Isolation & charging

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Angelo Pippos about a year ago	I have a Landcruiser 79 series and carry a slide on camper. I currently have a glass gel battery in the camper which is isolated using a black box supplied by Home of 12 Volt. (from my previous vehicle). The camper battery can also be charged with an on board 240v charger and a solar panel with regulator. I wish to now add an auxillary battery in the engine bay of the vehicle. Which of your products would be best suited to my application to provide isolation when the engine is stopped but give best charging capability? I want to be able to separate all batteries when stopped.
Dylan @ REDARC permalink	Hello Angelo, The best product for your required setup would be the BCDC1220. I would have the engine bay auxiliary and the camper trailer battery both running independently from the Start battery, in a parallel type setup. The BCDC1220 will begin operation when the start battery voltage reaches 13.2 volts, and will turn off when the start battery voltage drops to 12.7 volts. The BCDC1200 uses a multi stage charging profile specific to the battery type you have, which will give your battery the best charge possible. Setup this way, your batteries should all be isolated when the start battery voltage on the vehicle drops below 12.7 volts.
Angelo Pippos permalink	Thanks Dylan. Next question: I would like to keep the 2 auxillary batteries separated from each other and the starting battery. Will the BCDC1220 do this or would it require another product? I don't have a lot of room in the engine bay. does the BCDC1220 require to be located near any particular battery or engine component?
Dylan @ REDARC permalink	Hello Angelo, Unfortunately the BCDC would not do this in just one unit. The BCDC will isolate 1 battery from another, but cannot 'split' the output charge between 2 batteries, which is what i think you are asking. So if you wanted BCDC charge to both batteries, but keep them both seperate, i would recommend 2 BCDC's. The BCDC should be located as close as possible to the battery under charge. It compensates for voltage drop on the input side, so any major length of cable should be to the input of the unit, not the output. As far as mounting near particular components, it shouldn't really matter.
Angelo Pippos permalink	Thanks I gather from your posts that the BCDC provides for the optimum charge to both batteries over other isolating/charging units. By using 2 BCDC's, 1 for each auxillary battery, each will be receiving full charge even allowing for voltage drop due to distance and totally isolated from the main battery. Could I use a smart start isolator for the engine bay aux battery and a BCDC for the camper aux battery? I am thinking that the camper battery being a distance from the main battery would benefit most from the BCDC. Would there be much difference in charging ability using the smart start isolator?
Dylan @ REDARC permalink	Hi Angelo, When you say 'the BCDC provides the optimum charge to both batteries', do you mean the start battery and 1 auxiliary, because the BCDC is a charger in one direction only. Your start battery would be getting charged from your alternator, and would then be charging the auxiliary through the BCDC. In answer to your first question though, the BCDC outputs a 3 stage charging profile which is specifically designed to charge today's automotive batteries to their optimum level. In answer to your second question, yes using 2 BCDC's will give each auxiliary the optimum charge, isolate them from the starter when the starter drops below 12.7 and compensate for voltage drop. You could definately use 1 x SBI and 1 x BCDC. The engine bay auxiliary which is charged by the SBI would be receiving whatever the alternator outputs, and the camper battery would be getting the BCDC charge, which compensates for voltage drop.
Angelo Pippos permalink	Thanks Dylan I will consider your replies and decide on an option. REgards Angelo