24V reducer?

[Helirich]

On my parts cart there was a 24V reducer to get 12V for lights. I have installed the lights on my project cart. It has 6V batteries, so I just hooked it to two of them for now.

My question, why is the reducer go from 24 to 12 instead of 48 to 12? (the parts cart was a 48V) I always thought that the reason for a reducer was to drain the batteries evenly. Is there any reason I should use this reducer?

no it was just an option like 16v to 12v , go with a 48v reducer

[rottie]

Just verify the 48V reducer can still regulate with 24V nominal or your minimum pack voltage, don't assume!

All reducers (DC-DC converter) have a min/max range input that they will operate properly, some are isolated output, some are not. It all depends on what your requirements are for your project.
The main idea of a reducer is to draw power from entire pack instead of tapping from a couple of batteries and unbalancing the pack which reduces life and power draw.

[Helirich]

Originally Posted by rottie

Just verify the 48V reducer can still regulate with 24V nominal or your minimum pack voltage, don't assume!

All reducers (DC-DC converter) have a min/max range input that they will operate properly, some are isolated output, some are not. It all depends on what your requirements are for your project.
The main idea of a reducer is to draw power from entire pack instead of tapping from a couple of batteries and unbalancing the pack which reduces life and power draw.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Are you trying to say I can hook the 24v reducer to 48v pack?

Crash, I don't have a 48V reducer. I don't really use 12Vs very often. My other cart has lights hooked to 2 batteries for years with no ill effects. So I either use this one or none. Assuming that I can only hook it to 4 batteries, is that better than no reducer hooked to 2 batteries?

It just seems to me that if you must run a reducer, why didn't they (parts cart mfg.) reduce 48V? I guess it must have been money. That usually is the reason.

in your case i would do the 12v hook up and rotate them ever few months
i have used a 12v car battery for my lights