Correct Redarc BCDC for the Prado 150 V6 ??

[Colmano Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Colmano]

PP'rs,

Research indicates I can pick up a Redarc BCDC off the internet for a fair bit cheaper than instore....Just need to ascertain which is the correct one...Being a bit of a novice, I have no idea on what type of alternator I have (2010 V6 Petrol 150) so I'm a bit confused...

I know I'm after the BCDC1225, but theres an 'LV' version as well...Can somebody out there give me a heads up on which is the one I need ??



Cheers
Colmano

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Before you lash out on a DC DC charger do you really need one? I have a BCDC1225 but plenty of people have success with a booster diode and an isolator such as the RBi12. This arrangement is probably about $150 cheaper to install. There are a few threads worth reading before you commit. Have a look in both the 120 and 150 electrical section or better yet google pradopoint+second or dual battery, +booster diode, +BCDC. If you do decide to go for a DC DC charger you don't need the LV version. Just make sure you pick up an appropriate trigger wire (+12V ignition on) for the device. You can see what I did I my build where I placed the auxiliary in the back of the car.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Not sure that a booster diode is needed or recommended with the V6 as I understand they have a higher voltage output to begin with.

Cheers Andrew

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

I got the 1225 as it's a solar regulator as well. Got the 150W solar panel kit from Redarc and it keeps my fridges running so all good ��

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Thanks a Andrew, no idea about the secret V6 society as you can tell. Until we get out very own V6 without spark plugs!

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Thanks a Andrew, no idea about the secret V6 society as you can tell. Until we get out very own V6 without spark plugs!

There is no secret society with the petrol 150 !!!

Looking under the 150 petrol threads, there are 380 posts.

Looking under the 150 diesel threads, there are nearly 5,000 posts.

(and NO: no comments needed that there are more diesels than petrols)

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

There is no secret society with the petrol 150 !!!

Looking under the 150 petrol threads, there are 380 posts.

The 380 posts are all we know about. The other 10,000 are secret. First rule of petrol 150 threads? Don't mention the petrol 150 threads!

Back on topic, TJM recommended the BCDC1220 (20amp)for my diesel. Said the BCDC1240 (40amp) was overkill. Not sure if it would make any difference, yours being a petrol. I've read a lot of information that would suggest you if your auxiliary battery is a straight forward wet cell lead acid deep cycle, you can save yourself some money and get a voltage booster diode and a solenoid such as the Redarc SBI12 (though there are many other makes and models to choose from).

One thing i've seen some reviewers claim is that the BCDC1220 can identify your auxiliary battery type and charge it the way it's meant to be charged. I haven't read too much on this, but it appears that the installer needs to wire it up a certain way depending on what type of battery it is in order to set the charging profile. So if you change from a lead acid to an AGM battery sometime down the track, a wired connection will need to be changed.

This "smart charging" feature was why i was leaning towards a Redarc BCDC over the voltage booster/solenoid combo, but then i did some more reading into all the different battery types and became less convinced of the efficacy of the smart charge feature. I suspect it's actually just some generic charging profiles, but it won't actually know exactly what the ideal voltage application is for any given battery. To get the best out of your system, you want to know exactly what charge your auxiliary battery needs, then install something that can provide it. One advantage the BCDC may have over the solenoid is that it can boost the voltage running from the main to auxiliary battery.

I've seen just as many forum threads which bag the BCDC's as i have which extol their virtues. This leads me to suspect that either the BCDC's aren't fit for universal application but need to be matched with particular batteries, or there are some muppets who've got them set up wrong. Find someone who you're satisfied knows what they're talking about, and get them to tell you what setup is best for your specific application, and exactly why this is the case. When you find them, tell me.

It might be worth having a read of these pages http://www.batteryfaq.org/, http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/smart.htm, and most importantly http://www.springers.com.au/images/c...sheet-a5-1.pdf

FYI, if you do decide on the BCDC, make sure what you're buying is genuine. There are a number of threads in various forums which have identified eBay sellers who are selling fake/counterfeit products.

I want to finish by saying that i have absolutely no knowledge in this area, and that what i've written is based solely on snippets of information i've pulled together from reading a heap. I can categorically say that the internet forums are congested with incorrect and misleading information, but Pradopoint is one of the best.

Mike

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

If you do go for a BCDC charger I would suggest getting either the 1225 or the 1240 because you can hard wire a connector for solar input. These two versions have an inbuilt MPPT controller. The chargers are easy to wire up and install. Go to the Redarc site you can download the manual and wiring guides.

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

If you do go for a BCDC charger I would suggest getting either the 1225 or the 1240 because you can hard wire a connector for solar input. These two versions have an inbuilt MPPT controller. The chargers are easy to wire up and install. Go to the Redarc site you can download the manual and wiring guides.

x2 for the 1225. works a treat.

[Colmano Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Colmano]

x2 for the 1225. works a treat.

Hey Blackmoth do you have any larger pics of where the Redarc is installed ? - I know its a bit fiddly to load here but they turn out quite small??

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Hey Blackmoth do you have any larger pics of where the Redarc is installed ? - I know its a bit fiddly to load here but they turn out quite small??

Ill take you some more in a little bit mate and edit this post.

[Guest Close Guest]

Hey Blackmoth do you have any larger pics of where the Redarc is installed ? - I know its a bit fiddly to load here but they turn out quite small??

Photos are a decent size to me if you click on the photo, it opens up bigger in a new window.

[znelbok Member Find all posts View Profile Close znelbok]

Just ge thte LV version. I put a 1225 in my camper and when I spoke to the guys as redarc I quizzed them on teh LV version and what it was for. They said that some of the newer vehicles (such as the Prado) run at a lower voltage blah blah blah.

Anyway, because I did not have a Prado at the time I asked that if I put in the LV without a LV tug would that be a problem and the answer was no - so I put in the 1225LV for future proofing - now I have a Prado I am covered.

I would also go the redarc because it can charge the battery type properly. Just having a relay or diode boosting voltage is not the right solution for battery that are not simialr in technology. If both your batteries are the same then use a relay, otherwise a device like the 1225/1240 will be better.

As for 12A V 40A, I think you only need the 40A when you are charging multiple batteries (say two or three). In you case there is [most likely] only one, so a 25A model will be all you need.

The Redarc uses a wire to tell it what type of battery it is charging. It is not an automatic detection type thing - it is user set.

Mick

[Drosey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drosey]

Photos are a decent size to me if you click on the photo, it opens up bigger in a new window.

Hi Andrew,
I must be missing something here as when i open some images they are very small, and i cant make them any larger.

Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi Andrew,
I must be missing something here as when i open some images they are very small, and i cant make them any larger.

Cheers

Hmm not sure. It is working fine for me on a PC. I click on each image and it comes up nice and big on a new page.
Try clicking on these links.
http://www.pradopoint.com/album.php?...chmentid=15908
http://www.pradopoint.com/album.php?...chmentid=15914