Can Redarc Smart Start Battery Charger # 331-SBI212D Allow Charge of Two Batteries

Updated 11/02/2024 | Published 07/19/2023

Question:

I discovered that on my motor home when plugged into shore power, the coach battery gets charged, not the chassis battery.The alternator will charge both batteries with engine running. The current isolator solenoid has power from coach battery but won’t transfer through to chassis battery.. My current setup has a switch on dash to use coach battery for emergency starting vehicle. Will this Redarc product solve my issue and will it be difficult to wire in ? Your advice has been spot on when I purchased front and rear sway bars from etrailer, what a difference.

asked by: John C

Helpful Expert Reply:

Yes, the Redarc Smart Start Battery Isolator # 331-SBI212D will allow you to have both batteries charging when connected to shore power. You'd need to put this inline with the charge that is currently going to the one battery so that you can run a charge wire to both batteries from it.

expert reply by: Jameson C

John C.

10/28/2024

I previously sent a message about this device. I ran into a problem with this device and traced it back to the device. When Rv plugged into shore power or running on the generator with the coach store/use switch in the use position, the slide, awning and the generator start switch(generator off) don’t work. I have 12+v output at the fuse panel . I have a battery disconnect switch on the chassis battery and when I disconnect or isolate that battery everything starts working again. Any ideas, may end up going back to original solenoid although I don’t want to.

Jameson C.

11/1/2024

@JohnC I would say it does sound like a problem with the solenoid based on what you have tried and tested.

John C.

11/1/2024

@JamesonC Thanks for the reply. I have been in contact with RedArc over this situation. I was advised to take the Rv to a dealer to solve the problem. Through all the back a forth emails nothing got resolved. If the Rv is plugged into shore power or not and the use/store switch is in either position and chassis battery is turned on ( I have a battery isolator switch on it) slide doesn’t work, isolate chassis battery and slide is operational., makes no sense. I am about ready to have the original setup reinstalled and chock this up to a $300”00+ loss. I would venture to say most RV dealers wouldn’t know about this RedArc solenoid setup. Thanks

Johnc

11/2/2024

@JamesonC As a follow up to the last email, I purchased this solenoid from etrailer last August.