Redarc BCDCN1225, Manual

Installation | 13 

3.2.2  CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION 

1.  Auxiliary Battery Profile Selection

—

 Determine the chemistry of your auxiliary battery prior 

to install as this will influence the connection of the 

ORANGE

 wire that is used to set the charge 

profile of the BCDC Core (see 

"3.7.3 Profile Selection — Orange Wire" (page 20)

). 

2.  Fixed or Removable —

 Determine if your install requires connections to be permanent or 

easily disconnected. This influences the connector choice as soldered butt splice connectors 
are more suitable for fixed wiring while Anderson plugs are more suitable when disconnection is 
required, such as with portable battery boxes, trailers and portable solar panels (see 

"3.4 Cable 

Connections" (page 15)

). 

3.  Solar Panel Selection —

 Consider if your auxiliary battery system will have permanently wired 

solar panels connected or portable panels such as a solar blanket. This influences wiring and 
connector choice. Ensure the panel is 12 V nominal and does not have a built in solar regulator.

4.  Vehicle Alternator Type —

 Determine if your vehicle has a variable-voltage or idle-stop 

alternator (smart alternator) these types of alternators require the 

BLUE

 wire connection for the 

BCDC Core to function correctly (see 

"3.7.5 Vehicle Ignition Input — Blue Wire" (page 22)

).

Smart alternators are common on vehicles manufactured from 2015 onwards that are compliant 
with Euro 6 emissions regulations. Determine if your vehicle has a smart alternator by checking 
for a battery sensor on your vehicles start battery as illustrated in 

"Figure 3.2.2.1: Standard 

Alternator vs Variable Voltage Alternator" (page 13)

.

Older vehicles or other models with fixed 

voltage or temperature compensating alternators do not require the 

BLUE

 wire connection. 

Figure 3.2.2.1: 

Standard Alternator vs Variable Voltage Alternator

Regular Battery Terminal

(Standard Alternator)

Battery Terminal with Sensor

(Variable Voltage Alternator)

5.  Cable Length and Gauge —

 Determine the length of cable required to connect BCDC Core to 

the vehicle start battery and solar panels in your application. This influences the gauge of wire 
required. See 

"3.3 Cable sizing" (page 14)

 to determine appropriate cable gauge suitable for 

your installation. Note that B&S (Brown & Sharpe), AWG (American Wiring Gauge), GA (Gauge) 
are interchangeable terms for measuring wiring diameter (e.g 8 B&S = 8 AWG = 8 GA)

6.  Common Ground —

 Before planning wiring, consider that the BCDC Core, auxiliary battery, 

start battery and solar panel/s must all share a common electrical ground to correctly charge 
from both inputs. This is typically achieved by connecting all grounds to the vehicle body.

7.  Auxiliary Battery Load Current —

 Before wiring the auxiliary battery system, determine the 

loads to be powered and the total current to be drawn from the battery. This affects the load 
cable gauge and load fuse rating.