In Vehicle DC Chargers and Solar Battery Chargers
DC CHARGERS EXPLAINED
DC chargers is effectively a smart-charger for your 12V system. It isolates the auxiliary battery system from the alternator. At the same time, it boosts the charge at the auxiliary battery from as little as 9V back up to 14.4V to maximise charging capacity.
These chargers also act as solar regulators, relocating what’s traditionally been a separate item on your solar panel to a better position – adjacent to the auxiliary battery. A smart charger can also act as a dual battery isolator because when your main voltage source gets too low the main or start battery will be protected.
Moreover these are no ordinary regulators, but maximum power point trackers (MPPT) that optimise your solar panels’ performance.
The system charges your auxiliary battery to their optimum levels, using multi-stage DC-DC charging.
Compared to a simple parallel connection of a main and auxiliary battery, DC-DC chargers draw a higher currents from the alternator . This can be up to 40A or more per hour, quickly replenishing the auxiliary battery system.
DC-DC chargers benefit from 6B&S/13.5mm² cabling because of lower cable resistance. They can work with smaller cable, but as the voltage drop through smaller cable increases, the heat produced reduces its conductivity. Therefor the charger needs to work harder, drawing more current and increasing heat. This can continue to the point where the demand exceeds the alternator’s capacity to supply. The energy dissipates as heat is wasted.
DC-DC chargers increase the likelihood of your batteries arriving in camp at close to a full charge. They minimise damage to your auxiliary battery system from over discharging and should be fitted as mandatory or at least offered as an option on every camper and caravan sold in Australia.
What we can do for you?
On the right you can see a setup example for a REDARC BCDC1220. This is a 12 Volt 20 Amp In-vehicle DC to DC battery charger. It charges your vehicle whilst you’re driving. This type of DC charger is a multi stage battery charging system. It charges your auxiliary battery from your vehicle to a proven 100%. The BCDC unit has a wide operating range (9V–32V) giving the option of charging from both 12V and 24V vehicle systems. This type of solution can use your main battery as input as well as another source such as solar panels. If you would like more details please click on the picture. At JAG automotive solutions we can setup this type of system at low cost and with 100% guarantee.
