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...
Forum Discussion
Well, I did look at Sterling and in the end ruled them out.
Some of their marine units are just too dang big to use in a TC, and their unit intended for “caravan” use seems to be designed around the assumption that the fridge will always be running in 12v mode, so it does things with the fridge to prioritize and maximize battery charging over fridge operation. I don’t use the 12v mode on my fridge, and even if I did I wouldn’t really want that device interfering with it. It works poorly enough on 12v already.
Also, for my TC any battery charger over about 40 amps would be unusable capacity. I only have one battery, and will likely never have more than one due to space limits.
I’m sure Sterling makes great products, as you said the marine guys have been using them for years. Redarc has a pretty good reputation in the Australian off-road market though, and the BCDC1225/1240D models are both fully sealed and immersable in water. Considering where I had to install it, that may prove to be a good thing :B
No need for you to wait to get a TC though. TC’s and C’s have a lot in common I always thought. Seems like you could put one on your Spirit just fine. I’d bet that you have more room to work, more mounting options, no umbilical cord to deal with, won’t have to pull the water heater out like I did, and you likely have more than one house battery so you could use some of the higher capacity models.
But, this topic really wasn’t to debate which brand of DC-DC charger was the best. There’s enough of that discussion on other topics already, and I think it’s safe to say that “best” is a subjective measurement. In the end, I bought what I felt would best fit my needs.
:):)
Some of their marine units are just too dang big to use in a TC, and their unit intended for “caravan” use seems to be designed around the assumption that the fridge will always be running in 12v mode, so it does things with the fridge to prioritize and maximize battery charging over fridge operation. I don’t use the 12v mode on my fridge, and even if I did I wouldn’t really want that device interfering with it. It works poorly enough on 12v already.
Also, for my TC any battery charger over about 40 amps would be unusable capacity. I only have one battery, and will likely never have more than one due to space limits.
I’m sure Sterling makes great products, as you said the marine guys have been using them for years. Redarc has a pretty good reputation in the Australian off-road market though, and the BCDC1225/1240D models are both fully sealed and immersable in water. Considering where I had to install it, that may prove to be a good thing :B
No need for you to wait to get a TC though. TC’s and C’s have a lot in common I always thought. Seems like you could put one on your Spirit just fine. I’d bet that you have more room to work, more mounting options, no umbilical cord to deal with, won’t have to pull the water heater out like I did, and you likely have more than one house battery so you could use some of the higher capacity models.
But, this topic really wasn’t to debate which brand of DC-DC charger was the best. There’s enough of that discussion on other topics already, and I think it’s safe to say that “best” is a subjective measurement. In the end, I bought what I felt would best fit my needs.
:):)
