The NEW (OLD) SC80 Dual Battery Controller

**drivesafe** · 11th August 2010, 11:07 PM

Hi folks, just letting you know I have now retired the SC40.

After more than 20 years, the SC40 will no longer be produced and this also means the end of production of the SC40-LR version.

The SC80 and SC80-LR are now my primary isolator

The SC80 is also about to be produced in a new version.

While very similar to the existing SC80, the new SC80 has the added feature of being able to be set to two different Cut-Out voltage levels.

The SC80 will be shipped set to it’s standard 12.0v Cut-Out but the installer/owner can reset the Cut-Out voltage level to 12.7v, similar to other brands of isolators.

The two setting are called the SHARED mode ( 12.0v ) and the IGNITION mode ( 12.7v ).

But still the biggest advantage the SC80 has over ALL OTHER isolators is the way it SHARES the load over a number of batteries, including using the surplus reserve of the cranking battery, when set to the SHARE mode.

This Sharing of the load has some huge advantages and while the obvious is the increased amount of usable stored capacity you get, at no extra cost, but the unique way the SC80 works means that if you tend to use a fair bit of power between charges, you also have the FASTEST and MOST EFFICIENT way of replacing used battery capacity while driving, and it’s fast at replacing used power than DC-DC step up devices.

The way the SC80 operates also means your batteries are likely to have a longer life span than batteries used in any other type of DBS set up.

Most of the other special features of the SHARED mode are also available in the IGNITION mode.

The SC80 uses two relays set up in parallel to join the cranking battery to the auxiliary/house battery(s). These two relays each have separate circuits, a primary and a secondary circuit.

The primary circuit also supplies power and voltage monitoring for the isolators electronics.

The Secondary relay is switched on and off by the isolator’s electronics but the Secondary switching circuit is electrically isolated from the Primary relay and the isolator’s electronics.

While most installations will have the primary and secondary circuits wired permanently as a parallel set up, there are a number of set ups where the two separate circuits can be used instead of having to install two separate isolators.

Some RVers need to have a battery just to operate a Sleep Apnoea machine and by using the two circuits separately, the Sleep Apnoea's battery can be charged while driving but will be isolated if too much power is used by other accessories connected to a second auxiliary battery, leaving it just for the Sleep Apnoea machine’s use.

There are set ups that require the control of both a 12v circuit and a 24v circuit at the same time. Again, by using an SC80, only one isolator is needed.

As to the warranty, I’ve been making the SC80 for around 20 years now and while they are supplied with a 2 year warranty, if someone has a problem with an older SC80 ( or SC40 ), no matter how old it is, as long as it has not been tampered with, it will be repaired for no more than the cost of the return postage.

The link below will take you to my web site and more info on the SC80 Controller and the different complete Dual Battery Kit available, using the SC80 and SC80-LR.

Dual Battery Controllers

**simonmelb** · 12th August 2010, 08:31 AM

Hi Drivesafe

The new SC80 sounds really good !

Can it be installed so that you can have a switch in the cabin or under the bonnet to switch between Shared and Ignition modes ?

( eg if you're going into a remote area and want to keep your cranking battery at 100% for a time, you could switch to Ignition mode )

**drivesafe** · 12th August 2010, 10:19 AM

Hi Simon, not something I had considered but it would be very easy to achieve.

Note, there is no way ( deliberately intended ) to use the SC80 to jump start but to charge the from SHARED to IGNITION mode is done by pushing a small shunt over two pins.

Instead of the shunt, a two pin socket could be used and then two thin wires could be run to a switch in the cab and you could then select the mode you want, as needed.

BUT, there has been no issues over the 20 years of supplying the SC80 that would see a need to do this, but it would now be available.

**simonmelb** · 16th August 2010, 03:28 PM

Sounds fine - please let us know when they're available.

**drivesafe** · 18th August 2010, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by simonmelb

Sounds fine - please let us know when they're available.

Hi simon and they are now in stock.

Keep an eye on my web site over the next few days because I'll be adding some new kits to my range and the kits work out a lot cheaper then trying to source all the parts separately.

**Preacher** · 30th September 2010, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Simon, not something I had considered but it would be very easy to achieve.

Note, there is no way ( deliberately intended ) to use the SC80 to jump start but to charge the from SHARED to IGNITION mode is done by pushing a small shunt over two pins.

Instead of the shunt, a two pin socket could be used and then two thin wires could be run to a switch in the cab and you could then select the mode you want, as needed.

BUT, there has been no issues over the 20 years of supplying the SC80 that would see a need to do this, but it would now be available.

Hi drivesafe

as you know I'm looking at your system for my Disco3 and van - do i understand from your post above that you can't jump the start battery from the second one if required - a previous setup I had, had a marine switch that joined all batteries together should the start battery be flat.
very handy a couple of times i might add

dj

**drivesafe** · 1st October 2010, 04:36 AM

Hi jd, the SC80 does not have a jump start feature where you can have a switch inside the cab and use this to join the auxiliary battery and cranking battery via the isolator.

But you can fit a marine battery switch in the engine bay and join the batteries for jump starting and on request, I make a kit for the D3, to add a high current switch and cable kit to allow the auxiliary battery and cranking battery to be joined while using a winch.

**Homestar** · 5th February 2012, 09:34 AM

Hi Drivesafe, just wondering if you could clarify a couple of questions I have about putting an SC80 into my 03 L322 Rangie. I believe you have owned one of these before, so hopefully this will all make sense.

I will be installing 2 batteries in the compartment below the rear fuse panel. By coincidence, I had these lying around and they fit perfectly. The only reason I am installing 2 batteries, is that they are fairly small due to space limitations - I will only be running my fridge off them. For reference, these are the batteries - UPPI - Batteries - UPS Replacement - Exide GNB Sprinter S12V120F - I am hoping they will be suitable. We used to use them at work as a cranking battery in a small custom 35KVA generator that had serious space issues - I'm not sure why they started using these, but they cranked a 3.9Ltr diesel engine no problems.

Anyway, I don't want to have to run any wires from front to back, so I want to use the main 100amp supply that comes down the the rear fuse panel to both charge the batteries, and for the cranking battery sensing wire. Will this setup work ok or can you see anything that I am missing?

If you think this is all ok, let me know, and I will place an order for one.

Thanks heaps - Gav

**drivesafe** · 7th February 2012, 11:00 PM

Hi Gav and sorry I missed your post.

The SC80 will do the job but it’s a bit of an over kill.

The SC80 has two 45 amp relays in it whereas my now discontinued SC40 only had a single 45 amp relay.

The difference is that the SC40 had an operating current of about 135ma and the SC80 has an operating current of about 250ma.

The additional current draw is just wasted power.

If you are interested, I could supply you with a modified SC80 with only one relay, this would easily be big enough to handle the charging current needed but would halve the operating current of the unit.

Needless to say, the modified unit would be cheaper than a standard SC80.

Cheers, Tim.

**Homestar** · 8th February 2012, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Gav and sorry I missed your post.

The SC80 will do the job but it’s a bit of an over kill.

The SC80 has two 45 amp relays in it whereas my now discontinued SC40 only had a single 45 amp relay.

The difference is that the SC40 had an operating current of about 135ma and the SC80 has an operating current of about 250ma.

The additional current draw is just wasted power.

If you are interested, I could supply you with a modified SC80 with only one relay, this would easily be big enough to handle the charging current needed but would halve the operating current of the unit.

Needless to say, the modified unit would be cheaper than a standard SC80.

Cheers, Tim.

That sounds great Tim, I'll take you up on that offer

. Can you please PM me the total cost (delivered to Melbourne) and prefered payment type.

Cheers - Gav

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