BCDC Common Ground Wiring Guide

Want to know how to wire a BCDC to common ground?

When installing a REDARC BCDC In-Vehicle Charger, it is necessary that the entire electrical system shares a common ground (also referred to as the common earth or common negative). A common ground connection means that the negative of all batteries and electrical components must be shared.

For example, when installing a BCDC In-Vehicle Charger and auxiliary battery into a vehicle, we use the wiring diagram below. Note that all component negative connections are to the same point - indicated by the ground connection icon  – depending on the vehicle, this can either be the chassis/body ground or the vehicle battery negative (Some modern vehicles with “Smart Alternators” monitor the current to and from the vehicle battery, meaning that a ground connection cannot be connected to the vehicle battery negative directly).

Another common installation is to have the BCDC In-Vehicle Charger charging a battery system that can be disconnected from the vehicle – for example, using an Anderson connector. This battery system may be as simple as a self-contained power box with some charging sockets or it can be the battery system in a removable canopy, camper trailer, or caravan.

When installing the BCDC, it is important to ensure the charger is mounted as close as possible to the battery being charged. For this reason, the BCDC is often mounted directly to the self-contained box, or will need to be mounted in the canopy, camper trailer, or caravan when used to charge a battery in any of these locations.

When using an Anderson connector to connect the vehicle input to the BCDC charger, the wiring diagram below displays the changes required so that all components in the system still share a common ground.