The Smart Start® SBI LED indicates battery status, fault conditions, and may remain on after shutdown until voltage drops; it is spike-protected, can be customised at manufacture, and supports loads, winching, and positive chassis vehicles.
Fault codes include 2 flashes for over-voltage and 3 flashes for voltage drop or excessive current draw, with the unit disconnecting to protect itself until the issue clears.
REDARC recommends seeking the support of a qualified auto electrician or technician.
Important
For your safety, REDARC recommends installation by a qualified auto electrician or technician. Our trusted REDNetwork is made up of professional auto electrical businesses certified by REDARC to install the complete of REDARC solutions. Find Your Local Installer
FAQs
Why does the LED stay on after the vehicle is turned off?
The LED stays on (indicating the Smart Start® is On and the batteries are linked) until the voltage drops to 12.7 V (25.4 V for SBI24). This can take a few minutes to many hours, depending on size and state of charge of the batteries as well as load on the batteries. To test this feature of the Smart Start®, make sure the engine is turned off, then turn the headlights On. The Smart Start® LED should turn Off; this may take a couple of minutes.
Is the unit protected against voltage spikes?
Yes, the Smart Start® SBI incorporates a number of spike protection components specifically designed to reduce the risk of damaging the unit. The Smart Start® SBI is also designed to prevent any spikes generated by the solenoid coil from affecting any vehicle equipment.
What does the red LED indicate?
The red LED indicates the solenoid is activated and both batteries are connected together and therefore are both being charged simultaneously. A flashing red LED during operation indicates a fault.
We are experiencing repetitive switching of our Smart Start® SBI. What could be causing this?
This can occur for one of two reasons. Firstly, switching a poorly charged second battery into the system loads the voltage at the Smart Start® SBI to below its lower voltage limit, which will cause the Smart Start® SBI to switch back off.
Secondly, voltage drop due to cable length (Smart Start® SBI mounted too far from start battery) can cause the voltage at the start terminal on the Smart Start® SBI to be lower than at the start battery, which can also cause the unit to switch off. Voltage seen by the Smart Start® SBI will now rise again until the Smart Start® SBI switches back on. This switching will continue until the cause of voltage drop is removed. On and Off Time delays are built into the product to avoid the solenoid contacts chattering in this scenario.
Does the internal LED illuminate when I use the external override switch?
Yes.
Can the voltage limits and time delay settings be changed?
Yes. Both upper and lower voltage limits & on and off times can be changed. However, this needs to be done at the time of manufacture and will incur a relatively minor cost.
Can I use the Smart Start® SBI to control a load (e.g. fridge) without using an auxiliary battery?
Yes. The voltage monitoring is done on the start battery side of the unit. If a load is connected on the auxiliary side instead of a battery, the unit will still operate when the start battery is charged, providing power to your load.
Can I use my Smart Start® SBI to winch off both batteries?
Yes. We recommend that the Smart Start® SBI be wired so it automatically connects both batteries when the winch is turned on, through use of the Start Assist feature on the override wire. We also recommend the use of our 200 A Smart Start® SBI for this application.
Can I use the Smart Start® SBI on a positive chassis vehicle?
Yes. Please contact REDARC for further information.
Fault Codes
NOTE: The LED may stay ON for a period after the vehicle is turned OFF. This is NOT a fault. Should a fault occur, the Smart Start® SBI is set to notify the operator of the fault. The LED will flash repeatedly with the following sequences:
CODE 1: 2 Flashes - Over-Voltage
If the batteries connected to either terminal of the Smart Start® SBI should rise above 15.5V (31V on a 24V system), the Smart Start® SBI will do the following:
- Disconnect, if connected. This is to prevent the source of over-voltage reaching the other battery.
- Flash the LED 2 times for 20 seconds, then reassess the fault condition, continuing until the fault is cleared.
CODE 2: 3 Flashes - Voltage Drop or Excessive Current Draw Fault
If the Smart Start® SBI detects a voltage drop across its contacts of greater than 1V for more than 30 seconds, then the unit will:
- Immediately protect itself by disconnecting the auxiliary battery; and
- Flash the LED 3 times for 20 seconds, then reassess the presence of a fault, continuing until the fault is cleared