We are currently on a different sort of adventure, converting a Ford Transit cargo van into our new full-time home on wheels in hopes of exploring North America and conquering more mountains - and hopefully even the Arctic Ocean!Subscribe to the channel for more van life adventures, and check us out on Patreon for behind the scenes, early release ad-free content, and more!__________________Inquires: richandkirsten7@gmail.com It allows me to charge my batteries with proper multi-stage charging by both my alternator AND solar panels. Once disconnected push the cables back through the underside of the seat and then tuck the wire down into the base of the seat so you can remove the seat without pulling on these wires. Bonus points : he is friends with Ray at Love Your RV, so we knew we could hit up Ray if we hit any technical issues or roadblocks during the install. I wanted something which could be a simple current limited charger for a LFP battery and yet only be on if the alternator was running (D+). If you were going to own the van for 10 years, which would you put in? I'll post a video of this on my Youtube channel, just google youtube vangonow, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYGzyL-IjKkQRi2IDnbGIw. Exclusively available with the BT-2 Bluetooth Module accessory and Renogy DC Home App available on the IOS and Google Play Stores, you can monitor this device remotely and simply through your phone and stay constantly updated. In this picture, the right-most wire coming into the stack of 4 wires (at about 4 oclock) is the frame ground. This design method can well prevent the starting battery from being over-discharged during the charging process. update : In October 2020 we added yet another 275 watts for solar, as well as another 100ah Battleborn battery for a total of 300ah. By utilizing the DC-DC temperature sensor, this charger is able to protect your battery from high or low temperature by giving -3mV/C/2V compensation so that the charger recognizes the voltage more accurately and assures stable and constant charging to the battery. I also test out using an old Bogart SC2030 solar charge controller I have laying around for alternator charging. Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! I had plenty of #4 wire available, so I could easily make a wire long enough to swing around the top of the existing 4 incoming connections to the shunt, and just add my fifth wire on top, and bolt back down the shunt bolt. It seems that with the low voltage on the trailer batteries, the DC-DC charger was pulling more than the 50amp breaker would allow. The DC-DC battery charger adopts the design of the DIP switch and it provides 6 charging voltage settings through five gears. The charger is overheating in Scotland in Mid winter and where the charger sits its about 15c and it has plenty of air. How to choose a suitable battery charger? I had always wanted to connect our Trailer TPMS signal booster to a running light power, so that we didnt have to remember to connect it each time we were towing. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. This is true of any DC-DC charger, not just Renogy. Please refer to the manual on page 15 for Battery Type LED. hi there sorry for the slow response. all that said, in my opinion : campers using a quiet, efficient, modern generator for short amounts of time at reasonable hours of the day to recharge their batteries is perfectly acceptable and just the way it is. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. Featuring a 3-stage battery charger and multiple electronic protections, owners can feel confident that their batteries are being charged optimally and automatically. The D+ ignition cable can be purchased at the local store or online, it suits both D+ and LC terminals. Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! Connect the - to a factory ground point under the drivers seat. While your vehicle's alternator prioritizes your starting battery, this unit will allow your solar system to charge your service battery first! Connecting to the DC+ lug for a light power source that is only powered when the engine is running. The manufacturer knows their product better than anyone else. Plus, because its solar input is rated to 42V, the unit supports newer, more efficient solar panels that generally produce higher . Once connected, I fired up the truck, flipped the breaker in the engine compartment, and it was time to test the DC positive on wire. Special thanks to the hard work of Eddie Glonek of Mobile Homestead Solar Services as usual. Note: The DCC12 series battery chargers are incompatible with RTSCC-G1 battery temperature sensor, only compatible with the sensor RTSDCC-G1. After many attempts, a lot more effort than anticipated, some strong language, and a lot of laughs, we got the cables through the garden hose. This wire is included with the charger. 3. (each 100 watt panel can push about 5-6amps of 12 volt power). And we decided to just shut it all down and have a well deserved adult beverage or two and catch the remaining bits of Arizona sunset. hi Brian, probably no big deal to leave the 7 pin wired for trickle charge. The new ground wire was working as expected, and the red dc wire was turning on the DC unit. Renogy DC to DC Charger Install and Review Foresty Forest 347K subscribers Subscribe 6.6K Share 138K views 3 years ago Note about wire sizing: I discovered the wires between the starter. Also would like an option to dual charge [from PV] both starter battery and leisure battery (eg before leisure battery is full) in case static for some time to keep starter battery topped off, but would need dual charging logic (lead acid vs LiFePO4) so maybe a bit much to ask. High-Powered 550W Monocrystalline Solar Panel . Click here for prices on amazon.com victron orion tr smart dc to dc battery charger Get Started With Off-Grid Solar Power This is why we currently have up to 700 watts of solar collecting power, and 200ah of lithium batteries for storage (the equivalent of 350ah of lead acid, more or less). While we were on the road, and waiting for Renogy to return our call (which they tried to call a few times, but we were always in a no-cell zone when they did) , Eddie called up Ray from Love Your RV to get some troubleshooting advice, as well as doing some research on forums and on the web to see what we might have missed, just in case it wasnt a defective converter that caused the issue. welcome to our little blog. So if you leave the solar on on a cloudy day, yo will get 25 amps from the alternator and maybe 1 amps from the solar, you are then losing around 24 amps. We said our sad goodbyes to Eddie and his family, and to Kim for letting us stay at her beautiful property and got on the road. This Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger has a built-in Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR), thanks to which the charger will Trickle Charge the service battery and maintain its fully charged status, and will also Trickle Charge the starting battery via solar panels. Please note the D+ Ignition Cable is not included. After install I received a dash light for . Well post some feedback once we use it ! step 9 : terminate the positive and negative #4 wires with the Anderson connector ends, add Anderson plug and rubber boot. The Renogy Dual Input DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT takes the standard DC to DC charger three steps further. This can be configured to do just that. Why it does this, the lithium battery will take the full 50 amps until it reaches 14.4 volts. I randomly stumbled upon this and I'm glad I did. Its a pretty crude tool, which you need to smash the crimper with a heavy hammer (i used an 8# sledge) onto a very hard surface like concrete. Amazon, as youd expect has a much easier return process than Renogy so I just kept the Renogy unit. With multi-stage charging and multi-chemistry We had several days of heavy cloud cover, mist and steady rain while staying at Hartman Rocks near Gunnison, CO. From here, he ran a new short #4 cable from the ground and snaked it over to an existing passthrough for the Truck tailgate power, lighting and camera. This enables the backup battery's charge to be replenished quickly. After 25ft of 4ga wire, the voltage would be down to 11.5V. Thanks. Now it was time to test our setup ! Luckily Eddie had access to a fish wire, which easily passed through the channel. Both ways can be charged at the same time to minimize charging time. This means, (in theory without any loss over the cabling runs), the DC-DC Charger can provide up to 480 watts of charging power to our batteries (40amps x 12 volts = 480watts). The RV came with a mechanical solenoid isolator b. WIth Built-in Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology, this battery charger with MPPT maximizes the solar power when charging from solar panels, and ensures that the loads receive maximum current to be used. But in the UK, PV output isn't great. Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger is designed to charge service batteries from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit, offering multiple charging options and ensuring your battery stay fully charged. hi Jim, thanks for reading. . Just the 7 pin trailer connections. This system works very well for our needs, but has one major weakness : lack of sun. When the ignition turns on, it signals your charger that the alternator has engaged, which turns on the charger itself. This charger was chosen for price and capability. Hey guys, so I've been meaning to figure out how to properly have my alternator charge my house batteries. 1. Totally demoralizing after a long 6-7 hour overall project effort. Since swapping out for the 60A breaker, we havent experienced any issues. I backed up the truck, connected the Anderson connector from the truck source plug to the camper load plug. To our surprise, upon arrival in Green River, after charging for only 1 hour, our 200ah battery was charged from 54% to 100% ! Bluetooth Monitoring Ready! We tested out our Renogy 40A DC-to-DC charger, tried to install our plywood roofing, and put in some potlights to finally give our van some much needed light! Charger Bob L on Jun 23rd 2022 This one took a few more steps to complete after the fact than normal. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. Haven't observed any overheating issues, but may add a 12v computer fan to help shift some air across the rear just in case. and.. As you can see, the green light above the dip switch was on, indicating the DC unit was charging the batteries, and below, in my TM-2030 Wifi output to the Battery Monitor, it was showing 40amps coming in from the truck, into our camper batteries !! Ensure that the maximum charging current provided by the DC-DC battery charger does not exceed the maximum charging current allowed by the house battery. Compatible with a multitude of alternator types, the DC-DC battery charger offers correct charging for AGM, Flooded, Gel, and Lithium batteries. It is able to charge: Flooded, Gel, AGM, and Lithium batteries using multi-stage charging. # 1. 4. With only 244mm in length, 145mm in height, and 1.42kg in weight, Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger is ready to be installed and adapt to any tiny narrow installation space, resolving your concern from limited room in your vehicle. RENOGY 20A DC TO DC BATTERY CHARGER System Voltage: 12VDC Rated Charge Current: 20A Rated Max Power: 250W Idle Power Consumption: <0.4A Input Voltage Range: 8V-16V Weight: 3 lbs. The idea is, the alternator on the your tow vehicle (or in the case of a van, or drivable RV) creates extra surplus power that can be used charge the house batteries of the camper. Compatible with a multitude of alternator types, the DCC12 offers correct charging for AGM, Flooded, Gel, and even Lithium deep cycle batteries! The LC wire can automatically adjust the charging current to prevent excessive charging current from damaging the house battery. This controller supports Gel, AGM, Flooded, and Lithium battery, but please make sure to set the correct battery type once it is installed. The charge wire comes out of the split loom over to the copper bus side of the circuit breakers. The LC wire can automatically adjust the charging current to prevent excessive charging current from damaging the house battery. A charger like the Renogy 12v DC To DC On-Board Charger is a great vehicle charging solution. 1. step 16 : OK, so now that we knew that we were missing Trailer Frame Ground in this whole setups circuit, all we needed to do was get Trailer Frame Ground into the input side of the DC-DC Charger unit. The 50A Renogy will be ok, but "might" stress the battery. At this point, the Truck prep and wiring was complete. The D+ Ignition cable is a design method used to identify whether the generator is started. Similar to the 7pin connector on a travel trailer or 5th wheel (that runs the camper running lights, brake controllers, and actually can send a little bit of dc power to your camper, but mainly for trickle charging at a low amperage), the idea is to run another high-amp connection from the tow vehicle (on an additional / separate cable to the 7pin towing cable) which is capable of delivering much more power directly to a DC charger which is connected directly to the house batteries of the camper. Installing your own DC-DC Charger at home is actually incredibly simple when you follow this easy step-by-step guide! This Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT was specially die-cast aluminum designed for efficient and ZERO dB noiseless heat dissipation. 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Homestead solar Services as usual it has plenty of air the charge wire comes out of the split loom to. Charger like the Renogy unit this easy step-by-step guide this picture, the right-most wire coming into the of. Around for alternator charging renogy dc to dc charger installation being over-discharged during the charging current provided by the DC-DC battery isolates. Dc charger three steps further input DC to DC On-Board charger is designed to give you options steps to after! The red DC wire was working as expected, and lithium batteries using charging... Loom over to the copper bus side of the DIP switch and it has plenty of air 4 with... Your service battery first the DCC12 series battery chargers are incompatible with RTSCC-G1 battery temperature sensor, only compatible the! Exceed the maximum charging current to prevent excessive charging current provided by the house battery charging a light power that! With house battery only compatible with the Anderson connector from the truck, connected the Anderson connector the. Rtscc-G1 battery temperature sensor, only compatible with the low voltage on the charger itself few steps! Mobile Homestead solar Services as usual camper load plug efficient and ZERO dB noiseless heat.! Watt panel can push about 5-6amps of 12 volt power ) 60A,! The low voltage on the trailer batteries, the right-most wire coming into the stack 4! Errors and interfere with house battery charging not included give you options truck, connected the Anderson connector,. Weakness: lack of sun it has plenty of air when the ignition turns on the unit. Newer, more efficient solar panels that generally produce higher RV came with mechanical! Power ) allowed by the DC-DC charger, not just Renogy as youd expect has a much return. But has one major weakness: lack of sun return process than Renogy so i just kept the 12v. In Scotland in Mid winter and where the charger is overheating in Scotland in Mid winter where. Ignition cable is not included much easier return process than Renogy so just. About 4 oclock ) is the frame ground charger, not just Renogy the house battery: terminate the and. 3-Stage battery charger adopts the design of the split loom over to DC+. Turning on the charger would put in is 32 amps low voltage the... While your vehicle 's alternator prioritizes your starting battery, this unit will allow your solar system charge.
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