Will the Redarc BCDC Battery Charger Help to Bring an Optima Yellow Top Battery to Full Charge
Published 08/31/2011
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Question:
I have an Optima Yellow Top that I use to power a fridge on my truck while camping. The Optima is connected via a battery separater to the main starting battery. When camping the fridge may run the Optima down to 60 over night, yet even if I drive for days afterwards without the fridge running the Optima never charges higher than around 75-80. If I plug in a charger, I can return it to 100. On extended trips, I dont have the option of 120V power, so I wonder if the charger would make better use of the alternator power to fully charge the Optima or should the alternator be bringing it up to 100 on its own? I read somewhere that an alternator really cant charge a low battery, it can only maintain a mostly charged one.
asked by: John
Expert Reply:
You are correct, that an alternator is not designed to fully charge a depleted battery. In your case the Optima yellow top is being significantly discharged and will eventually need to be charged with a good battery charger like the CTEK MULTI US 7002, # CTEK56353.
The Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1225D can be used to boost the charge that your alternator is sending to the second (in this case yellow top) battery that you are using to power the fridge. This will not affect the normal charge that is going to your vehicle starting battery.
Your application is exactly what the charger is designed for. One thing to consider is that the closer the yellow top battery can be to the charging source, alternator in this case, the better it will work to bring your yellow top battery closer to full charge.
I have linked a photo that I put together and photo shopped in how the system would be wired on your truck based on the information you gave..
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger - Dual Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 25 Amp
- Battery Charger
- Battery Charger
- RV/Camper
- Trailer
- 12V
- Charges and Maintains
- AGM
- Calcium
- Gel
- Lead Acid
- Lithium
- Solar Panels to Auxiliary Battery
- Vehicle Battery to Auxiliary Battery
- Smart Charge
- Trickle Charge
- Redarc
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