Builds Redarc Redvision Rouge - Ultimate aux battery setup? (1 Viewer)

[Eric Sarjeant]

I decided to quick write up on my aux (triple) battery setup. Wanted to share with the community for a few months now. Also made a video below.
I have gone through four iterations of aux battery setups in my 2019 200-series over the years.



This iteration is a full reset (total rip-out and start over) from the first two versions that kept getting more complex.
Inspired by @wiseinvestor Budget Build setup. I felt like a tear-out was required because I had added so many accessories over the years, the wiring was not as perfect as it could be. Also, adding a third battery, it was just easier to start from scratch.

Equipment:

• REDARC RedVision Rogue (replacement/upgrade to the RedVision Prime) distribution module accessory to the Manager30
• REDARC The Manager30
• REDARC BCDC1225D – charger
• REDARC SBI212 – for jumping primary battery
• REDARC 1000-watt Pure Sine Inverter
• REDARC Dual Voltage Guage
• REDARC 112W Amorphous Solar Blanket
• SwitchPros 9100 8-panel switch
• Battleborn 100AH LiFePO4 battery
• Odyssey Extreme G31
• @ZRTactical – Billet Battery Terminals
• @sleeoffroad – Stainless Steel 2nd Battery Tray

Version history:

1. In 2020 (dual battery): basic G35 aux with an isolator in a Slee aux battery tray
2. In 2021 (dual battery): upgraded to a battery flip-flop G31 aux (primary OEM location) with a G35 primary (in the Slee aux battery tray) to get more juice for my growing accessory collection isolated with a REDARC BCDC1240D charger with solar capability
3. In 2022 (dual battery): 100AH Battleborn LiFePO4 in the primary (G31) location (under the hood) with a G35 primary (lead acid), linked with a Manager30/RedVision (don’t judge me, I had to try it)
4. In 2023 (triple battery): Iteration #4 goes as follows in this write-up:

First: Why change Iteration #3? Mainly because lithium under the hood scared me s***less on hot summer days, especially when I have had fuel-boil (we can talk about that in a different thread). Besides wanting the lithium inside the vehicle, I wanted the frig/inverter on their own separate battery. Hence needing a third battery, which I already had room for with the Slee stainless steel aux battery tray.

Iteration #4 goes as follows:

• Battery 1: G35 primary (lead acid)
  • (CRANK ONLY / only battery on CAN bus)
• Battery 2: G31 aux battery Odyssey Extreme AGM (OEM primary location) isolated from primary battery with REDARC BCDC1225 charger. All auxiliary devices (excluding frig/inverter)
  • Warn 12.5k winch, 30” ADAPT light bar in grille, ARB Twin Air Compressor, Rigid SRL scene/halo lights, 50-watt HAM radio, Garmin Montana 750/inReach, Dewalt 12-volt charger for FlexVolt battery, RRT lights, Escort MAX360ci, Thinkware U1000 front/rear dash cam, approx. 26 USB ports in various locations, Alpine DVD player in-ceiling, AppleTV 4K, 8 rock lights, hood lights, and hatch lights
• Battery 3: Battleborn 100AH LiFePO4 (driver side wing of my Trekboxx Alpha)
  • 75qt Ironman 2-zone frig/freezer, 1000-watt REDARC Pure Sine inverter

So previously (iteration #3) I was using REDARC the Manager30 with the RedVision Prime accessory. On this current iteration #4, I am using the same Manager30, but swapping the RedVision Prime for the RedVision Rogue. Then adding the BCDC1225 for the #2 aux battery (Odyssey Extreme).

Both the RedVision Prime and Rogue products are similar in function, but the Rogue offers a few distinct advantages:

• Physical size. Rouge is probably 1/3rd smaller than the RedVision Prime (it’s about the size of a Nintendo Switch).
• Solid state, no fuses
• Measures two fluid level tanks. It uses resistance (0-90ohm), in my case I have it set up with my 24-gallon LRA aux fuel tank, which also used 0-90 ohm resistance in the OEM 4-LED gauge that it comes with. I will probably use the second fluid gauge in the future for water or propane

Both the REDARC Rogue and the Prime products integrate with the Manager30 providing DC/DC, solar and shore charging.

Use case:

• Primitive camping 1-3 nights with possibility of not turning engine on to charge.
• Lights: scene lights stay on all night (4 in amber)
• Rock lights stay on at night (dusk-bed time)
• Frig stays on at 40-degrees, freezer needs to be at 0-degrees (a lot of ice cream and ice for margaritas)
• Nespresso machine typically is used 2+ times per person (De’longhi Essenza Mini)
• Induction burner for tea kettle/frying pan (NUWAVE Gold Precision 8” induction)
• Crush ice for margaritas (Ninja BN401)
• Always keep a 6 and 9AH Dewalt 20/60v battery charged up for portable fan(s) and chain saw
• LEDs in RRT need on intermittently
• My setup maximizes the 200-series real estate to the fullest extent.
• Setup must be user friendly and use highest quality components on the market

The REDARC RedVision Rogue monitor is absolutely beautiful. The LCD display is easy to read in sunlight, not a touch screen – instead, has physical buttons on the sides which gives me peace of mind it will last longer than a screen with capacitive buttons. Also, with gloved hands, the buttons are just much easier to touch and avoids the screen getting dirty.

If you are away from the vehicle (within Bluetooth range), you can control the Rouge monitor/switch panel with the RedVision iPhone app (yes, it’s not called Rogue, weird)… I found this to be ultra helpful, as I could turn off lights (or anything for that matter) from inside my RTT. A huge bonus as it was muddy outside my first night on the shakedown run.

Having had this installed for about 6-months and three shakedown camping trips to-date; I can’t really think how anything that I would suggest them changing except maybe adding a few more icons for the buttons (i.e. Margarita icon for the inverter, lol).

Full disclosure, I am out of circuits currently, so in the future, I would need to actually daisy chain another Rogue if I want to add any more accessories (which you can do multiple). I would not say it’s a limitation as there is not much I could add to this rig if I wanted to.

This may not be the setup for everyone, but as I have camped over the years, it suits me and my family well.

 

[prharper]

Eric - nice writeup. Thanks for taking the time to document, video and share. We have similar use cases. This is helpful and giving me some ideas for future considerations. BTW - I like the Rigid SRL scene/halo lights. Will have to check those out.

 

[Sandroad]

I didn’t know about the Redarc solar blanket. Interesting info.

 

[cHRNO]

Very nice! Great to see more Redarc cars being assembled!
Question regarding the battery link/start battery wiring. What gauge did you use?
As it tends to be rather long, and is fused with a 5A it ought to be rather thick imho, or am I overthinking it?

 

[Eric Sarjeant]

Very nice! Great to see more Redarc cars being assembled!
Question regarding the battery link/start battery wiring. What gauge did you use?
As it tends to be rather long, and is fused with a 5A it ought to be rather thick imho, or am I overthinking it?

Thanks! We go with 1ga with a 200 amp fuse at the aux battery and at the main battery.

 

[cHRNO]

Thanks! We go with 1ga with a 200 amp fuse at the aux battery and at the main battery.

Thanks for the quick reply! And that cable seems very reasonable, and what I have myself sourced for the task.
I was talking aboutabout the gauge for the wire that goes to and from the button. ( Sorry for not being clear enough.)
In my case it will be roughly 15-20feet as it needs to go to and from the dash button. And being a 5A fuse that give me 12-12AWG?
That seems very thick, and reading what other people have used almost excessive. But I'd rather err on the safe side...

 

[Eric Sarjeant]

Thanks for the quick reply! And that cable seems very reasonable, and what I have myself sourced for the task.
I was talking aboutabout the gauge for the wire that goes to and from the button. ( Sorry for not being clear enough.)
In my case it will be roughly 15-20feet as it needs to go to and from the dash button. And being a 5A fuse that give me 12-12AWG?
That seems very thick, and reading what other people have used almost excessive. But I'd rather err on the safe side...

18ga is what we use. It takes less then a half amp to trip the sbi.

 

[cHRNO]

Great! Thanks for that!

 

[dcs111]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who plans their car accessories around margaritas!