research as I am aware that going from 48v to 24 would create LOTS of heat
Why do I even try????
You'll need a switch-mode regulator that can handle 6 amps+ at 48 volts.
A linear regulator will convert excess voltage to heat:
Power dissipated = current × voltage_drop
This is true for ALL LINEAR REGULATORS.
A switch-mode regulator can be 90%+ efficient. Instead of converting 50%+ of the battery's energy to heat, the loss will be less than 10%.
But you have to pay attention to the starting current. Otherwise, this project, like my time, will go down the drain.
And figure out how to turn off the humidifier.