The Enerdrive EN3DC100 is the largest DC-DC charger Enerdrive build - 100A from the alternator and up to 80A from solar, into one house bank, for a maximum output of 1400W. This is not a weekend-tourer charger. It is what you fit when the bank is big enough that a 40A unit would still be in bulk at the end of a driving day.
Both inputs feed one intelligent 4-stage charge sequence (Test, Bulk, Absorption, Float), and output is selectable from 10A to 100A in 10A steps - so the same unit runs flat out on a 180A alternator or gets wound back to protect a smaller one. A fully programmable remote LCD display is included in the box, not sold separately.
Read this before you buy - three things that decide whether this is your charger
1. Your battery bank needs to be large enough. Enerdrive's own recommendation is 500Ah of lead acid or AGM, or more than 200Ah of lithium. Pushing 100A into a bank smaller than that is not a bonus - it is over-charging hardware you paid for. If your bank is 100Ah to 200Ah, a 40A or 50A charger is the right unit.
2. Your alternator needs to be able to supply it. Designed for large 4WDs, utes, trucks, caravans, motorhomes and marine with high-output alternators, 180A and up. Check your vehicle handbook, or talk to us, before ordering.
3. The ignition wire is not optional in practice. The charger needs an 8V signal on the ignition start port - from the alternator D+ or ignition switch (terminal 15) - to switch on automatically with the engine. Without it, the unit will not come on the way you expect. It is the single most common reason one of these appears dead on the bench.
Key features
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100A output from alternator, 80A from MPPT solar, 1400W max output
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Dual DC inputs - alternator and solar into one bank
- Integrated MPPT solar regulator, tracking efficiency greater than 98%
- Output user-selectable 10A to 100A in 10A increments
- 4-stage charging: Test / Bulk / Absorption / Float
- Battery types: Gel, AGM, Flooded, Lithium and Program (equalisation on flooded only)
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Smart-alternator ready - the COM1 port switches the start threshold to a low range for smart alternators or long cable runs
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Lithium BMS revive function - can restart a lithium battery that its own BMS has locked out
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Remote LCD display included - voltage, current, status, error codes
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Fan cooled - holds output in high ambient temperatures
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CANBUS communication
- Protection: reverse battery, short circuit, over charge, over temperature
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5 year warranty plus lifetime Australian technical support
Installation - the numbers your auto electrician will ask for
Straight from Enerdrive's installation manual, so you can price the job properly before the unit arrives.
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Cable and fuse, house battery (CH1): 35 mm sq with a 120A fuse, at 1.5 m cable length
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Cable and fuse, alternator (CH3): 35 mm sq with a 120A fuse, or 50 mm sq with a 150A fuse, at 1.5 m
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Terminal torque: 4 - 5 N.m. Use a torque wrench - too loose causes poor contact and heat, too tight strips the thread
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Fuses go near the batteries, not near the charger
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Mount vertically with the battery terminals facing down. That is what gives it thermal performance and drip-water protection. It can be mounted lying or hanging, but never upside down
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Solar VOC must not exceed 55V. Above that the unit throws a fault - reduce the number of panels in series
- Electrical installation and setup must be done by a qualified auto electrician
Full specifications
Charging output, house battery (CH1)
- Nominal battery voltage: 12V · Charging current: 100A · Max power output: 1400W
- Bulk: 13.8 - 14.8V · Float: 13.0 - 13.8V · Equalise (flooded only): 15.5V
- Recommended bank: 500Ah lead acid / AGM, or over 200Ah lithium
- Reverse current from battery: 600mA unit ON, under 1mA unit OFF
- Minimum battery voltage to start charging: under 8V
Solar input (CH2)
- Input voltage range: 16.5 - 55V · Max input current: 80A · Max input power: 1200W
- Nominal operation: 17.5Vdc for 12V panels in parallel, 35.0Vdc in series
- MPPT tracking efficiency: greater than 98%
Alternator input (CH3)
- Input voltage range: 10.5 - 16V · Max input current: 135A
- Start threshold P2H (no COM1 signal): 12.7 - 13.7V, recovery 12.3V
- Start threshold P2L (COM1 signal connected): 11.5 - 12.7V, recovery 11.3V
- Nominal operation: 13.2V
General
- Efficiency: greater than 90% · Parasitic current: under 500 uA
- Unit dimensions (W x D x H): 356 x 205 x 97 mm · Unit weight: 3.23 kg
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Packed carton: 400 x 250 x 415 mm · Gross shipping weight: 3.7 kg (measured, not estimated)
- Remote display: 100 x 100 mm, 0.4 kg, backlit LED
- Ingress protection: IP32 - cool, dry, well-ventilated mounting only
- Ambient temperature for operation: -20C to 60C · No derating: -20C to 40C
- Storage: -40C to 70C · Humidity: 5 - 95% non-condensing
- Cooling: forced air ventilation
- Ports: RJ12 display, RJ12 battery temperature sensor (optional accessory), CAN, COM1
- SKU: EN3DC100 · Warranty: 5 years
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does my battery bank need to be for a 100A DC-DC charger?
Enerdrive recommend 500Ah of lead acid or AGM, or more than 200Ah of lithium. If your bank is smaller than that, a 40A or 50A charger is the better match - a 100A charger into a small bank is charging hardware you have paid for and cannot use.
What size alternator do I need?
The EN3DC100 is designed for vehicles with high-output alternators of 180A and above - large 4WDs, utes, trucks, caravans, motorhomes and marine. Check your vehicle handbook or ask us before ordering. Drawing 100A through an alternator that cannot supply it will shorten the alternator's life.
Does the ignition wire have to be connected?
Yes, in practice. The ignition start port needs an 8V signal - taken from the alternator D+ or the ignition switch (terminal 15) - for the charger to switch on automatically when the engine starts. It is also required if you set alternator priority. Without it the charger will not behave the way you expect.
Will it work with a smart alternator?
Yes. The COM1 port sets the start threshold. With no signal on COM1 the charger uses the high range (12.7 - 13.7V). Connect an 8 - 17V signal to COM1 and it switches to the low range (11.5 - 12.7V), which is what Enerdrive specify for smart alternators, and also for installations where the charger sits a long way from the alternator.
What cable size and fuse do I need?
At 1.5 m cable length Enerdrive specify 35 mm sq with a 120A fuse on the house battery (CH1), and 35 mm sq with a 120A fuse or 50 mm sq with a 150A fuse on the alternator side (CH3). Solar cable size depends on your array. Fuses must sit near the batteries, not near the charger. Terminal screws torque to 4 - 5 N.m.
Where can I mount it, and which way up?
Mount it vertically with the battery terminals facing downwards - that gives the best thermal performance and drip-water protection. It can be mounted lying or hanging, but never upside down. At IP32 it is not sealed and it is fan cooled, so it needs a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot inside the canopy or cabin. Never the engine bay, and never anywhere it will get wet or dusty.
How many solar panels can I run into it?
Up to 1200W, 80A, with an input range of 16.5 to 55V. The important limit is open-circuit voltage: VOC must never exceed 55V. Panel VOC rises as panels get cold, so size your string with headroom - if you exceed it the charger will fault and you will need to reduce the number of panels in series.
Can it wake up a lithium battery that has shut down?
Yes. It has a start charging function that can reset a lithium battery locked out by its own BMS. The charging program must be set to lithium first. Refer to the Enerdrive manual for the procedure.
Does it drain my battery when the vehicle is parked?
Very little, but it is worth knowing. With the unit switched on it draws 600mA from the house battery. Switched off it draws under 1mA. Enerdrive recommend switching it off when the vehicle is stored for any length of time.
Is the remote display included?
Yes. A fully programmable backlit remote LCD panel is included in the box - 100 x 100mm, showing voltage, current, status and error codes. It connects by RJ12.
Do I need an auto electrician to fit it?
Enerdrive specify that the electrical installation and setup must be carried out by a qualified electrician familiar with the regulations in your country. At 35 - 50 mm sq cable and 120 - 150A fusing, this is not a plug-in accessory.
How big is the box and what does it weigh for shipping?
The carton measures 400 x 250 x 415 mm and weighs 3.7 kg gross. The charger itself is 3.23 kg - the rest is the remote display, leads and packaging. These are measured off the actual box, not estimated, so freight quotes and pickup planning are accurate.
Smaller alternator or a smaller bank? Compare the rest of our Enerdrive 12V range. Adding solar to suit it? See the Enerdrive EN43540 40A MPPT controller.
