Redarc DC-DC Battery Charger
I’m in the process of installing a Redarc BCDC1225D battery charger in my truck camper. I got it installed enough yesterday to give it an initial test, and was pleased to see that with the truck idlin...
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If I could not control my Vehicle's voltage at the turn of a dial on my dash, I would be doing the DC to DC charger thing too. Likely the Ctek with the smartpass for when the battery can still accept 25+ amps at the vehicle's chosen voltage.
The Mppt solar charge controller aspect of that product might ocassionally be employed too, with a portable panel assisting the roof mounted ones, but right now I just hook a 100 watter up directly to a handy 45 amp anderson powerpole, and remove it once it alone can overvoltage the battery, or my regulr panels can maintain 14.7v on their own.
My single group 27 Northstar AGM can still, at its advanced age and accumulated deep cycle number of ~800, accept 65 amps for 20 minutes when well depleted, and my alternator at 65mph can easily make 80.
My battery is only about 12 feet one way from the alternator over some thick copper, and I can, with enough rpm, usually reach instant absortpion voltage, and my battery seems to love the high amp blasts from its most depleted state, but especially so when I can hold that 14.7 until amps taper to 0.45a or less. Which can/will take many hours.
But with my mostly short drives I want the battery to have available these 65+ amps whenever and for however long I drive, or as long as the battery can still accept them.
My voltage regulator modification was well below the price of a DC to DC converter, but I do have to watch the ammeter and dial voltage down when called for, and of course not all vehicles can be modified so.
All hail the externally regulated alternator!!
But those that can, with a thick enough copper circit, can easily exceed 25 amps.
Its fun, and very enlightening, to watch that digital ammeter when the battery is low and the alternator is spinning fast. My cold damp single V belt does not always like it, but then I just twist the dash mounted voltage pot CCW until it stops squealing( usually till accepting less than 45 amps), then once warmed up and dry, I dial it back upto 14.7v and watch those amps climb back up into the 65+ range.
Did you just hear maniacal laughing in the distance?
That was me.
The Mppt solar charge controller aspect of that product might ocassionally be employed too, with a portable panel assisting the roof mounted ones, but right now I just hook a 100 watter up directly to a handy 45 amp anderson powerpole, and remove it once it alone can overvoltage the battery, or my regulr panels can maintain 14.7v on their own.
My single group 27 Northstar AGM can still, at its advanced age and accumulated deep cycle number of ~800, accept 65 amps for 20 minutes when well depleted, and my alternator at 65mph can easily make 80.
My battery is only about 12 feet one way from the alternator over some thick copper, and I can, with enough rpm, usually reach instant absortpion voltage, and my battery seems to love the high amp blasts from its most depleted state, but especially so when I can hold that 14.7 until amps taper to 0.45a or less. Which can/will take many hours.
But with my mostly short drives I want the battery to have available these 65+ amps whenever and for however long I drive, or as long as the battery can still accept them.
My voltage regulator modification was well below the price of a DC to DC converter, but I do have to watch the ammeter and dial voltage down when called for, and of course not all vehicles can be modified so.
All hail the externally regulated alternator!!
But those that can, with a thick enough copper circit, can easily exceed 25 amps.
Its fun, and very enlightening, to watch that digital ammeter when the battery is low and the alternator is spinning fast. My cold damp single V belt does not always like it, but then I just twist the dash mounted voltage pot CCW until it stops squealing( usually till accepting less than 45 amps), then once warmed up and dry, I dial it back upto 14.7v and watch those amps climb back up into the 65+ range.
Did you just hear maniacal laughing in the distance?
That was me.
