Ambulance parts useful??

[balcom robin s]

I was roaming the wrecking yard on Saturday and came across a mid-80's Ford
van-type ambulance. Before I got chased away by a swarm of bees, I noticed a
few things in the ambulance, and wondered if they have any motorhome use:
1. On the side of the base for the drivers seat there was a large 4-position
battery switch: off, battery 1, both batteries, battery 2. Do we have any
use for this type of switch?
2. Inside the base for the drivers seat, there was a large, finned
something-or-other, likely an isolator, but larger than on the GMC. Any use
to us?
3. In a cabinet on the floor just behind the drivers seat was a sheetmetal
box with heater hoses on the top, and on the wall just above it were
controls for heat, air conditioner, and fan. Could this box contain a heater
core as well as the stuff needed for supplying air conditioning to the rear
of the ambulance?
4. I saw at least one 120vac receptacle, so I assume there's an inverter
somewhere. Does anyone know what size it might be?
Does someone has some knowledge of what equipment they put in ambulances? If
so, I can decide if I should go back and do battle with those bees and get
some of the stuff.
Thanks!

 

[john szalay]

>I was roaming the wrecking yard on Saturday and came across a mid-80's Ford
>van-type ambulance. Before I got chased away by a swarm of bees, I noticed a
>few things in the ambulance, and wondered if they have any motorhome use:
>1. On the side of the base for the drivers seat there was a large 4-position
>battery switch: off, battery 1, both batteries, battery 2. Do we have any
>use for this type of switch?

That is a standard emergency vehicle battery switch, we have them in all
our fire engines and ambulance. it is also used in the large boat industry.
so that would be the place to get one if you wanted one. a boating supply house

We use them on the fire equipment to insure that the batteries are disconnected
when housed and fully charged batteries are ready when needed.
Very useful for allowing full power to be transfered without the use of relays

DISADVANTAGES; requires the use of HEAVY CABLE from batteries to starters
and high amperage devices. and Cost, they are expensive...

>2. Inside the base for the drivers seat, there was a large, finned
>something-or-other, likely an isolator, but larger than on the GMC. Any use
>to us?

Most likely the apparatus radio. they are usally mounted under the seats
or on the wall behind the seats... they have the fins.
Large amp isolaters need to be in a high airflow area because of the heat
generated. on older units we had 120 amp units and they were mounted in
the grill to insure the airflow.

>3. In a cabinet on the floor just behind the drivers seat was a sheetmetal
>box with heater hoses on the top, and on the wall just above it were
>controls for heat, air conditioner, and fan. Could this box contain a heater
>core as well as the stuff needed for supplying air conditioning to the rear
>of the ambulance?

Yep

>4. I saw at least one 120vac receptacle, so I assume there's an inverter
>somewhere. Does anyone know what size it might be?

Don,t know offhand, but I,ll check our ambulances to-morrow and see.

>Does someone has some knowledge of what equipment they put in ambulances? If
>so, I can decide if I should go back and do battle with those bees and get
>some of the stuff.
>
Best man for those types of answers is our own Jim Bounds, IIRC: he
worked in that business before deciding GMC was more fun...........

John & Brenda Szalay
73 GMC PD
currently coachless in Louisville.
73's in the Jim's Rehab shop.....

 

[john szalay]

>I was roaming the wrecking yard on Saturday and came across a mid-80's Ford
>van-type ambulance.
>4. I saw at least one 120vac receptacle, so I assume there's an inverter
>somewhere. Does anyone know what size it might be?

Check our units and they are all 1000 watt inverters
Triplite & Vanner