Initial Setup and Battery Recovery
g'day I'm Stuart from redarc and today we're going to talk about some of the common questions we receive about the BC desi in vehicle battery charger the common inquiry we get when a battery has been over discharged is that the BCDC will not start charging because the battery is through flat now the PC DC needs to see at least 4 volts in the battery to identify that there is a battery actually present and this is a safety feature so if your auxiliary battery has become that discharged due to leaving a light or a fan or something like this on then you need to apply a higher voltage to that battery in order for the BC DC to recognize that this can be done with a jump starter pack or jump starting from your start battery or applying another charger to the battery such as a mains battery charger then when you start the vehicle the B cities who were recognized as a battery present and it'll take over and start charging
Interpreting BCDC Fault Codes
There are six fault codes that the BCD C can display by flashing all of the LEDs and then there is a three and a half second delay in between the flash rate
Common Fault Code: Under Voltage (5 Flashes)
Two common faults for all LEDs flashing five times this indicates that input voltage is under voltage the common cause to this fault is an incorrect fuse holder has been installed if played fuse holders or circuit breakers have been used it is recommended the B's are faced with mir dr style fuses
Common Fault Code: Output Over Voltage (4 Flashes)
secondly there's the flash rate of four times and this indicates the output over voltage the common cause to this fault is when a solar panel is wired in reverse polarity to the BCD C or the auxilary battery is being charged by another charger that is supplying too high a voltage
Understanding BCDC LED Indicators
On the front of the base EJC there are seven LEDs that indicate its function these seven LEDs can also indicate if there's a fault with a system
Profile LED Indication
The profile LED indicates which charge profile is selected and this is selected when the charge is installed by the way that the orange wire is when the charger is in standby the profile LED will be flashing slowly when the vehicle is running when the charger is charging the profile light will go solid
Power Source and Charge Stage LEDs
at that time depending on where the power is coming from the vehicle LED the solar LED or both will be illuminated solid the sage LED will also illuminate to imitate the stage of charge in boost the sage LED is on solid in absorption two-stage LED flashes twice per two seconds in float it flashes once per two seconds
Advanced Troubleshooting and Voltage Checks
Checking Voltages with Vehicle Off
When testing to see if the BCDC is receiving the correct voltages it is important to check the voltage at four locations one is at the start battery and when the vehicle is not running the start battery will be less than a turn on voltage of the BCD see also check the voltage at the auxilary battery across the positive our negative battery terminals this should be showing the circuit voltage of the auxilary battery at rest these voltages will change when the base of AC is running if there is a good connection to the batteries you must also check the voltage at the input wire the red wire of the base e DC and the output wire which is the brown wire of the base it AC with reference to the black ground wire of the base of AC knowing these voltages means that you can compare the battery voltage with the voltage that is getting to the base e de si itself if you have a much lower voltage at the base of AC than what you do at the batteries you have excessive voltage drop and you must check the circuit on where this problem was
Checking Voltages with Engine Running and Current Flow
it's important to then measure the battery voltages with the engine running on the south part recency better than 13.8 volts and that the auxiliary battery will not now see the BC DC voltage as it's charging you can compare these voltages to the red brown wires at the BC DC once again to make sure that you have a good connection if the auxilary battery is very discharged the voltage on the auxilary battery may appear much lower than this in which case you can measure the current flow from the BC DC into the auxiliary battery to confirm that it is charging we can see that we are currently charging with 20-odd ants for more helpful information and technical assistance visit the how-to and frequently asked questions on the red arc website
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum Start Voltage | 4 Volts (Auxiliary Battery) |
| Number of Fault Codes | 6 |
| Fault Code Display Delay | 3.5 seconds |
| Under Voltage Fault (LEDs) | 5 flashes (all LEDs) |
| Output Over Voltage Fault (LEDs) | 4 flashes (all LEDs) |
| Number of Indicator LEDs | 7 |
| Recommended Start Battery Voltage (Engine Running) | > 13.8 Volts |
| Example Charging Current | 20+ Amps |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My Redarc BCDC isn't charging my auxiliary battery, which seems completely flat. What should I do?
A: The BCDC requires a minimum of 4 volts from the auxiliary battery to identify that a battery is actually present and begin charging. If your auxiliary battery has become discharged below this threshold, you'll need to apply a higher voltage to it temporarily. This can be done using a jump starter pack, jump-starting from your vehicle's start battery, or applying another charger such as a mains battery charger. Once the auxiliary battery's voltage is above 4 volts, the BCDC will recognize it and take over to start charging when the vehicle is running.
Q: What do five flashes from all the LEDs on my BCDC charger indicate, and how can I fix it?
A: Five flashes from all the LEDs on your BCDC indicate an "input voltage under voltage" fault. The common cause for this issue is an incorrect fuse holder being installed, such as inadequate blade fuse holders or circuit breakers. It is recommended that these be replaced with MIDI or ANL style fuses to resolve the problem and ensure proper input voltage.
Q: How can I tell what stage my Redarc BCDC solar charger is currently operating in?
A: The BCDC's Stage LED illuminates to indicate the current stage of charge. When the charger is in boost mode, the Stage LED will be on solid. During the absorption stage, the Stage LED will flash twice per two seconds. For the float stage, it will flash once per two seconds.