Thread: DC to DC battery chargers

That is a good point - I have a 24v to 12v battery charger rated at 60 amps and its cables (both input and output are the same size as battery cables on a medium size cars - so even a smaller charger is going to need cables heavier than you find running to standard rear plugs.

Garry

Originally Posted by gitney

Hi Andrew,
One other thing that I'm not too sure about is plugging the charger into your rear socket.

Actually this one point simply proves the idiot selling the DC/DC device had no idea how they need to be wired up.

And there is no real safety issue with this because anybody trying to power one via a cigarette power socket will very quickly find out they can’t power one that way, as the vehicle’s fuse for that power socket will blow as soon as a load ( battery ) is applied to the DC/DC device.

Originally Posted by garrycol

That is a good point - I have a 24v to 12v battery charger rated at 60 amps and its cables (both input and output are the same size as battery cables on a medium size cars - so even a smaller charger is going to need cables heavier than you find running to standard rear plugs.

Garry

theres the only other time I use DC-Dc chargers when i need to step 12-24 (either way) and cant be stuffed setting up dual alternators (which is my prefered method if its practicable)

Tim,

I actually had the "electrician" who was called to remove the winch etc from the D2 at the panel beaters tell me that your SC160 was crap and was about to cut it out while he sprouted the advantages of DC?DC systems. I beat him across the wrist with the first thing that came to hand. 2foot of 3/4" extension bar. Wasn't happy, don't think he was either.

Apparently they defy the laws of physics and step up everything, voltage, current, everything. They'll charge a dead flat battery of any sort from dead flat with only a 12v input and may even reverse my baldness.

I threatened him with a bigger bar if he looked at the car again and told the supervisor that I'd be doing the remove and refit in their shop.

Later found that he'd already got to the hand made headlight harness that I'd built and cut out half the custom ordered 6mm OEM colorcoded wire and scrapped it.

Originally Posted by clubagreenie

Apparently they defy the laws of physics and step up everything, voltage, current, everything. They'll charge a dead flat battery of any sort from dead flat with only a 12v input and may even reverse my baldness.

And this be the very problem with the way DC/DC devices are sold.

At least 20min with a whiteboard and the boss of the shop and they're looking for a new elec.

I'm thinking of getting a DC/DC charger.
I have a battery to run the fridge. I'd like to buy a solar panel. I'm told it's better for the battery if you wire the solar panel to the DC/DC charger and then to the battery.
Comments please gentlemen.

Just get a good quality solar regulator, a MPPT type one if you can afford it.