Section 575IAC1-9-24. Electrical system

   (a) For Type A school buses, the alternator and rectifier must have a minimum output capacity of one hundred forty (140) amperes.

  (b) For Type B school buses, the alternator and rectifier must have a minimum output capacity of two hundred (200) amperes. A single belt drive is permissible.

  (c) For Type C school buses, the alternator with a rectifier must have a minimum output capacity of two hundred (200) amperes. The alternator must:

(1) have a minimum charging rate of forty (40) amperes at the manufacturer's recommended engine idling speed;

(2) be ventilated;

(3) be voltage controlled; and

(4) have a dual belt drive, or an approved equivalent.

The voltage regulator must be compatible with the alternator.

  (d) For Type D school buses, the alternator with a rectifier must have a minimum output capacity of two hundred (200) amperes. The alternator must:

(1) have a minimum charging rate of forty (40) amperes at the manufacturer's recommended engine idling speed (twelve (12) volt system);

(2) be ventilated; and

(3) be voltage controlled.

The dual belt drive or an approved equivalent must be used with the alternator. The voltage regulator must be compatible with the alternator.

  (e) Tor Type A school buses, batteries installed must be per manufacturer standard.

  (f) For Type B, Type C, and Type D school buses, each battery must be conventional (lead-antimony) or maintenance-free sealed (lead-calcium). Each battery system must be twelve (12) volt and have a minimum rating of 1100 CCA (cold cranking amperes) at zero (0) degrees Fahrenheit. If the battery is mounted outside of the engine compartment, it may be temporarily mounted to the chassis. One-piece battery cables of sufficient length to service batteries when mounted in a battery box must be used.

  (g) Subsections (a) through (f) do not apply to buses without alternators.

  (h) All electrical standards must be in accordance with the most current and appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers standard.

  (i) The chassis may have the following instruments and gauges:

(1) Speedometer.

(2) Odometer that will indicate accrued mileage, calibrated in tenths of miles.

(3) Voltmeter or ammeter.

(4) Oil pressure gauge.

(5) Water temperature gauge.

(6) Fuel gauge.

(7) Upper beam headlamp indicator.

(8) Brake warning light.

(9) Diesel exhaust fluid gauge.

  (j) All instruments must be easily accessible for maintenance and repair. The following instruments must be installed in rear-engine units:

(1) Voltmeter or ammeter.

(2) Oil pressure gauge.

(3) Water temperature gauge.

(4) Safety (kill) switch.

The rear-engine starter switch must not be activated when the transmission is engaged. The instrument panel must have lamps of sufficient candlepower to illuminate all instruments and gauges.

  (k) All wiring must conform to the current standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers and to the manufacturer's standards. The chassis manufacturer must install a terminal strip or plug either on the body side of the cowl or in an accessible location in the engine compartment of a bus without a cowl that contains the following body connection terminals:

(1) Main one hundred (100) amp body circuit.

(2) Head, parking, tail, and instrument panel lamps.

(3) Stop lamps.

(4) Starter (open circuit).

(5) Ignition (open circuit).

(6) Horn.

(7) Self-canceling turn signal switch.

(8) Hazard warning switch.

(9) Backup lamps.

(10) Instrument panel lights that are rheostat-controlled by head lamp switch.

  (l) The ignition switch must be located either on the:

(1) right side of the steering column; or

(2) instrument panel to the right of the steering column.

  (m) An electrical or mechanical tachometer/tachograph may be used. (State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-9-24; filed Aug 15, 2014, 10:20 a.m.: 20140910-IR-575130244FRA)