Redarc BCDC1240D

This is a good charger for working with both AGM and Lithium ion under the bonnet. It has both a solar and alternator (technically, it takes this from the main battery) input. I installed the BCDC Classic40 12V charger after my BCDC Classic25 failed after 5 years of service. (It ended up failing because the installer used automatic fuses… Read more

against the manufacturer's advice. I don't know why they did that as the recommended MIDI fuses, available from e.g. Jaycar, are much cheaper and just as easy to install.) I knew that my next battery would be a Lithium ion battery and another Australian company, iTechworld, make one that fits under the bonnet. So I prepared for this. I got the higher current BCDC1240D device than my original BCDC1225D so that I could inject more power into a higher capacity battery. Knowing my future plans, I installed a switch under the bonnet to switch the BCDC1240D charger between 3 of its 4 different charge profile modes. Then, when it came to swapping out my old AGM battery, I plonked in the iTechworld battery. The iTechworld installation guide did say that, if available, I should switch to Li mode. But the BCDC1240D's charging algorithm for Lithium does not quite 'handshake' with lithium the way it does with AGM profiles. So, switching it back to Lead Acid/AGM under the bonnet mode ('A') did the trick in getting it to charge. All is working fine now and I am very happy with it. REDARC has a good reputation and this battery charger comes at a good price point. I definitely recommend it to others thinking of how they might handle keeping their auxiliary battery charged.