OUR VIDEOS GALLERY MEMBER SPONSORSHIP VENDOR SPONSORSHIP

User Tag List

Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Dual battery isolator solenoid or vsr?

  1. #1
    Expert
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    164
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Dual battery isolator solenoid or vsr?

    Hi

    I'm looking to replace my dual battery solenoid which is simply connected when the ignition is on with one of the voltage sensing types.

    I'm still trying to figure out if my alternator is 100amp or higher. If higher I won't be able to use the common Redarc SBI12.

    I noticed supercheap sell a Ridge Ryder VSR at 140a quite cheap.

    Are these things any good? Once you get over 100a rating prices get really silly.

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many

     

  3. #2
    Patrol Guru 0-TJ-0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    623
    Thanks
    572
    Thanked 396 Times in 256 Posts
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Only ever used vsr's in the past. A benefit over a straight isolator is that they allow the main battery voltage to rise before it connects. You could manually use an isolator to the same effect but the vsr is set and forget.

    If you had the budget I'd recommend a Dc-dc charger. An isolator or vsr will always get you home but at least in my experience my batteries never lasted or charged properly when the second was run down(even to safe voltages). I found the problem amplified when I got the patrol with the "smart" alternator. I found if I had substantially different voltages between batteries one would never get a good charge.

    Dcdc charger totally changed that. I know for sure now that my start battery always gets a good charge from the alt and if I run the second battery down a bit, it'll get a good charge and bring the batteries into balance.
    Last edited by 0-TJ-0; 3rd October 2020 at 03:28 PM.
    2003 GU TD42 with a few extra ponies

  4. #3
    Travelling Podologist Cuppa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Ballarat, Vic
    Posts
    6,741
    Thanks
    2,132
    Thanked 7,404 Times in 2,995 Posts
    Mentioned
    173 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    DC to DC for the win. Smart charger & isolator in one.

    2006 4.2TDi ex-Telstra Remote area Camper. 425w roof mounted solar, 360Ah Aux batts, BCDC1240, Onboard hot & cold pressurised & filtered water, (25 litre hot water calorifier), ARB fridge, ARB freezer, Built in kitchen, heaps of easy access storage, 240v, 3” Genie exhaust + dynotune, 2” lift, 3900kg GVM upgrade, second glovebox, ROH Blaktrak steel wheels, Bridgestone D697's (now Toyo RT's), Redarc gauges/pillarpod, Hema HX-1, Icom 450 CB, dual rear view cameras, Onboard 30amp Victron mains charger, second glovebox, dual seat conversion, TPMS, Boss PX7 onboard air with 9 litre tank, 350w inverter, Steel bullbar, Harrop Eaton diff lock (front), Warn winch, Snorkel, Dual spares , 160 litre water tank, 180 litre fuel in two tanks (approx 1200km range) 2010 Tvan Tanami. (incl another 70 litre water tank) with matching wheels/tyres (& 3rd spare)
    A Nomadic Life (Blog)

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Cuppa For This Useful Post:

    Hodge (4th October 2020)

  6. #4
    Patrol God
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,600
    Thanks
    5,699
    Thanked 6,097 Times in 3,139 Posts
    Mentioned
    174 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    DC to DC unit.

    Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
    2005 TD42TI

  7. #5
    Expert
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    164
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    DC to DC isn't in the budget. Looking for a cheaper alternative.
    How do these solid state (?) type devices compare to the solenoid type relays?
    I'm guessing the Ridge Ryder and Projecta units are solid state, I can't find any internal photos.

  8. #6
    Travelling Podologist Cuppa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Ballarat, Vic
    Posts
    6,741
    Thanks
    2,132
    Thanked 7,404 Times in 2,995 Posts
    Mentioned
    173 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Jonesy_sa View Post
    DC to DC isn't in the budget. Looking for a cheaper alternative.
    How do these solid state (?) type devices compare to the solenoid type relays?
    I'm guessing the Ridge Ryder and Projecta units are solid state, I can't find any internal photos.
    OK, but understand that VSR's or ignition switched solenoids are not actually chargers. They are just a switch to parallel the crank & aux battery. The charging is done by the alternator, & if you are charging auxillary deep cycle battery or batteries, it/they will never fully charge giving you less capacity to use at camp, & most folk in this situation end up running the aux battery lower than is good for battery life & as a result have to replace it far sooner . Depending on charging & use a deep cycle battery can last from 12 months to 10+ years. Obviously if you need a new aux battery every year or two, the long term cost is way more than the cost of a dc to dc charger. Saving a bit more now for a dcto dc charger will not only save you money in the long run, it will make camp life better!

    Be aware that with any lead acid based battery (AGM Gel, or wet batteries) the 'useable capacity' of the battery (if you want it to last) is around 50% of it's stated capacity . ie 50Ah for a 100Ah battery. If charging via a solenoid/VSR the battery wil never get charged beyond 80%. That means only 30% (30Ah on a 100Ah battery) useable capacity ....... if you want a good life from the battery. With a DC to DC charger , you will have your 100Ah aux battery fully charged to 100%, giving you 50Ah to use at camp - getting on for double it's useable capacity to keep you beer cold for longer.

    If you are going to buy a VSR - stick with a good brand. Enerdrive & Victron both do VSR's which are cheaper than Redarc & I'd pick them anyday over Supercheap's rebadged Chinese rubbish or Projecta crap. (Some might claim Projecta is good, but I need my electrics to be reliable 24/7 , & have had a poor experience with Projecta stuff. Would never buy it again).

    Enerdrive's is a 140amp VSR, & Victron's is a 120amp VSR.

    As far as solid state vs Solenoid - I have no idea - have only ever used Redarc VSR's - both 100A & 200A.

    One way of saving money but still being able to charge the aux to 100% is to use a VSR AND solar connected to the aux. This will charge the aux up to around 80%, & when stopped the solar will top it up to 100% given sufficient solar & time. Some VSR's are 'dual sensing'.This allows the solar connected to the aux battery to also charge the crank battery once the aux battery is up to full charge, whilst still providing protection against flattening the crank battery. In effect this can give you a bit extra battery capacity to use at camp, so is worth having. I think you pay extra for this with redarc (their dual sensing models have a D suffix), but I think it's standard with the Enerdrive, possibly with the Victron too, but not sure about that.

    EDIT - Both Enerdrive's 140A & Victron's 120A have Dual Sensing.

    https://enerdrive.com.au/product/140...nsitive-relay/

    https://www.victronenergy.com/upload...L-DE-FR-ES.pdf
    Last edited by Cuppa; 4th October 2020 at 04:34 PM.

    2006 4.2TDi ex-Telstra Remote area Camper. 425w roof mounted solar, 360Ah Aux batts, BCDC1240, Onboard hot & cold pressurised & filtered water, (25 litre hot water calorifier), ARB fridge, ARB freezer, Built in kitchen, heaps of easy access storage, 240v, 3” Genie exhaust + dynotune, 2” lift, 3900kg GVM upgrade, second glovebox, ROH Blaktrak steel wheels, Bridgestone D697's (now Toyo RT's), Redarc gauges/pillarpod, Hema HX-1, Icom 450 CB, dual rear view cameras, Onboard 30amp Victron mains charger, second glovebox, dual seat conversion, TPMS, Boss PX7 onboard air with 9 litre tank, 350w inverter, Steel bullbar, Harrop Eaton diff lock (front), Warn winch, Snorkel, Dual spares , 160 litre water tank, 180 litre fuel in two tanks (approx 1200km range) 2010 Tvan Tanami. (incl another 70 litre water tank) with matching wheels/tyres (& 3rd spare)
    A Nomadic Life (Blog)

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Cuppa For This Useful Post:

    Hodge (4th October 2020), PeeBee (4th October 2020)

  10. #7
    Expert
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Camden NSW
    Posts
    397
    Thanks
    138
    Thanked 287 Times in 156 Posts
    Mentioned
    6 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    KSS - Redarc VSR. Works for me. Never had a battery issue. 2 x 120amp wet cells. Solar blanket when camping. 5 - 6 years life from my batteries with good maintenance ( charged with 30amp 240volt smart charger monthly)
    Last edited by bazzaboy; 5th October 2020 at 12:52 PM.
    2014 Titanium Y61 with all the fruit ................

  11. #8
    Patrol Guru 0-TJ-0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    623
    Thanks
    572
    Thanked 396 Times in 256 Posts
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by bazzaboy View Post
    KSS - Redarc VSR. Works for me. Never had a battery issue. 2 x 120amp wet cells. Solar blanket when camping. 5 - 6 years life from my batteries with good maintenance ( charged with 30amp 240volt smart charger monthly)
    There it is, maintained with a good charger your batteries will last. Even better when it's built in.
    2003 GU TD42 with a few extra ponies

  12. #9
    I am he, fear me the evil twin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    W.A. (wandering aust)
    Posts
    6,208
    Thanks
    904
    Thanked 6,640 Times in 3,287 Posts
    Mentioned
    44 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Jonesy_sa View Post
    Hi
    snip...
    I'm still trying to figure out if my alternator is 100amp or higher. If higher I won't be able to use the common Redarc SBI12.
    Alternator O/P won't matter as the Aux Battery will never ever charge at anywhere near 100amps, even flat to about 11.2 volts you would be lucky to get maybe 40 amps initially and quickly taper off to 20 or so as the Charge Acceptance Rate for a standard size Aux (100 to 120 AH or so) .

    If the Aux is in the Engine bay...as for VSR or Solenoid I suggest Solenoid if you want to winch off the batteries in parallel otherwise VSR for all other purposes.
    DC/DC is a waste of money as you will potentially never recoup the small saving in battery costs in the lifetime of the setup if, I stress IF the only charge source is the Alt IE no solar etc.

    If the Aux is in the back... and you don't have sufficient wiring capacity DC/DC may be worth considering (budget aside) due to the voltage drop
    Last edited by the evil twin; 8th October 2020 at 12:01 PM.
    Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to the evil twin For This Useful Post:

    Hodge (6th October 2020)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •