RV FEATURE
DC-DC CHARGERS
Most caravans utilise an Anderson connection between the tow vehicle and van in order to provide some charge to the van ’ s batteries while you travel between stops . The problem is these connections are prone to severe voltage drop due to inadequate wiring to support the distances between the car ’ s alternator and the van ’ s batteries . Most would be lucky to see 5A of charging and that simply isn ’ t enough to meet the modern traveller ’ s requirements .
Enter the DC-DC charger . These clever devices work in much the same way as a solar controller , except they take whatever power reaches the caravan from the car ’ s Anderson plug and ‘ boosts ’ it to the voltage and amps required to effectively recharge the batteries . They are so effective that many caravan manufacturers fit them as standard equipment .
Here ’ s a hot tip . No matter which system you choose , you ’ re likely to need power cables . To get the most out of your gear , don ’ t skimp on quality .
Enerdrive DC-DC chargers also function as MPPT solar controllers but they can ’ t do both functions at the same time .
There are many brands and models to choose from , with charge rates varying between 10 and 40A . Enerdrive DC-DC converters also function as solar controllers but they won ’ t do both at the same time .
As good as they are , they can ’ t perform miracles . If your Anderson connection has inadequate wiring , you may not get the best out of your DC-DC charger .
Advantages : Maximise charging from your tow vehicle while you travel . Most have specific charging profiles for a variety of battery chemistries .
Disadvantages : They need highquality wiring in order to achieve their maximum charge rates . If you leave the Anderson connection plugged in while the engine is off , it can deplete your car ’ s batteries very quickly .
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