Wiring issues, 12 lights on a 24 volt car

My m38a1 is still set up as a 24 volt set up, but according to my voltage tester, if I wire to the second battery in series, I am getting twelve volts. We have hooked up a fuse pannel and several 12 volt items to the fuse panel including headlights and tail lights. Both headlights and tail lights are wired to one fuse, and the brake lights wire runs through another fuse. The brake lights work fine, and for about five minutes, the headlights do too, but then they burn through fuses. So far I have gone as high as a 30 Amp fuse, and am afraid to go higher. Does anyone have any answers or suggestions?


Editing note: Title should read 12 V lights on a 24 volt Jeep

 

try using the first battery

 

either convert to a 12 volt system,or buy the 24v bulbs,do you have 12v headlights for sure?? if not the lower voltage wiss cause one hell of a draw in amps.... if you do change over to 12v generator will need to be changed as well as the lights,oil psi gauge water and fuel,coil in the dist,think that about sums it up,amp meter will be ok it dosent measure volts just amps

 

Or a voltage reduction unit for your lights

 

if you wire to the first battery you shouldnt have problems, dont ground to the chasie ground to the battery.

 

You need to wire in parallel to get 12V. You get 24V when the batteries are in series.

Try it with just 1 battery. Also realize that halving the voltage doubles the current, but the power dissipation P quadruples when you double the current: P = I^2 R. Maybe your wiring can handle it, maybe not.