Tuesday, Oct 27, 2020 at 10:54
Phil G.
That is NOT my experience.
I have a Dmax that is fitted with the 'smart' alternator, I also have a Lithium auxiliary battery that is charged via a Redarc BCDC1225D and also a solar panel, and is supplying a compressor fridge that is never switched off.
On several occasions since March this year the vehicle has been 'parked up' in the garage, and as the fridge depleted the aux battery I used a Ctec GS4000 to maintain the starter battery. In this configuration the Ctec was continuously charging the start battery whilst ever the auxiliary battery required a charge. The Ctec charger does NOT have a setting for Lithium batteries.
The Redarc (which is set for Lithium battery charging) operated as a pulse charger to the aux battery, the pulses being for the length of time it took the starter battery to go from the Redarcs programmed switch on voltage (approx 13.2v) to its programmed switch off voltage (approx 12.6v), then waited until the starter battery again reached the system switch on voltage before repeating the process. When the aux battery was fully charged, and the start battery likewise, then the Ctec went into float mode.
All that the blue wire does is tell the Redarc system that there is a 'smart' alternator fitted and this changes (lowers) the 'switch off' voltage when the vehicle ignition switch is in the on position (to approx 12.1v). It DOES NOT cause the system to completely discharge the start battery.
The operating voltage of the Isuzu Smart Alternators varies between 12.2 and 16 volts, depending on state of battery charge, park lights on and throttle position, and there may be other parameters that Isuzu are not telling us about.
My only connection to Redarc is as a user of their products.
Regards
Athol
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