Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Joined: 05/06/2013
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otrfun wrote:S Davis wrote:My Redarc 50amp just senses the voltage increase from the alternator and turns on, no trigger wire. Nice to have that capability built-in. I don't understand why all dc to dc charger manufacturers don't include the equivalent of a Battery Isolator (BI) or Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) with their units. It's a basic requirement for operating a dc to dc charger in the vast majority of installations.
The 50a Redarc dc to dc charger is a nice unit, built like a tank. See a number of off-roaders using them.
One big caveat though, they cost $500+. One could potentially purchase & stack 4, 40a Renogy dc to dc chargers for 160a of output for $519. Of course, this would require a dedicated, high capacity alternator to provide the necessary current. I've been told Renogy doesn't recommend stacking (connecting in parallel), but I've stacked 2 of them with no issues.
Would be nice? If it only costs 20% of one that does and performs the same function, seems like nothings wrong with the picture.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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S Davis
Western WA
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Joined: 08/11/2005
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otrfun wrote:S Davis wrote:My Redarc 50amp just senses the voltage increase from the alternator and turns on, no trigger wire. Nice to have that capability built-in. I don't understand why all dc to dc charger manufacturers don't include the equivalent of a Battery Isolator (BI) or Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) with their units. It's a basic requirement for operating a dc to dc charger in the vast majority of installations.
The 50a Redarc dc to dc charger is a nice unit, built like a tank. See a number of off-roaders using them.
One big caveat though, they cost $500+. One could potentially purchase & stack 4, 40a Renogy dc to dc chargers for 160a of output for $519. Of course, this would require a dedicated, high capacity alternator to provide the necessary current. I've been told Renogy doesn't recommend stacking (connecting in parallel), but I've stacked 2 of them with no issues.
I know but having the charger just work without babysitting it is priceless, especially for LifeP04 batteries. Next step is a dedicated alternater.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/h0bljnhl.jpg)
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otrfun
On The Road
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Joined: 09/08/2012
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S Davis wrote:otrfun wrote:S Davis wrote:My Redarc 50amp just senses the voltage increase from the alternator and turns on, no trigger wire. Nice to have that capability built-in. I don't understand why all dc to dc charger manufacturers don't include the equivalent of a Battery Isolator (BI) or Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) with their units. It's a basic requirement for operating a dc to dc charger in the vast majority of installations.
The 50a Redarc dc to dc charger is a nice unit, built like a tank. See a number of off-roaders using them.
One big caveat though, they cost $500+. One could potentially purchase & stack 4, 40a Renogy dc to dc chargers for 160a of output for $519. Of course, this would require a dedicated, high capacity alternator to provide the necessary current. I've been told Renogy doesn't recommend stacking (connecting in parallel), but I've stacked 2 of them with no issues. I know but having the charger just work without babysitting it is priceless, especially for LifeP04 batteries. Next step is a dedicated alternater. It only took us 10 min. and a few short wires to install a BI on the input of our dc to dc charger. Agree, having the ability to run our dc to dc charger in the background, unattended, 24/7, with zero concerns is nice.
Thumbs-up on the dedicated alternator. Have plans to purchase a new truck this summer. A dual alternator is definitely on the option list. Hoping to use a 2nd, stacked 60a dc to dc charger so we can power our truck camper a/c unit via alternator indefinitely. Right now, using both the lifepo4 and dc to dc charger at the same time we can run it for up to 2.5 - 3.0 hours. Lifepo4 only, about 1.5 hours. All times are with the compressor running a 100% duty cycle.
Envy all the room and easy access you have. Like you, we installed a DIY lifepo4, silicone heating pads, thermostats, inverter, dc to dc charger, etc. Unfortunately, we were working with a fraction of the space you have. Just running/pulling the 4/0 and 2/0 cable throughout our truck camper, took 2-3 days. But, all said and done, it was 200% worth it!
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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^4/0? ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
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S Davis
Western WA
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I removed the rear seat in my crew cab and made the enclosure. So have room for the two 280ah batteries inverter and associated wiring.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/SRPapNvl.jpg)
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otrfun
On The Road
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Joined: 09/08/2012
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S Davis wrote:I removed the rear seat in my crew cab and made the enclosure. So have room for the two 280ah batteries inverter and associated wiring. Removing the back seat opens up a lot more space. We travel with a space-challenged TC, so the entire back seat area becomes a critical storage asset. If we lost this space we'd be forced to tow a trailer--for us, absolutely no fun.
All our equipment (inverter, batteries, dc2dc charger, etc.) is installed out-of-sight in our TC. Never take-up or use any interior, closet, drawer or storage space for equipment. We also don't cut any holes in the immediate interior for displays, meters, cables and such. It's been quite a challenge to do it this way, but it's been worth it.
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