DC to DC battery charger - why so expensive ?

[CompoSimmonite]

I'm after a 12 DC to 12v DC battery charger and an surprised at how expensive they are.
Seeing, I suspect, most are made in China do they contain some sort of magic fairy dust ?

 

[bricol]

Just magic electronics (I'm a mechanical engineer - electrics much beyond basic automotive 12V and household 240V is a blackart) to control charging current, voltage, to work with modern batteries and car electrics much better than the old split charge systems.

Depends if you want to wipe out an expensive battery, or a expensive electrics in a modern vehicle I guess

 

[Misterg]

I'm after a 12 DC to 12v DC battery charger and an surprised at how expensive they are.
Seeing, I suspect, most are made in China do they contain some sort of magic fairy dust ?

It takes more than 12V to charge a 12V battery, so electronics is needed to convert the 12V from the first battery to a higher voltage which can then be used to charge the 2nd battery.

 

[tigdlo]

What do you think is expensive? victron prices range from about £100 to £1000 depending what it needs to do.

 

[Ubique]

MHEV's have DC-DC converters, they're circa £600-900 depending upon marque and current rating - and quite a 'popular' repair too. They're usually nominal 12V to 48V LI-ion and won't function 'unmanaged' - i.e. without having a data connection to various other modules.