CTEK D250S 12v Dual Battery DC-DC Charger $215.20 @ Mytopia eBay

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flipfire on 02/06/2017 - 02:53 ebay.com.au (361 clicks)
Last edited 02/06/2017 - 12:46 by 1 other user

CRACKA20

This item is for 4wd'ers and caravaners who run dual battery systems in their vehicles.

VSR isolators aren't ideal on variable voltage alternators or for long cable runs, and thats where DC-DC chargers come in.

It gives the aux battery a controlled multistage charge rather than just a bulk charge from the alternator. Has a solar input with a built-in MPPT controller.

Info sheet here: http://batteriesdirect.prod1.sdsecure.com.au/images/d250s_13…

Manual here: https://smartercharger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/D250S-…

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  sillyhead on 02/06/2017 - 07:56

  For anyone's information you would run a thick 30A fused 12V active wire from your crank battery +ve terminal or alternator +ve through a relay (trigger from the ignition +ve) to this, and then this charges your auxillary much more consistantly and accurately than the smart solenoid style charing relay (also refered to as VSR). Also gets around modern low voltage alternator ECU control which leads to under charged auxillary batteries.

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    Major Mess on 02/06/2017 - 12:22

    If it really will charge a battery bank at 20A, the 30A input cabling would be overloaded at 80% efficiency. So bigger cabling would really be required to be safe.

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  XeKToReX on 02/06/2017 - 08:40

  Awesome price for a good unit.

  I use one in a battery box I built and it works a treat

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    Major Mess on 02/06/2017 - 11:42

    An Outrageous price for what it is tho. The nark up on this unit would have to be at least 2000%. There really needs to be more competition with these devices.

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      tryagain on 03/06/2017 - 14:02

      If it really will charge a battery bank at 20A, the 30A input cabling would be overloaded at 80% efficiency. So bigger cabling would really be required to be safe.

      umm…. 20A/80x100=25A so would be well under the 30A

      An Outrageous price for what it is tho. The nark up on this unit would have to be at least 2000%. There really needs to be more competition with these devices.

      Maybe you should have some churned out for $10ea then and make a massive profit.

      23v seems odd for an MPPT, considering the whole point is to supply high voltages

      The whole point of MPPT is not so you can supply high voltages, the whole point of MPPT chargers it to convert the extra voltage into amps. It might be sometimes a bit better to run additional panels in series but that isn't really a biggy.

      You seem to be commenting on stuff you don't seem to have a real grasp on here. I am not a massive fan of DC-DC chargers unless there is no other option but that is often based on value, however, at $215 I think these are great value.

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  Major Mess on 02/06/2017 - 11:51

  It's a bit hard finding specs on this unit. Does anyone know what voltage the MPPT can handle? Is the 20A quoted input? From Solar and DC combined, or 20A each etc. Can I pump 100V at 20A into the MPPT? Hard to tell what this unit can do based on price. Has anyone read a proper review?

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    flipfire on 02/06/2017 - 12:12

    Maximum panel voltage is 23v. You need to have your PV array in parallel to stay below this.

    The solar charging only works when the alternator is off

    What are you trying to achieve exactly?

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      Major Mess on 02/06/2017 - 12:15

      Thanks, 23v seems odd for an MPPT, considering the whole point is to supply high voltages. Looking around I can find other manuals but not much luck on this model. There seems to be some smoke and mirrors going on.

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        flipfire on 02/06/2017 - 12:34

        EDIT: I was wrong about the solar only working with the alternator off. It turns out they can work simultaneously. I must have been thinking of the Redarc unit.

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  flipfire on 02/06/2017 - 12:17

  Its supposed to be for vehicles with modest sized panels, its not designed to run a residential 2kW array.

  There's no smokes and mirrors.

  https://smartercharger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/D250S-…

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    Major Mess on 02/06/2017 - 12:35

    Thanks. It is a bit surprising seeing it treats the vehicle and house battery as one bank unless you also add the Smartpass unit. That is it states the charging will be poor without it, This will also be causing battery damage.

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      flipfire on 02/06/2017 - 12:42

      Smartpass is for used for very large battery banks in caravans. The Smartpass just bumps up the charge rate to 80A by allowing higher inputs from the alternator and solar.

      The standard 20A charge rate on the D250S is plenty for up to a 200Ah AGM.

      Why would it cause damage>?