DC - DC Charger Recommendations

[Hodge]

Redarc have LV versions for most of their DC DC chargers . I believe these are for when these smart alternators drop the volts ?

Sent from S5

[macca]

DC DC chargers are great. Mine is a 40 amp Redarc on 2 100ah batteries.

You have to take into consideration your driving in relation to charging.

If we drive for 1 hour at maximum 100% efficiency 20 amps will be put into each battery. If we had used more than that before charging it wont top up.

If all you do is short drives a solonoid system might work better as full alternator amps will be applied.

Our ute has a 110amp alternator standard so again at full efficiency it shoud recharge what was previously used.

That is perfect world which is unrealistic but you get the idea.

Running 2 fridges over Christmas was discharging the batteries and a 100klm drive didn't do a lot for the charge so we used solar to compliment the alternator.
Keep in mind the fridges are still using power as we drove.

Was good till it was overcast and raining.

Driving for the whole day in the High Country had the batteries back at full charge again.

[10G]

Thanks Macca.

I don't know what alternator my 2013 Wagon has? I do have a solenoid.

I'm wondering where people mount these chargers? Is under the bonnet OK?

[Hodge]

Thanks Macca.

I don't know what alternator my 2013 Wagon has? I do have a solenoid.

I'm wondering where people mount these chargers? Is under the bonnet OK?

I think your GU has a smart alternator. Somebody correct me on this please if I'm wrong.
I had my whole setup under the bonnet right next to the turbo in a ARB battery tray. The charger was mounted on a bracket I folded and mounted with fuses sitting on top. This setup was running prefectly. But I wasn't happy. I didn't like that the charger and battery was getting pounded by the heat off the turbo etc... So I recently moved everything to the rear (ongoing project).
IMO benefits of battery at rear are better then under bonnet. No heat impacting the setup. Less weight at the wrong. Less Voltage loss as most of the gear running of the Aux setup is at the back. Fridge, lights, etc... This is just my thinking. I don't have draws at the back and never will so, I have heaps of room between the fridge and the cargo barrier so I had the luxury of doing this kind of setup.
I still have a cable running to the front with a terminal fused box for running any Aux stuff I need. For example my stereo and the UHF unit are all running off the Aux battery.


Old under bonnet setup:


Rear setup. Which I am still working on so, the spaghetti you see is a temporary install (kind of)

[10G]

Nice setup Hodgey, you put a bit of work into that.
What are the blue & red hoses in that top pic??

[Hodge]

The blue and red hoses were part of the NADS setup. They were for the needle and dawes valve boost control.
That photo is of my 2009 3L CRD Patrol, which I've now sold but the battery setup in my 4.2 was identical.