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  1. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    I would just keep the two separate, which means you have to always remember to disconnect the power supply before you turn on the module master switch.
  2. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    So, you plan to permanently disconnect the module from the chassis batteries? If so, then that will work fine I think.
  3. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    I understand what you're trying to do. The switch on the console is the "master" switch. The module should be cut off when that switch is turned to off. I was just trying to point out that you need to make sure that none of that is actually energized (back fed) when you power the module...
  4. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    I wouldn't count on it. I'd check carefully to see where those wires originated. If you just connect your AC to DC converter to them, you might be energizing something that you didn't plan on energizing.
  5. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    The inverter was for powering AC equipment, not for powering anything on the ambulance. You should see a couple of regular house AC outlets mounted in the module. To do what you want, you'd have to do some rewiring of the circuit board of the module itself. As originally built, the power for the...
  6. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    There used to be a cable that attached to the throttle and ran to the transmission. It was supposed to shift the transmission into a lower gear when you floored the accelerator. That improved low end acceleration. I just don't remember them on ambulances. Which doesn't mean that they didn't have...
  7. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    I remember those vacuum controlled high idle devices well. Not fondly, but well. The other cable might be for cruise control, if the truck has one. Other than that, I'm not sure.
  8. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    IIRC, torque converters lock up automatically based on engine rotation. But, it's been a long time. That cable might be for a high idle device. That used to be controlled by a manually operated knob on or under the dash, but mostly by the late 80s, that was done automatically by an...
  9. Too Old To Work

    Precordial thump

    It's supposed to be thump, not thumb. I don't know if that still makes it funny. Other than that, I'll just leave your comment on it's own.
  10. Too Old To Work

    Help me ambulance mechanic please!

    From the vintage of the ambulance, I'd guess that it's not a Ford alternator, but one made by Leece-Neville. They made aftermarket heavy duty alternators for fire trucks, ambulances, and other special purpose trucks. You'll know because it will say "Leece Neville" on the casing. It's been a...
  11. Too Old To Work

    Who has the highest paid Paramedics?

    13 holidays, not 15. 32 years AND age 55. Paramedic is a promotional position, so no one is hired as a paramedic.
  12. Too Old To Work

    Precordial thump

    It seems to come and go in the ACLS protocols. It's out right now. The last time it was in it was reserved for witnessed cardiac arrest only. I once saved a patient with a post cordial thump, but that's a story for another day.
  13. Too Old To Work

    Eascare Ambulance

    PM inbound.
  14. Too Old To Work

    Eascare Ambulance

    I heard that Eascare was recently bought by a Canadian company. Does anyone know the details?
  15. Too Old To Work

    Orthostatic Vital Signs

    Yeah, something like that. Or the guy who is cold, pale, wet, pressure of 60/p, and had syncope. Same thing, sit him up, watch him pass out. Which is why I condemn it.
  16. Too Old To Work

    Orthostatic Vital Signs

    Useless in EMS for the most part. Especially since very few people at the BLS or ALS level are taught what they mean or how to interpret them. I've seen many cases where people who should know better will sit or stand up a patient who is already hypotensive to see if they are "postural"...
  17. Too Old To Work

    EMS Alabama

    Thanks for the insight. My son is moving down there with his family and I've been scoping out the EMS in the area for information purposes. I'm not currently interested in employment down there, but you never know and it's nice to have information.
  18. Too Old To Work

    RIP Ford E-Series

    The Sprinter is taller, but is reported to be very stable. The biggest complaint I hear is that they are very tight in the patient compartment compared to Fords. In addition to the Sprinter, GM still makes a very nice van, as does Nissan. The Sprinter also gets great mileage and has a very...
  19. Too Old To Work

    We're in a war with the fire department - national post

    Only it's not really a fire service. As Alan Brunacini used to say (and maybe still does), "We're an EMS service that once in a while puts out a fire." If 70% or more of a FD's responses are medical, than it's not really a fire department, it's an EMS department with a fire suppression...
  20. Too Old To Work

    Gasoline powered Ford E-450

    I wasn't aware that Ford was back to offering gasoline engines for ambulance conversion. Since I was around when they stopped doing that, I remember the reasons and wonder how they've fixed them. Or if they've fixed them. They were fast as hell, but that wasn't necessarily an advantage as...
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