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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Thanks for the input Steve. Those CTEK chargers look like very nice units.
I looked at several different brands of DC-DC chargers before deciding on the Redarc. I know I looked extensively at CTEK, but I also looked at Sterling Power, Power Stream, and Ironman. Ironman didn’t seem to have much of a dealer presence in the US. Sterling Power Pro Chargers are physically too big to shoehorn into my TC. Power Stream and CTEK we’re both significantly higher priced than the Redarc for a 25 amp charger.
The Redarc isn’t going to be my primary means of charging the battery, I just wanted better charging while on the road since we are actively using the camper battery to power an inverter while we drive. The campers converter/battery charger (PD4645) will continue to be the primary charger while we are in an campground with electric, or dry-camping and using the Yamaha 1000 for most of our power needs. The possibility of adding a solar panel was a nice plus. The wires are already there in my camper.
I finally completed the install of the Redarc, and I’m getting things buttoned back up. Because of the other things we store in the cabinet under the sink, this is the only place it would fit. Not an inch to the right or left, that exact spot. The two MIDI fuse holders on the wall behind the Redarc are the recommended 40amp fuses for the charger input and output wires. If for some reason I ever need to bypass the Redarc, I can just connect those two top wires on the fuses together.
Since I had to remove the water heater, it’s taken some time to get it cleaned up, reinstalled, leak-checked, caulked and sealed,etc. I hope I don’t anger the plumbing gods by saying this, but I managed to get this all put back together without breaking anything or creating water leaks.
I replaced the burner tube and igniter while I was messing with the water heater.
This is what the front of the camper looks like now, with the waterproof inverter remote switch in the hole where the battery meter used to be. I had to make a bushing to fill the 1-1/2” hole. I looked through my junk pile and found a PVC plug that I could use. One advantage to installing it this way: if the switch ever fails I can replace it without having to remove the water heater again.
:):)
I looked at several different brands of DC-DC chargers before deciding on the Redarc. I know I looked extensively at CTEK, but I also looked at Sterling Power, Power Stream, and Ironman. Ironman didn’t seem to have much of a dealer presence in the US. Sterling Power Pro Chargers are physically too big to shoehorn into my TC. Power Stream and CTEK we’re both significantly higher priced than the Redarc for a 25 amp charger.
The Redarc isn’t going to be my primary means of charging the battery, I just wanted better charging while on the road since we are actively using the camper battery to power an inverter while we drive. The campers converter/battery charger (PD4645) will continue to be the primary charger while we are in an campground with electric, or dry-camping and using the Yamaha 1000 for most of our power needs. The possibility of adding a solar panel was a nice plus. The wires are already there in my camper.
I finally completed the install of the Redarc, and I’m getting things buttoned back up. Because of the other things we store in the cabinet under the sink, this is the only place it would fit. Not an inch to the right or left, that exact spot. The two MIDI fuse holders on the wall behind the Redarc are the recommended 40amp fuses for the charger input and output wires. If for some reason I ever need to bypass the Redarc, I can just connect those two top wires on the fuses together.
Since I had to remove the water heater, it’s taken some time to get it cleaned up, reinstalled, leak-checked, caulked and sealed,etc. I hope I don’t anger the plumbing gods by saying this, but I managed to get this all put back together without breaking anything or creating water leaks.
I replaced the burner tube and igniter while I was messing with the water heater.
This is what the front of the camper looks like now, with the waterproof inverter remote switch in the hole where the battery meter used to be. I had to make a bushing to fill the 1-1/2” hole. I looked through my junk pile and found a PVC plug that I could use. One advantage to installing it this way: if the switch ever fails I can replace it without having to remove the water heater again.
:):)
