Sterling Power BBC1225 Wildside Caravan Battery to Battery Charger - 12V-12V / 25A

Sterling Power BBC1225 Wildside Caravan Battery to Battery Charger - 12V-12V / 25A

The electrical requirements onboard caravans have increased in the modern world (laptops / tablets / phones/microwaves/hairdryers / Caravan movers  etc.). When at campsites this is no problem thanks to AC hookup. However, if touring is your forte and don't wish the extra cost and limitations  at campsites, or simply unable to operate you fridge and charge you caravan / mover battery due to the new euro 6 engines  then this is the product for you.

The existing charging off onboard caravans batteries from your main vehicle while in motion is historically terrible. This is because the onboard charging systems have not modernised by keeping up with onboard electrical demands NOR by dealing with the contemporary peculiarities associated with Euro 5 / Euro 6 + engines. A prime example being that some fridges simply do not work whilst towing your caravan and the ability to actually charge the onboard battery is simply out off the question. This is because the towing vehicle alternator’s voltage is dropping below the enabling threshold of the fridge and below that required to charge a batteries. Refer to page 15 for Euro 6 / regenerative braking information. We use a van in the test - any modern SUV or car could have also been used. This also drastically effects the performance off the caravan mover  rendering this expensive and useful product virtually unless

These problems are totally unnecessary when you consider that modern vehicles have such large alternators and surplus power - much more than their predecessors. Utilizing the alternator’s potential to actually charge your caravan battery fast and fully + running your fridge could free you from constant visits to camp sites when the Wildside option could be enjoyed more and save a lot off money.
A full caravan battery means freedom to enjoy the Wildside experience and allow the installation of more power hungry products such as inverters . Increasing battery banks sizes extends this experience with the knowledge that during your next drive your battery will fully charge from your vehicle. This is something caravanners always assume their system was doing, yet it simply was not.

2 OPERATIONAL MODES:

Battery bias mode (default).
As absorption fridges are very inefficient, they waste a lot of valuable power that could be used to charge your domestic battery / mover battery. Out of the 18A being supplied by the BBC, 13A may be being used for running the fridge, leaving only 5A for charging. Fridges really only needs to be powered 50% of the time to retain their chill. In battery bias mode, we initially focus all the BBC’s power to charge the domestic battery, for 15 minutes (fridge line disengaged). If your domestic battery is nearly full (or full) this time shall be much less. After the 15 minutes (or less), the fridge will come online whilst charging your domestic battery (albeit at a lower rate). The fridge shall come on and remain on provided the domestic battery’s charge level is kept high. If, when the fridge is online and/or the demand from the fridge or a domestic battery load exceeds what the BBC can supply (e.g. 20A+) then the BBC shall prematurely go back to solely charging the domestic battery, thus disconnecting the fridge line. This 15 minutes on and off cycling shall continue thereafter. The ‘fridge relay engaged’ LED shall light when the fridge is online, shall be off during sole domestic charge.

Summary - BBC initially charges solely the domestic battery for 15 minutes or until nearly full. The fridge line is then brought online, whilst maintaining charge to domestic. The fridge remains online indefinitely provided the domestic battery capacity is kept high (14V+). The proviso is that the fridge load does not exceed that of what the BBC can provide. If it does a 15 minute timer begins - then the domestic battery gets sole charge and so on and so forth. Therefore, provided the domestic battery is kept topped up the fridge shall remain online throughout the duration of the trip. If you find that your fridge comes online then trips immediately our algorithm has deemed that the domestic battery has not had sufficient charge, please wait up to another 15 minutes.

Fridge bias mode (press both SETUP and SELECT buttons together for 10 - 30 seconds to engage)
If you want your fridge operating constantly from the BBC supply, then put the BBC into fridge bias mode. The fridge line is constantly online, any surplus current shall be directed to charge up your domestic battery. The ‘fridge relay engaged’ LED shall be on solid as the fridge shall be online. To restore battery bias mode press and hold both buttons down for 10-30 seconds (i.e. repeat procedure).