48V-12V : DC-DC converters / Boosters

The DC-DC converters from 48 V to 12 V They enable 12 V equipment to be powered from a 48 V battery bank. This is the usual situation in modern off-grid solar installations, where the storage system operates at 48 V for efficiency, but there are still some legacy 12 V loads.

Is it worth running 12 V loads from a 48 V battery bank?

It depends on how many there are. For two or three specific pieces of equipment, the converter is the neatest solution. If the 12 V power consumption is significant, as each conversion involves losses, it might be worth replacing those devices with 48 V versions or powering them from the inverter using AC.

The rule of thumb when sizing: the current on the 12 V side is about four times that on the 48 V side, so the thick cable runs from the converter to the loads, not to the battery. See the full range of DC-DC converters.