Redarc Switching On And Off

[gav_vx_man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gav_vx_man]

Hi all
I have a redarc dual battery setup, and it works great untill i have my healights on. Driving it stays on fine, but if i idle for too long at a set of traffic lights with my head lights on it switches off, it doesn't flash saying there is a fault cause i have a led inside the cab telling my what its doing. then when i take off and the revs come up it switches back on
can any one help me

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

Re: Redarc Switching On And Off

Hi all
I have a redarc dual battery setup, and it works great untill i have my healights on. Driving it stays on fine, but if i idle for too long at a set of traffic lights with my head lights on it switches off, it doesn't flash saying there is a fault cause i have a led inside the cab telling my what its doing. then when i take off and the revs come up it switches back on
can any one help me

I would be checking the level of charge of your starting battery with a hydrometer if OK. and maybe check the Auxiliary battery for good measure, then check the alternator current and voltage output. The reason the relay is opening when the car is idling with the headlight load, is the redarc is sensing a charging system voltage below the redarc cutout voltage indicating the alternator output is either low or the starting battery requiring a high charge current.
Hope this helps a little

[gav_vx_man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gav_vx_man]

Re: Redarc Switching On And Off

Hey
I have checked the output of the alternator and its pumping out a good 14.3volts, i think i might have to bite the bullet and buy a new battery, the aux battery is only like 5 months old and still runs the fridge fine for 2 days, unless anyone else could think of anything

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Redarc Switching On And Off

You could get your start battery load tested it might not be holding charge. Is the electrolite levell ok in all cells ?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Redarc Switching On And Off

Depending upon what type of Aux battery you have you could also try swapping them and see if you have the same result. By this I mean place the auxillary as the crank battery. If you do then it's not the battery at fault. Probably not best to do this if it is a deep cycle altough it would work but could damage the ability of the battery to hold charge.

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

Re: Redarc Switching On And Off

Hey
I have checked the output of the alternator and its pumping out a good 14.3volts, i think i might have to bite the bullet and buy a new battery, the aux battery is only like 5 months old and still runs the fridge fine for 2 days, unless anyone else could think of anything

Have you checked what the voltage is at idle with the engine running and the lights on.

Sounds like you are using more current than the alternator is producing at idle and consuming energy stored in the starting battery leading to the voltage drop below the cutout. Hence the Redarc opens to stop the auxiliary battery from discharging.

S.