New charger: upgrade or not

Bawwi
Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
edited June 2022 in Parts & Accessories #1

Hi All, 

 I'm about to refresh my caravan charger as it has deceased. Whilst shopping for it online, one business mildly suggests an upgrade to a 3 stage charger. I understand the benefits and why you should, but wanted to check here to see if anyone has any opinion on it? The cost difference isn't overly expensive. 

Current unit: Pt No. 730119 - BCA Power Unit/Transformer - 20Amp

Upgrade repacement unit: PO123 Caravan/Motorhome Dual Stage Battery Charger 20A Powerpart/BCA

Caravan: Bailey Senator Series 6 Arizona

This all assumes that the upgrade uint is compatable with my caravan.

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #2

    if I had the option of having a 'smart' charger fitted instead of the original 'dumb' charger I'd go for the 'smart' one 👍

  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #3

     I think it's a question of wheighing up the effort to fit a new one vs the easy option of fitting the original.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #4

    Im not sure why, but I'd assumed that someone else was doing the work for you, though I wouldn't have thought that there'd be much difference in fitting either. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2022 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #6

    Is the wiring simple enough to install? I can't find any install guides.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #7

    There will be no difference in the wiring, it will have a kettle type ac input on the casing and a DC output lead/socket to  plug into your adjacent DC fuseboard. Hopefully the mountings would be the same as your old one. If not, its not the end of the world to mount it separately. 

    It's plug and play.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2022 #8
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #9

    You are correct. It was the white wire that was confusing me. Although one of the new units I found has red/2 x black/yellow.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #10

    You will have two DC outputs on your new unit, and hopefully two different shaped plugs. One will supply 13.8v/20 amps to power your caravans DC appliances, and the other will be to smart charge the leisure battery at 6 amps.

  • Colin Dav
    Colin Dav Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited June 2022 #11

    There is a company (forget what it is called) who do a 6 stage smart charger to replace a BCA 20A power supply, night be worth looking for.

  • Colin Dav
    Colin Dav Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited June 2022 #12

    Just found the company name on another forum, its called apuljack electronics

  • Colin Dav
    Colin Dav Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited August 2023 #13

    Did you do anything in the end 

  • Colin Dav
    Colin Dav Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited August 2023 #14

    What option did you go for in the end 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited August 2023 #15

    The OP hasn't been active on the forum for over a year now so I am not sure they are looking in to answer your question. If you have a specific question/problem maybe a good idea to start a new thread?

    David

Categories