Hey there Dave.
Looks like Scot beat me to it
It can be a steep learning curve but good on you for giving it a crack.
It does get confusing with all the information, you just need to read and research more. Most of these questions should be answered by the redarc install instructions. There is superb customer support from redarc too - email enquires are answered very quickly and in detail.
This is a good thread if you havnt read already:
http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=8642Some more BCDC info here. Just do a search for BCDC:
http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=20448http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=227251225 instructions I believe you may have taken the diagram from:
http://www.redarc.com.au/images/uploads/images/BCDC1225_Instruction_Manual.pdfI'm by no stretch a autoelectrician so perhaps one will be able to chip in to the below:
1. "Wire the ‘Common Ground’ wire to a ground point that is common to both the Start
battery (or the Solar Input Ground wire) and the Auxiliary battery to be charged.
This point may be on the chassis of the vehicle, on the chassis of the trailer/
camper/caravan or directly wired to both batteries, depending on your installation
requirements." (page 7) 6B&S twin (red and black) might be your best bet
2. "To select the Alternator charging mode the BLUE ‘Source Select’ wire must be
connected to Input Positive." (page 3) I extended and ran a wire to +ve but mine was in the engine bay so wasn't as far.
3. "Wire the ‘Battery Type’ wire according to the type of Auxiliary battery you have
installed. This wire is monitored when the charger is not charging." (page 7)
What sort of Auxillary battery ae you running? Use the table at the bottom of page 7. Lead/acid run to ground/-ve.
4. What sort of accessories are you going to run? You could run individual fuses rated for each accessory or run them from a distribution fuse block if running multiple accessories.
5. Both; but if you keep the cable between BCDC and auxillary battery < 1 m and run the recommended 6 B&S between starter and BCDC you should be fine. Wire the ‘Output Battery Positive’ to the Auxiliary battery positive terminal. "Ideally the BCDC unit should be a maximum of 1 metre in cable length from the battery positive terminal, and should be wired with a minimum of 7.71mm² or 8 B&S cable" (page 7)
I'd suggest getting any soldering and splicing done by your sparky - its not just a matter of cut and join.
"The heavy gauge wires on the BCDC1225 unit carry peak currents of up to 35 Amps, and it is important to make a good, low resistance, electrical connection that will not degrade over time. Failure to make a good, reliable contact may
result in breakdown of the wire insulation and cause a short circuit, or worst case a fire. We recommend that this activity be undertaken by an appropriately trained person" (page 8)
You could have chat to your sparky, then run all the wires, mount hardware then get him to connect for piece of mind.
That's what I'm going to do with my next BCDC instal which will be a bit more complex having solar, multiple accessories + hopefully a battery link. Some people use the analogy "I wouldn't wire up my own house so why risk wiring up my car"
Fair analogy, greater risks in the house but if your not 100% confident get professional input.
Just my opinion but for an extra $100-200 help from an autoelectrician you should have years of worry free enjoyment traveling in the lux.