interVOLT DCC Pro Review

interVOLT DCC Pro Review

Model: DCC1225ACK-RP (Remote Display Model Reviewed)

I’ve been meaning to sit down and write this review about the interVOLT DCC Pro DC-DC Battery Charger for some time and in no way do I have any affiliation with interVOLT. I would also like to be upfront and admit that I may have been a little biased and one-eyed when it came to the Redarc DC-DC Battery Chargers and have sold and installed many Redarc DC-DC chargers but in saying that I have also used previous interVOLT products and I have always been impressed with the quality of their products. So with that, I finally purchased the interVOLT DCC Pro to satisfy my curiosity and put it to the test.

The first thing that draws my attention to the product brochure is the ability to have a remote display connected to the charger to display charging voltage, charging amperage and main battery voltage in the cabin as well as making changes to the charger configuration. When I open the box the first thing that comes to my attention is the typical construction I have come to expect from interVOLT products and the DCC Pro doesn’t let me down. The weight of the unit coupled with the ample cooling fins gives this unit the appearance that it is well made and considerable time and energy has been put into the design.

The unit comes with a 3m cord to connect the remote display to the charger and while this may suit many installations, it wasn’t long enough for our use on the headboard of a 79 Series Dual Cab Land Cruiser and we needed to order a 6m cord separately. I’d personally like to see the unit packaged with a 5m cord which would be ample for most installations. Another area of concern is the size of the cable plugs, they seem to have that look that they may present a problem if unplugged too often due to the size of the pins and cable but in all honesty this is just an opinion and I have no evidence to suggest that it won’t stand up to the task and time will tell if this really is a concern.

The charger is well made and of solid construction with a nice cover (with a status LED in the centre)  to conceal all cable connections which are connected utilising screw terminals, no need for splicing or soldering of cables. One factor that may present itself when installing is the height of the unit, having installed countless Redarc BCDC’s I’ve become accustomed to the ability to install the unit’s down in areas that don’t have much room but for most installations this won’t cause too much of an issue.

The charger is packed with a range of features:

·         Soft start boost mode – prevents damage to batteries and equipment

·         8 stage charging

·         Voltage sensing or ignition mode charging activation (For ECU controlled alternators)

·         5 user selectable battery types to change the charging algorithm to suit the battery

·         LED glow ring to indicate charger status

·         Ability to connect two separate chargers to the one remote display

·         Solar capable, direct connection from solar panel - 250w (no regulator required)

·         Electrical and thermal overload protection

·         Reverse polarity protection

·         Stainless steel terminals

 The charger does what most DC-DC chargers do and it does it well although I would love to see higher amperage versions like other brands. The instructions are comprehensive, easy to read and they give step by step set up instructions for setting the configuration, which are a breath of fresh air when you compare them to the instructions that come with Ctek chargers. While there isn’t a set RRP to go off, the interVOLT DCC Pro is being sold around the $545 mark and although it may be more expensive than what you can pick up a Redarc or Projecta unit for, the inclusion of the remote display unit and the quality of construction makes it all worthwhile. I also like the ability to customise things and this can be done quickly and easily via the remote display compared with other DC-DC chargers. interVOLT offer a Two year warranty on the charger and having produced electronic products since 2001 I’m sure their charger will stand the test of time and provide a fantastic alternative to other DC-DC chargers out there.

Happy Charging,

Gavin Craske

Current Tech Automotive

U10/95 Kelvin Rd

Maddington, W.A. 6109

www.currenttech.com.au

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A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DUAL BATTERY SYSTEMS

On every 4x4 forum I come across, someone is always asking ‘Which dual battery system do I choose?’ No doubt they have read through several online articles only to become even more confused about the options available for their 4x4 set-up. So with this article I will briefly explain the different systems that I believe to be the most beneficial to the everyday 4x4 owner.

The first question I ask people when they ask how much a dual battery system will cost is:

How much is your budget?

Some people see this as a marketing ploy but honestly there is no point in me trying to sell you a dual battery system built around the Redarc BCDC1240 charger when your budget is $800, as the charge unit alone is over $450 not including battery, cables, battery tray etc.

The second question is:

What are you using the system for?

There is no point in having a $1700 system in your vehicle when you only plan on using it twice a year or to simply run a fridge overnight, unless you feel that is really what you need. You will also need to know what you will be running off it and the wattage of each of these items.

If a customer can answer these two questions then they are already well on their way to designing the system they require.

I will break down the three most popular systems as follows:

System 1 - Manual dual battery switch

This is perhaps the most basic dual battery system available and is built around a manual battery switch (such as Narva 61090) where the user selects the battery required to be used and/or charged or both. A very simple system that works well however the switch and wiring required is quite cumbersome. This system is what I call a ‘direct parallel system’ (DPS). There is also the downside of the user having to remember to switch the master switch to the desired setting, which if forgotten could inadvertently drain both batteries by accident.

·        Good for high current situations, winch etc.

·        Easy to use.

·        Relatively cheap although larger cable size can become expensive over larger runs.

·        Not recommended if different battery types are being used together.

·        Can jump start vehicle if auxiliary battery is charged.

System 2 – Voltage sensitive relay/solenoid

This is a favourite amongst most 4X4 owners, utilising a solenoid (such as the Redarc SBI12) due to the relatively low cost of the solenoid and the ease of installation. This simple solenoid (also a DPS) detects when your main (start) battery has reached a high state of charge and then closes the contacts to join the two batteries together to start charging the auxiliary battery. These solenoids have served the industry well for a number of years but with advances in battery technology they have since been less desirable when using different battery types together.

·        Simple.

·        Cheap.

·        May not work with newer vehicles that utilise variable voltage alternator output.

·        Can also cater for jump starting.

·        Can also be used where higher current demand is required.

·        Can also be used for winch applications.

System 3 – The DC to DC Charger

The DC to DC Charger has really changed dual battery systems in the last few years, allowed us to do so much more with our dual battery systems and take care of our auxiliary batteries so much better. Put simply, the DC-DC charger has allowed us to charge batteries efficiently, and electrically isolate the main battery and the main charge system (the alternator). The main benefit of the DC-DC charger is the ability to be able to charge different battery types using pre-set charge algorithms selected for the battery type being used. This ensures that the battery being charged is charged at the optimum rate which means it is charged as high as possible (some batteries require different charge rates to reach full capacity). The other benefit is that electrically both batteries are separated and if either battery fails or starts to degrade then it won’t compromise the other battery, as the DPS type may.

·        Maximises battery life by charging to optimum level.

·        Expensive.

·        Set and forget – no user input required.

·        Current output is limited to capability of unit.

·        Can’t be used for jump starting alone.

·        Capable of supporting small amounts of volt drop.

In both of the DP systems, if one battery starts to fail or degrade then it will start to drag the other battery down with it. If different battery types are used in the DP systems then this will also cause premature battery failure (over time) and it’s always recommended that if one battery fails in this instance, then both batteries should be replaced at the same time. In saying that, if matching battery types (preferably make and model) are used in the DP system then this will maximise battery life. Yes of course everyone will know someone that has used the DPS type, never had to change a battery and will never want to part with the money to buy a DC-DC charger. Each system has its strengths, weaknesses and its place in the dual battery world but I will never recommend using different battery types together in a DPS type set-up.

This article was never intended to explain dual battery systems at length but rather, give the reader an idea of what is out there and how it might benefit them. Time again we have had customers come in saying they got a dual battery system installed but they have no idea what they paid for or how it works. If you don’t know what you paid for then how do you know what the system will do or if it’s right for you? Some customers have come in thinking they want a super dooper dual battery system that could cost upwards of $800 only to be sent away with a Arkpak type battery box because that is all that they require to run their fridge for a few hours or overnight while fishing every now and again.

If I have missed something or you feel something else might be more relevant then don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Gavin.

Current Tech Automotive

www.currenttech.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/currenttechauto/

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