Redarc BCDC - 2014 Silverado

[johnnyexpedition]

Close to pulling the trigger on a dual battery setup using the redarc 25amp charger however, one minor/major detail is keeping me from doing so:

I am unsure where to connect the auxiliary battery ground to.

I have been in contact with Redarc via email and they instruct me to connect the ground to the chassis and ensure that no negative connections go to the main battery negative terminal. On the other hand, I have seen setups on youtube and on blogs that show both battery grounds being tied to each other.
Perhaps others have experience with this type of setup on GM vehicles that utilize "smart" alternators.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John R.

 

[ITTOG]

I would definitely go to the frame. You could go to the other battery as well but not required. Just joining the two batteries together is not a ground.

Anyone that states "ensure that no negative connections go to the main battery negative terminal" should be ignored as this is impossible.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[Wrathchild]

I’m going through this same process. It’s my understanding that we have to run the negative through the current sensor (Hall effect sensor) that the starting battery negative runs through. Otherwise the alternator may not keep feeding power once the main starting battery is topped up.

My Plan is to run the negative from my house battery in the bed all the way forward, through the hall sensor and to where the starting battery negative grounds.

 

[johnnyexpedition]

I would definitely go to the frame. You could go to the other battery as well but not required. Just joining the two batteries together is not a ground.

Anyone that states "ensure that no negative connections go to the main battery negative terminal" should be ignored as this is impossible.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

I went to recheck that quote and yeah that is what they said. I guess my other option would be to do both. Connect both negatives to each other and connect aux battery negative to frame or engine block.

 

[johnnyexpedition]

I’m going through this same process. It’s my understanding that we have to run the negative through the current sensor (Hall effect sensor) that the starting battery negative runs through. Otherwise the alternator may not keep feeding power once the main starting battery is topped up.

My Plan is to run the negative from my house battery in the bed all the way forward, through the hall sensor and to where the starting battery negative grounds.

Would connecting negative house to negative starting battery be enough for sensor to continue to feed power as needed?

 

[Wrathchild]

I would assume so. If you’re gonna do that just run it through the sensor. If you look just inboard of the battery it’s a loop looking deal that the starting battery negative runs through.

It might be an extra 12” of wire.

I’m running 2 AWG and have a couple things already on my truck negative post otherwise I’d just connect em straight together thru the sensor.