check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar rearview170 Beam Communications SatPhone Shop Topargee products Enginesaver Low Water Alarms
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Techies' Corner -> Victron Energy set up Q's
Post Info TOPIC: Victron Energy set up Q's
Paul and Pam on Tour


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 43
Date:
Victron Energy set up Q's
Permalink  

G'day Dudes, dudesses.

A coupla quick questions: My Victron 30 amp DC to DC charger user manual show's two types of set-up...Convertor mode and Charger mode.

Being a Dummy I am having some difficulty understanding the difference, or what the convertor mode does. The set-up procedures for the two are identical except that in the Convertor Mode the final step is to connect to the load, in the Charger Mode the final step is to connect to the aux battery.

I don't understand why convertor mode connects to a load...'load' I understand might be a portable fridge/freezer or similar, why would you not simply connect directly from the tow vehicle battery via an isolator to prevent the starter battery dropping too far...what exactly does the Victron DC 2 DC do in this instance?

Also, if my Victron DC to DC charger is connected to my caravan lithium battery as per the user manual instructions can I also connect a 100w portable solar panel to the input positive terminal either directly or via a solar regulator?

Thanks

Paul



__________________

Paul and Pam on Tour
dorian


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4180
Date:
Permalink  

I have some observations, but they relate to a different device. Can you provide a link to the user manual?

__________________

"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."

Lucius Cornelius Sulla - died 78 BC 

 
TimTim


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 555
Date:
Permalink  

Paul and Pam on Tour wrote:

G'day Dudes, dudesses.

A coupla quick questions: My Victron 30 amp DC to DC charger user manual show's two types of set-up...Convertor mode and Charger mode.

Being a Dummy I am having some difficulty understanding the difference, or what the convertor mode does. The set-up procedures for the two are identical except that in the Convertor Mode the final step is to connect to the load, in the Charger Mode the final step is to connect to the aux battery.

I don't understand why convertor mode connects to a load...'load' I understand might be a portable fridge/freezer or similar, why would you not simply connect directly from the tow vehicle battery via an isolator to prevent the starter battery dropping too far...what exactly does the Victron DC 2 DC do in this instance?

Also, if my Victron DC to DC charger is connected to my caravan lithium battery as per the user manual instructions can I also connect a 100w portable solar panel to the input positive terminal either directly or via a solar regulator?

Thanks

Paul

 Hi Paul,

We all have different knowledge in different fields and the point of these forums are to help each other.  

The converter mode is to provide a constant voltage to an appliance but yes you can just connect to your battery set it on charger mode and then run any appliance off your auxiliary battery.

 

Switched-mode converters are DC/DC converters, dedicated to the supply of DC loads with a regulated output voltage and protections against overcurrents and short circuits.

 

No you cannot connect your solar directly to the DC to DC charger input. The input voltage is 8V-17V and your solar panel will produce more than this. You need to use a solar charger and connect it directly to your battery so that it can determine the battery voltage.  Again do not connect the solar charger to the DC/DC charger input.

Good luck

Tim

 



__________________
Paul and Pam on Tour


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 43
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks Tim...good info supplied there.

Guru...a link to the Victron Set-up.
www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Orion-Tr_Smart_DC-DC_Charger_-_Non-Isolated/en/victronconnect---orion-smart-dc-dc-charger.html


Paul.

__________________

Paul and Pam on Tour
Are We Lost


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1231
Date:
Permalink  

Paul and Pam on Tour wrote:

Guru...a link to the Victron Set-up.

 Guru is the classification given to members based on the number of posts. Tim Tim and Dorian and myself are all considered Gurus according to this site. Even the Webmaster is a Guru.



__________________
dorian


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4180
Date:
Permalink  

I can't understand why you would ever select power supply mode when a house battery is connected to the output. Does the device have a battery sensing feature that prevents this from happening?

__________________

"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."

Lucius Cornelius Sulla - died 78 BC 

 
TimTim


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 555
Date:
Permalink  

My pleasure.

I should add, just so not to confuse people, some DC to DC chargers do have a solar input whereas Victron have decided not to design them this way.   There are many other manufacturers that produce them without solar input.  Then of course they are less expensive than those with it.

If you have LiFePO4 batteries then having seperate components can be an advantage as they can be charged with higher currents.  So in effect you can charge with a high amp DC to DC charger as you drive along and at the same time a high amp solar controller.  We are all different in our camping styles, travelling styles and power usage so there are very few systems that are the same.  Some travellers may not need that much charging power.

Safe travels

Tim

 

 

 



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> Techies' Corner -> Victron Energy set up Q's
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook