Can Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger be Used With Battery Rated For Less Than 75 Amp Hours

Question:

I see that the Redarc DC to DC charger recommends use with at least 75 amp hour battery to be charged. My trailer battery is 66 amp hours so it may not qualify for use with this charger. Why is there a lower amp hour rating? What problem might I have if I use the Redarc charger on my battery?

asked by: Dan

Expert Reply:

I reached out to the manufacturer, Redarc, who told me that your 66 amp hour battery may in fact be able to use the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger - Dual Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 25 Amp # 331-BCDC1225D, it just depends on the maximum charge current:

"The main thing to consider in this situation is the batteries maximum charge current. If you look up the specs of the battery, it will list a maximum charge current. As long as the battery can support a 25 amp charge current, the BCDC1225D will work well. Often we find batteries below 75 amp hours do not support a 25+ amp charge. Luckily, the battery is still of reasonable size (66 amp hours), so let’s hope it will support 25 amps of charge."

So if your battery can support a 25 amp charge you can use the BCDC Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1225D. The only other thing you'd need is the 40-Amp MIDI Fuse Kit for Redarc In-Vehicle 25-Amp BCDC Battery Charger # 331-FK40.

I have added a link to a video review and install for you to check out, as well as a link to the installation instructions.

expert reply by: Kyle S