Redarc dc -dc charger

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

Hi all
my dual battery setup
redarc bcdc1240 (40A Dc-Dc charger)
optima yellow top d34 55ah
ARB battery tray
4mm2 cable into the back for fridge rated at 10A
and a Anderson plug for solar

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

I would have thought a conventional system would have worked better with the optima. They are not like conventional deep cycles in that they can take a hammering from the alternator and charge up really quick.

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Nice work Daniel. Though, for the life of me, I cannot see your BCDC for the cables. I'm sure it's in there somehwere .

I'd suggest a dust cover for your Anderson plug. It will help to keep the terminals free from dirt and grime that will surely build up over the years ahead.

LFaR.

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

i agree with the dust cover just havnt put it on yet

and i only used the optima because i had it doing nothing in the shed but 55ah should be enough if not ill go bigger

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Will be interested in how your system goes in keeping the charge up to your 2nd battery.... I've got a more conventional system and I find it not keeping teh 2nd battery charged while the missus drives the car around..... This system had worked fine in previous cars but not in the Prado..... next step..... the redarc

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

rob ill keep you posted how the system goes as i only use the car to go on holidays and the fishing trips on the weekend so minimum i drive will be a hour

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

Will be interested in how your system goes in keeping the charge up to your 2nd battery.... I've got a more conventional system and I find it not keeping teh 2nd battery charged while the missus drives the car around..... This system had worked fine in previous cars but not in the Prado..... next step..... the redarc

Rob,

I've got a Redarc SBi12 in mine with an ABR Sidewinder alternator booster replacement fuse and my battery is always charged. I still put it on the charger at home every couple of months too.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Rob,
I've got a Redarc SBi12 in mine with an ABR Sidewinder alternator booster replacement fuse and my battery is always charged. I still put it on the charger at home every couple of months too.

Yeah, I have that ALT Fuse/Diode replacement as well, but "apparently" most modern day batteries these days a Calcium based and therefore require a slightly higher charge rate. Having the ALT/Fuse replacement still only takes it up to 14.2v on average (might go up to 14.5v sometimes) where I've been told that 14.8v average would be better. I'm hoping that the Redarc DC-DC Charger will solve my problem.... I currently put the 2nd battery on the smart charger once a month.... when I remember that is...
rob

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

went for a drive today and had the fridge running once i got home still found the battery was fully charge the redarc works great

and i have not used the alternator replacement fuse
hope my experience has helped

[drivesafe Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close drivesafe]

Yeah, I have that ALT Fuse/Diode replacement as well, but "apparently" most modern day batteries these days a Calcium based and therefore require a slightly higher charge rate. Having the ALT/Fuse replacement still only takes it up to 14.2v on average (might go up to 14.5v sometimes) where I've been told that 14.8v average would be better. I'm hoping that the Redarc DC-DC Charger will solve my problem.... I currently put the 2nd battery on the smart charger once a month.... when I remember that is...
rob

Hi Rob and what you do with your charger at home is going to have a far greater benificial effect on your Ca/Ca battery than any thing you do while driving.

No matter if you just use your alternator, use the fuse or a DC/DC device, you will never drive long enough to fully charge any type of wet cell battery from a low state.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Hi Rob and what you do with your charger at home is going to have a far greater benificial effect on your Ca/Ca battery than any thing you do while driving.

No matter if you just use your alternator, use the fuse or a DC/DC device, you will never drive long enough to fully charge any type of wet cell battery from a low state.

Yeah, I realise that, but I've had this same system b4 and same driving conditions w/o any problems, but since getting this calcuim base battery, I seem to have to charge it more regularly if I want any life out of the battery.....

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

Rob, the Redarc DC-DC charger will bet better for the calcium battery. Get the 40A version that is out now and it will properly charge your battery. One thing to make sure that you use a the correct cable size approx 10-13mm2 should be big enough, this limits voltage drops.

[jinandrew Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jinandrew]

I have the BC-DC 20 (no solar/20AMP) and the same battery and it works perfectly, always fully charged, really impressed with the Redarc.

Andrew

[daniel Member Find all posts View Profile Close daniel]

i just purchased a low voltage cut off from abr 12v 60 amp ill never have to worry about destroying my battery now or having not enough Volts for the accessories

[Rodh Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rodh]

I have the 40amp red arc and I drive maybe 1 hour a day and it works brilliantly. I have a victron pro lite in the back to display charge and it nearly always between 95 and 100 per cent