DC-DC chargers Redarc or Ctek

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

Hi
I am looking to replace my Surepower battey isolater with DC-DC chager in my D4D with either a Redarc BCDC 1220 or a Ctek D250S. So I can fully charge and get best use out of my aux battery.
I am leaning to the ctek, due to the great experience I have had with their chargers. I hear some say they should not be installed under boonet, but I would move it back up out of the way in the engine bay or put it under the dash.
The Ctek seems cheaper and also has the solar input for the future.
Anyone that uses these care to comment on your units please.

Cheers

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

Is your sure power one of the ones which was recalled? Might mean you can get it replaced through ARB or you could get a credit for it and put it towards a BCDC

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Save yourself the $, get Leigh's booster and job done. I have the same Surepower isolator with Leigh's booster and have no aux battery charging issues.

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

I use a redarc sbi12 without a booster and have no issues

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

I use a redarc SBi12 and ABR's diode booster, works a treat.

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Howdy gumboot

I have the same setup as D4D and works a treat. Going to install a second aux battery due to big trip planned and will be running 2 Engel's in the back. I still top mine up though with a Ctek xs15 as the permenant fridge is on all the time = cold beer all the time. Gee I love life

Regards Adam

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I still top mine up though with a Ctek xs15

x2 once a month I give both batteries a day on the Ctek.

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

Hi Gumboot,

Coming back to your question...

... either a Redarc BCDC 1220 or a Ctek D250S.

Two excellent choices.

So I can fully charge and get best use out of my aux battery.

Previous replies seemed to miss this point.

I hear some say they should not be installed under boonet, but I would move it back up out of the way in the engine bay or put it under the dash.

The BCDC is the only unit rated for under-bonnet use. The CTEK specs indicate the max temp is 50C; the BCDC is rated for 80C. Having said that, I have seen CTEKs installed in the engine bay. At the end of the day, the installer takes the risk of whether the product will function as intended. If you expect your engine bay to rise above 50C, then expect your CTEK to not perform well.

If you're still in two minds, then perhaps consider BCDC is Australian made.

BTW, on price and solar panel inputs... send a note to Redarc. Maybe they can be persuaded, knowing that you are making a purchasing decision on this. It's customer feedback that helps to drive further innovation.

Cheers,
LFaR.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Previous replies seemed to miss this point.

Really? I offered a way cheaper solution that meets the 'so I can fully charge and get best use out of my aux battery' requirement.

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

Hi D4D,

There's a mountain of information about the best way to care for a battery. In overly brief terms, a multistage charger delivers the appropriate current and voltage levels depending on the charge state of the battery. i.e. there's a feedback loop that allows the smart charger to monitor the charge in your aux battery and deliver just what it needs. Getting best use of a battery requires the best care .

I'll leave the rest of the information as a research project for the enthusiast .

LFaR.
PS: Congratualtions on your 2,000th post!!!!!

[Strider Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strider]

I arived in Cairns last August on the way to the Cape to find my CTEK DC to DC charger had stopped working. I found the agent in cairns and went to see them first thing monday morning. They informed me I needed the receipt (wich was at home) and then send the unit with receipt to Ctek in Melbourne I think it was. Not much good to me about to start 5 weeks in the cape. Not sure if I would have had any more luck with Redarc in the same situation though.

I replaced it with a redarc sbi12 that morning and all was good.

Cheers
Alan.

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

Hi D4D,

There's a mountain of information about the best way to care for a battery. In overly brief terms, a multistage charger delivers the appropriate current and voltage levels depending on the charge state of the battery. i.e. there's a feedback loop that allows the smart charger to monitor the charge in your aux battery and deliver just what it needs. Getting best use of a battery requires the best care .

You must be referring to the sales spiel put out by the DC DC charger manufactures.

Any voltage above approximately 13.4V will eventually fully charge a lead acid battery,
basic chemistry.

As most aux batteries have an external load connected whilst charged it is not possible
for a smart charger to give the battery exactly what it needs!

Far better to float the battery and let it take what it wants as has been the generally
accepted method for the past 100 years or so.

As an aside, having spent more years than I care to remember working on electronic equipment
I can assure you the under bonnet envirioment of a car is a very hostile place for electronic
equipment. If your intent on installing a DC DC charger of any description in a car I would
highly recommend they only be installed in the cabin area, disregard anything the manufacturer will tell you, installing under bonnet will severely reduce their operating life. I know from many years of practicle
experience the manufactures are yet to discover. Note the car manufacturers install all their electronics modules where possible in the cabin area, they do this for a reason, to avoid heat, moisture and enviromental extremes!

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

As most aux batteries have an external load connected whilst charged it is not possible for a smart charger to give the battery exactly what it needs!

This is the crux of the matter.

I also like to keep things simple, as mentioned above the DC-DC chargers fail. I'd prefer 98% SOC than not being able to charge my battery at all.

In reality it doesn't matter if the battery is 98 or 100% state of charge as long as the fridge keeps the JD cans cold.

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

With regards to this charging issue. The parallel battery charging solenoid works fine for when you have duel lead acid batteries, but when you have dissimilar batteries,i am informed this causes an issue, especially lead acid with AGM batteries due to different internal resistances. Therefore this is when i am told you need to us a DC-DC charger or separated charger.
I am looking at the REDARC BCDC1240 for the new car, i currently have the BCDC1220 in the cabin on the current truck, but i cannot see anywhere i can put the charger other than in the engine bay on the new prado, Any one had experience with Redarc DC chargers in the engine compartment. ?

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

[Edit: This is in response to comments from LeighW and D4D...]

That's fair enough. Everyone has to come to their own peace of mind over these things.

Redarc is the first DC-DC device (that I'm aware of) that is marketed as suitable for under-bonnet installation. It is still relatively new to the market (~2+ yrs?), so yet to prove itself in the hostile environment. Mine has been installed for about 18 months, so still not sufficient runs on the board for any conclusive evidence. All I can say is it recharges my aux battery very quickly and I observe it going through the multi-stage charging cycles. I'm hoping that in time, I'll have evidence to show that my aux battery is considerably outlasting the average lifespan of these batteries; I'm still a few years away from drawing that conclusion.

I don't drive around most days with a load attached to the aux, so the smart charger ought to be giving it just what it needs. This is akin to plugging your car into an external CTEK charger, like the XS15000, when you get home. So, depending on your usage patterns, an in-vehicle smart-charger may save the need for that extra device too.

LFaR.