Redarc Smart Start Battery Isolator - 12 Volt - 100 Amp

Redarc Battery Charger - 331-SBI12

This 100-amp dual-battery isolator pulls power from your start battery to charge your auxiliary battery. Isolator switches off to prevent dead battery if start battery voltage drops too low. Compact design for versatile mounting.

Features:

• Battery isolator protects start battery from auxiliary drain in multiple battery setups
  • Transfers charge from start battery to auxiliary battery once start battery gains charge from alternator
  • Stops charge transfer if start battery voltage drops too low, preventing excessive discharge
• Override wire allows for emergency starts and simple fault detection
  • Attach to a switch (sold separately) to manually reverse charge and jump-start a dead start battery
  • Connect to an LED (not included) that can be mounted in your cab for easy viewing of diagnostics
• Silver contact points ensure long life and corrosion resistance
• Compact design allows for versatile installation
  • Mount the isolator in a convenient location near the start battery
  • 8-Gauge cables, fuses, and connectors sold separately
• Made in Australia

Specs:

• Application: vehicles with standard or temperature-compensating alternators
• Maximum continuous current: 100 amps
  • Standby current: less than 5 mA
• Output connection: 12V DC
• Overall dimensions: 3-1/8" long x 2-15/16" wide x 2-1/2" tall
• 2-Year warranty

With this dual-battery isolator, you can transfer power from your start battery to an auxiliary battery without draining your start battery. As long as your vehicle is on and the alternator is supplying power to the start battery, the Smart Start will transfer some of that power to your auxiliary battery. When your vehicle is shut off, the isolator will separate its connection and stop pulling power. This ensures that your start battery is protected so that no matter how weak your auxiliary battery becomes, your start battery won't be left flat. As a result, you can venture out without the fear of running into a dead battery.

Parallel Charging for Optimal Functioning

The Smart Start connects in-line between your start battery and the auxiliary battery. This way it can pull the charge directly from the battery instead of pulling from an outside source, like your vehicle's alternator. This method of charging is called parallel charging.

Most other battery isolators on the market use priority charging. In a typical priority charging setup, the alternator provides charge to either the start battery or the auxiliary battery, but not to both simultaneously. This can leave both batteries underpowered. With parallel charging, the power is drawn directly from the start battery, which removes stress on the alternator because it doesn't have to manage both batteries separately. This streamline connection of the Smart Start to the start battery also prevents potentially damaging voltage surges that can occur when a priority charger switches over between batteries.

Additional Features

The blue override wire attached to the Smart Start allows for additional features, like the Start Assist function. This function allows you to jump-start a dead start battery using the auxiliary battery. Just connect the blue wire to a push-button switch (sold separately) to create a bridge of power from the auxiliary battery to your dead battery. Great for those mornings when you leave the radio on too long or forget to close the vehicle door.

You can also connect the blue wire to an LED (not included) to create an in-cab fault indicator. There is an internal LED on the unit itself that provides fault detection. This system communicates by causing the LED to flash a certain number of times to indicate errors. For example, 2 flashes signals over-voltage, and 3 flashes signals a voltage drop or excessive current draw fault. By connecting an additional LED to the blue wire, and running that up to your cab, you can more quickly assess these faults than if you had to peer into your engine compartment to see the light on the unit itself.

For assistance in wiring the Smart Start to include these optional features, please refer to the diagrams below:

Compact Design for Versatile Mounting

Mount the battery isolator in a location near your vehicle's start battery. The compact design of the unit allows you to have a good deal of flexibility when selecting a mounting location. A couple of places to consider would be in front of the radiator or behind the headlight assembly. You will need to make sure that the location you choose is not exposed directly to engine heat.

Once the unit is securely mounted, attach each battery to one of the terminals on the Smart Start. It is important to use the proper gauge wire for your particular application. If the cable length that you need is under 10', make sure that the wire gauge is 8 AWG. If you will be using between 10' and 20' of cable, you will want to select a thicker 6-gauge wire. To prevent damage from overload and short circuits, you will want to use MIDI fuses (331-FK100 - sold separately) to ensure that current is efficiently transferred.

For assistance in properly wiring the Smart Start, please refer to the diagram below:

SBI12 REDARC Smart Start Battery Isolator - 12 Volt - 100 Amp

Installation Details