Ford E450 Bucket Truck (Roberts Hydraulic) – 12V or 24V System? Rewiring After Battery Fire

You guys awesome. Thank You

Let us know what you do to get it working.

There is an Inverter in Cab. Photo attached. I think I'll re install the charger as it was. If I didn't need it I was trying to save a few dollars by selling it as my screw up has already cost me many thousands of hard earned Canadian Dollars.

You should have seen me after I pulled into shop nd saw smoke in the mirror. Opened battery box and Flames were only a few inches and just the edges of the two batteries. Man do the flames grow fast! I called 911 on my phone and ran from neighbour to neighbour yelling anyone have a fire extinguisher!?!
I had transferred all my tools fasteners etc from my 200 Bell bucket to the the new truck but forgot to transfer fire extinguisher! Woe is ME lol

Incidents like that will get the adrenaline flowing for sure.

AMBMike said:

Let us know what you do to get it working.

Click to expand...

Thanks Mike. Will do. Thinking I might have to bite the bullet and find a specialty shop. I know one that charges $185.00 hr but sadly I've heard they aren't that good. Many people go there and feel they are being overcharged.
I think I'll call Roberts in Quebec on Monday and ask them where to take it.
I bought this much nicer, safer newer truck(only 90,000 km and runs/drives like new) as a favour for My nephew as he is taking over the business. I'm ready to semi retire and wanted him to have a good safe truck. This screw up is making me want to retire fully! lol

Seeing that inverter tells me that they were powering off of 2 batteries in series to the inverter and going back to those batteries in a loop. Not sure how they were powering the electric hydraulic pump with 12 volts but the wiring is probably hiding somewhere under there.
Simon C

If it helps, we can review your thoughts on your power demands with your system when it's all said and done. And to be honest, when I see an unbalanced system (12v truck, 12v hydraulic pump, 24v inverter) on two batteries (non-deep cycle at that), I'm thinking there might be a simpler, more effective way to set you up.

Thank You for the information. I will let everyone know how I make out with it.

Is it one of those cube van trucks with the boom and bucket and the large flashing arrow board on the back

Yes. Not a Bell truck but was used for Telecom.

Asignguy said:

Yes. Not a Bell truck but was used for Telecom.

Click to expand...

The Cat service guy out of Moncton quit and went on his own. He bought one. It is in great shape. He removed the boom and light board and uses it as a service truck

cuttin edge said:

The Cat service guy out of Moncton quit and went on his own. He bought one. It is in great shape. He removed the boom and light board and uses it as a service truck

Click to expand...

There are a couple pics of his truck in my work pics post. No idea how to move them here. I had deleted the original off my phone.