Big job and very interesting to see the wiring cabinet. You explained one thing very clearly - that the two batteries are connected to both cab and house areas and run both places. What I understood is this: Traditional RVs have 1 engine battery that runs the cab AC, cab lights, Headlights, tail lights, radio, etc. This is charged from the engine alternator factory installed. When you stop the engine, the engine battery stops charging. The house area is run by 1 or more batteries, separate from the engine. There may be an isolator wire charging the house batteries from the engine or giving the engine battery a boost from the house battery if dead, but that is all. The house batteries run the fridge, roof AC, house lights, stove, inverter outlets, toilet, fans, etc. House batteries need a separate charging system such as solar power, shore power, or second alternator (while driving), or generator. An ambulance is meant to run both cab and house. The only way to do this, without shore power, solar power or generator, is via the alternator. Hence it needs to idle to have power to all these devices. There is an engine battery with high cold cranking power, but that just starts the engine. Most other functions are supported by the two house batteries, including the dash AC, cab lights, cab radio, etc. All running on the house batteries - typically two AGM type. Therefore, when converting an ambo to an RV, you must first unhook all cab functions on the house batteries, and ensure they are hooked on the engine battery. This includes dash AC. Then you install a separate AC for house side, wire it to the house side to run on generator/shore power, or even batteries if you have massive solar or two alternators. This means you have to know what runs on the cab side typically and ensure it is wired to cab. What runs on house side and ensure it is not shared by cab but separate. Good to know. Let me know what I got wrong.
That was pretty accurate. The easiest way is to separate the existing batteries and leave that to the motor and all the cab functions and then to throw completely separate batteries for the house or living area. You can have a key line charger to charge your house batteries when there’s not enough sun for your solar or you can use solar if there is enough sun. The key line will switch back and forth as needed. Also the 30 amp plug already existing can be used for additional ac or anything else needed may need to upgrade inverter though. 🤙🏽
In addition to all of this if you do not want to utilize any of the buzzers or lights in your exterior compartment you can just got your entire electrical system that is inside the box itself and just redo it yourself. As long as you don’t take out any Ford factory wires from the cab it should be fine. It also depends on what your ambulance you get whether or not this would be easy or a hard job. Mine would be difficult I have about 100 relays inside that compartment my buddy Jimmy who has I believe a 91 old body style Ford chassis here’s was very easy with just fuses.
@@HappysTrails Very good to know. Here is the summary of what you said so we can all have one list for reference: 1. Leave the 2 (or more) existing ambo batteries for the cab functions only not for house side. 2. Add 2 or more house batteries and wire any house appliances to these. All the House side electronics will be wired to these new batteries. 3. Add a battery isolator (aka KeyLine Charger) which will automatically switch between solar power or other power to recharge house batteries depending on what power source is available. 4. Add the right size True Sine Inverter as the existing one may be too small or Modified Sine which will damage fine electronics like computer and phone. 5. Existing 30 amp (or higher) 110V socket can be used to plug into shore power. I advise adding a 15 amp and 50 amp dog bone in case your campground is less or more in voltage. Dog bone is a step down or step up adapter for shore power source and bought online or at Camping World. This way you have all 3 possible amperage for shore power 15, 30, 50 amps. 6. Some Ambos are easy to rewire and some are harder. One can get the wiring diagrams from manufacturer. Most of the time, the main power switchboard is all for ambulance specific electronics, and can be replaced by RV electronics. This has to be done carefully with knowledge. 7. You recommend watching Campulance Man videos to get detailed info. Here is one of his videos: th-cam.com/video/4XXFvVzP3KE/w-d-xo.html Many thanks!! 😎
@@lass-inangeles7564 you got it 🤙🏽 thx for breaking it down I’m sure many will get help from your comment. And thank you so much for watching the video. 😊
I am enjoying your build, You do a very nice job explaining what you are doing, why you are doing it, and where you are heading with it. all with a little bit of humor.
Lol that’s awesome thank you. I am going to travel the good ol usa head to national parks some cool off-road areas and firehouses. I want to visit as many as possible but due to covid most stations aren’t having visitors anymore. So until I’ll keep on keeping on and meeting cool people along the way
Hey Dani Thanks for the message I wouldn’t worry too much about the wiring I have a video on just the wiring I did if you want to check it out but for the most part you can just call the manufacturer and get the schematics. Plus I’m always here to help if you have any questions. Thanks again for watching the video and the comment.
Yeah it can be very overwhelming if you ever have any questions please let me know. My buddy and I who did mine should be able to answer them. You can message me on ig, messenger or TikTok and we will get ya all figured out 🤙🏽
I would sure like to talk with Jimmy, he knows his stuff about that solenoid and how the board is powered. I've got two solenoids on panel and don't understand them. Is there a way to get hold of Jimmy?
It was already there. I didn’t add or remove any of the windows. Got lucky. But there is an ambulance supply website I saw them on I’ll look for it and if I can find it I’ll post it here 🤙🏽
@@HappysTrails I took pics but didn't post any yet, I am waiting until there is some real change. Just gutting it out for now, then I'll have to figure a layout and unfortunately I can't spend as much time as I'd like to.
Man. Is there a way to contact you guys through emal or facebook or something for some advice? Im not looking for any free help, just some advice or something im just not familiar with auto electronics. Im an audio technician so this is a foreign concept to me and i dont wanna fry the whole system. Me and my wife have about two months before this is where we will have to live so im getting really antsy about something i know hardly anything about
![FULL DEMO of Ambulance Camper Conversion // [ Episode 3 ]](/img/n.gif)
That's cool, minr is called the Vanbulance
That’s awesome lol
Hello Happy and Willow. Hershe & I are sending you our love! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍🤎❣️💕💞💓💗💖💘💝💟
Hi jacki and hershe live has been received and returned. Thank you
Big job and very interesting to see the wiring cabinet. You explained one thing very clearly - that the two batteries are connected to both cab and house areas and run both places.
What I understood is this:
Traditional RVs have 1 engine battery that runs the cab AC, cab lights, Headlights, tail lights, radio, etc. This is charged from the engine alternator factory installed. When you stop the engine, the engine battery stops charging.
The house area is run by 1 or more batteries, separate from the engine. There may be an isolator wire charging the house batteries from the engine or giving the engine battery a boost from the house battery if dead, but that is all. The house batteries run the fridge, roof AC, house lights, stove, inverter outlets, toilet, fans, etc. House batteries need a separate charging system such as solar power, shore power, or second alternator (while driving), or generator.
An ambulance is meant to run both cab and house. The only way to do this, without shore power, solar power or generator, is via the alternator. Hence it needs to idle to have power to all these devices. There is an engine battery with high cold cranking power, but that just starts the engine. Most other functions are supported by the two house batteries, including the dash AC, cab lights, cab radio, etc. All running on the house batteries - typically two AGM type.
Therefore, when converting an ambo to an RV, you must first unhook all cab functions on the house batteries, and ensure they are hooked on the engine battery. This includes dash AC. Then you install a separate AC for house side, wire it to the house side to run on generator/shore power, or even batteries if you have massive solar or two alternators.
This means you have to know what runs on the cab side typically and ensure it is wired to cab.
What runs on house side and ensure it is not shared by cab but separate.
Good to know. Let me know what I got wrong.
That was pretty accurate. The easiest way is to separate the existing batteries and leave that to the motor and all the cab functions and then to throw completely separate batteries for the house or living area. You can have a key line charger to charge your house batteries when there’s not enough sun for your solar or you can use solar if there is enough sun. The key line will switch back and forth as needed. Also the 30 amp plug already existing can be used for additional ac or anything else needed may need to upgrade inverter though. 🤙🏽
In addition to all of this if you do not want to utilize any of the buzzers or lights in your exterior compartment you can just got your entire electrical system that is inside the box itself and just redo it yourself. As long as you don’t take out any Ford factory wires from the cab it should be fine. It also depends on what your ambulance you get whether or not this would be easy or a hard job. Mine would be difficult I have about 100 relays inside that compartment my buddy Jimmy who has I believe a 91 old body style Ford chassis here’s was very easy with just fuses.
@@HappysTrails Very good to know. Here is the summary of what you said so we can all have one list for reference:
1. Leave the 2 (or more) existing ambo batteries for the cab functions only not for house side.
2. Add 2 or more house batteries and wire any house appliances to these. All the House side electronics will be wired to these new batteries.
3. Add a battery isolator (aka KeyLine Charger) which will automatically switch between solar power or other power to recharge house batteries depending on what power source is available.
4. Add the right size True Sine Inverter as the existing one may be too small or Modified Sine which will damage fine electronics like computer and phone.
5. Existing 30 amp (or higher) 110V socket can be used to plug into shore power. I advise adding a 15 amp and 50 amp dog bone in case your campground is less or more in voltage. Dog bone is a step down or step up adapter for shore power source and bought online or at Camping World. This way you have all 3 possible amperage for shore power 15, 30, 50 amps.
6. Some Ambos are easy to rewire and some are harder. One can get the wiring diagrams from manufacturer. Most of the time, the main power switchboard is all for ambulance specific electronics, and can be replaced by RV electronics. This has to be done carefully with knowledge.
7. You recommend watching Campulance Man videos to get detailed info. Here is one of his videos: th-cam.com/video/4XXFvVzP3KE/w-d-xo.html
Many thanks!! 😎
@@lass-inangeles7564 you got it 🤙🏽 thx for breaking it down I’m sure many will get help from your comment. And thank you so much for watching the video. 😊
Have a safe blessed day! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
You as well.
I am enjoying your build, You do a very nice job explaining what you are doing, why you are doing it, and where you are heading with it. all with a little bit of humor.
Lol that’s awesome thank you. I am going to travel the good ol usa head to national parks some cool off-road areas and firehouses. I want to visit as many as possible but due to covid most stations aren’t having visitors anymore. So until I’ll keep on keeping on and meeting cool people along the way
You are brave!!!!! That’s a whole lotta wire🤯Keep up the good work👍🏻
Why thank ya 😊
Awesome brother!!!
Thx bro I appreciate ya checking out the videos and the comments 🤙🏽
Badass!
Thank ya 🤙🏽
No... I mean your A$$ is bad. Don’t highlight it. 😂 JK, Brother. Keep up the awesome content. Thank you!
That was interesting. Some great ideas for a build I'm looking at next year. Thank you. Keep it coming👍👍👍
Thank you I appreciate that. 🤙🏽
Wow that’s a lot of electrical wires.
Yes ma’am super intimidating
Thank you so much for sharing information and your experience 👌🏻👍🏻 i want buy used ambulance 🚑 but i scared for wiring 😁🤯
Hey Dani Thanks for the message I wouldn’t worry too much about the wiring I have a video on just the wiring I did if you want to check it out but for the most part you can just call the manufacturer and get the schematics. Plus I’m always here to help if you have any questions. Thanks again for watching the video and the comment.
Nice rig I'm jealous , I just bought 2003 ambulance and need a solor sysyem, any of your fire house friends do solor ??
I have a buddy who does if ya need some advice. Check him out @crownedinstyle on ig and TH-cam
Yezzzzzzzzir!
🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽 yeah yeah yeah buddy
how would you find the builder of the box? thanks for all the help!
Inside the doors or there may be a placard somewhere with the builders name on it. Mine was braun
I'm in the overwhelmed stage.... just trying to add new outlets off old boxes and put in different locations. 🙄 1999 Ford E350 7.3
Yeah it can be very overwhelming if you ever have any questions please let me know. My buddy and I who did mine should be able to answer them. You can message me on ig, messenger or TikTok and we will get ya all figured out 🤙🏽
I would sure like to talk with Jimmy, he knows his stuff about that solenoid and how the board is powered. I've got two solenoids on panel and don't understand them. Is there a way to get hold of Jimmy?
If you have ig hit him up @365 camper on ig
Or if you message me though Instagram ir Facebook we can figure it out. 😊
Nice video! Where did you find your window?
It was already there. I didn’t add or remove any of the windows. Got lucky. But there is an ambulance supply website I saw them on I’ll look for it and if I can find it I’ll post it here 🤙🏽
@@HappysTrails Thanks Happy! My ambo has the tube structure like yours (35" x 15") but no window yet.
@@denisbarbier6896 love to see it ya have pics anywhere?
www.cleervision.com/windows/ambulance/
@@HappysTrails I took pics but didn't post any yet, I am waiting until there is some real change. Just gutting it out for now, then I'll have to figure a layout and unfortunately I can't spend as much time as I'd like to.
Man. Is there a way to contact you guys through emal or facebook or something for some advice? Im not looking for any free help, just some advice or something im just not familiar with auto electronics. Im an audio technician so this is a foreign concept to me and i dont wanna fry the whole system. Me and my wife have about two months before this is where we will have to live so im getting really antsy about something i know hardly anything about
Yeah of course ask away. You can find me on fb Happys trails. Or ig happystrails_
@@HappysTrails your the best man. Ill send you a message soon.
🤔🤔🤔🤔
The manufacturer of my ambulance is no longer around
Oh man what year and builder will as it
@@HappysTrails only brand name I can find is CPI. Says that on the sirens, it's 92
@@hansdomke89 think that’s just the name of siren. Do you have a channel or post pics on ig?
It came with Ford's ambulance prep package if that helps
@@HappysTrails th-cam.com/channels/swXT-NBehC9YsfDqLlDtUw.html