The Campulance Man]

Hi Alloy and thanks for your input. My charger definitely can be left in place where it is without getting in the way of anything and I may end up doing what you suggested. It is easy to access and can be unplugged from its 110VAC input easily.

I'm going to be full time in this truck so I don't foresee long term spans of no use, so the stand alone charger will most likely not be used much if at all - but leaving it in place and disconnected is easy enough to do.

I've read of other ambulance owners finding out that their trucks were not configured to run 110VAC off of battery power and that they only had 110VAC when the engines were running. Once I have the new inverter installed, this is the big question I need to answer.

It's taken me a lot of reading and diagramming to get to where I am today with this truck- taking over someone else's wiring is SO much more difficult than wiring it myself.

 

[The Campulance Man]

My rig had an 'inverter' rocker switch that was mounted in the console between the seats and ran a single wire to the original inverter. I guessed that this was an on/off switch and because my new inverter has a remote wired LCD switch panel, I removed that original switch. I'm waiting delivery next week of the inverter charger from AIMS and will figure out if the truck has anything stopping me from inverting VAC from battery (engine off).

 

[GIDDYUPGUY]

Hi, I'm a new member who just purchased what appears to be the exact same Marque Type III you have. I too am wrestling with figuring out the electrical situation, Mine has a diesel generator which my mechanic says he can get to work. Did the general manual for this model come with yours? I have the original with ALL info on systems etc but am woefully ignorant of anything electrical! Am waiting anxiously for local EMS mechanic to come by and help me figure things out. I am currently full timing in a Class A which I am selling to downsize into amb. Mine was a former Red Cross emergency rescue unit which I do not think was used for routine ambulance type activities - it has no stretcher features? I just finished constructing a bed platform across the rear in front of the back doors with large underneath storage only 70" wide but works for me at only 5'3"!! Hope you get this, would love to know how you are progressing. Dean aka Giddyupguy