[Guide] DC-DC Charger (for leisure battery) -- How I Done It --

[Garny999]

Question @Dellmassive may be able to answer. Currently sat in van testing my install of Victron eqpt and noticed as I use the eberspacher, it obviously drains the Lithium leisure battery. Currently showing 13.2v. However, I have just had the ignition on ( not started the engine ) and the battery seems to be charging. Is that right??. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Dellmassive]

Question @Dellmassive may be able to answer. Currently sat in van testing my install of Victron eqpt and noticed as I use the eberspacher, it obviously drains the Lithium leisure battery. Currently showing 13.2v. However, I have just had the ignition on ( not started the engine ) and the battery seems to be charging. Is that right??. Many thanks in advance.

What kit/setup have you got?

some DC-DC chargers when on Auto VSR mode (from solar or EHU charge) will continue to run for a while until the starter battery voltage drops below say 12.6v.

so did you just have the engine running.?

or have solar charging?

or have EHU running?

 

[Garny999]

What kit/setup have you got?

some DC-DC chargers when on Auto VSR mode (from solar or EHU charge) will continue to run for a while until the starter battery voltage drops below say 12.6v.

so did you just have the engine running.?

or have solar charging?

or have EHU running?

Thanks @Dellmassive . So I have a Victron Orion 30a, Victron MPPT 30a but not connected to panel yet, and a Victron 30a mains charger not plugged in although they are all connected together. I was playing music through the head unit and needed the ignition on to recognise my bluetooth. This is when i noticed a rise in voltage. BM3 and my USB with voltage meter both showed the voltage creeping up ??. I didnt have the engine running but I did notice that the starter battery became low. I will give it another test today, thanks for the help again

 

[Loz]

So from your description. You have the Orion Controlled by an ignition feed instead of engine run? The orion has an input range right down to 8v so could easily run the start battery flat in that scenario.

 

[Flyingspanner]

If it is a standard radio, you can turn the radio on for 60 mins by pushing the knob on the radio without needing to turn the ignition on. May help you not need a jump start in the middle of nowhere sometime.

 

[Garny999]

So from your description. You have the Orion Controlled by an ignition feed instead of engine run? The orion has an input range right down to 8v so could easily run the start battery flat in that scenario.

Yes @Loz I have connected the Orion to Ignition live. Is that incorrect or do I just make sure I dont have ignition on for long periods?. Thanks for your help.

 

[Garny999]

If it is a standard radio, you can turn the radio on for 60 mins by pushing the knob on the radio without needing to turn the ignition on. May help you not need a jump start in the middle of nowhere sometime.

Thanks @Flyingspanner. Yes...thats what I was doing with the radio but i needed ignition on for a short while to connect bluetooth and thats when I noticed the volt rise.

 

[Loz]

Yes @Loz I have connected the Orion to Ignition live. Is that incorrect or do I just make sure I don't have the ignition on for long periods?. Thanks for your help.

The factory fit split charge relay has a control feed from the BCU that is only live with the engine running and supports start-stop. Maybe you can find that feed instead?

 

[Flyingspanner]

The 100 relay under the seat is the one you need to tap into for that.

 

[Loz]

Many thanks @Loz and @Flyingspanner for your support. I will look into tapping elsewhere. It is a T6.1 so may be different but will have a look. Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

Still a black cable, but on the 6.1 it's fed from the special vehicle control unit. The relay looks the same so if you have it you can go there.



This diagramme and others for the T6.1 are in the downloads section.

Downloads

www.t6forum.com

 

[Flyingspanner]

Ah 6.1, I can look the diagram up if you pm the VIN
Scrub that, just seen the other post with the diags

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

Chaps, sorry to step but just for my interest. The Orion manual has a description of operation at the front that says:

"The Orion Smart DC-DC charger can be set up to only provide power when the engine is running. This is possible thanks to the built-in engine shutdown detection. This also prevents the onboard voltage of the vehicle from becoming too low. It is not necessary to intervene in the system of the vehicle, to install a separate motor run sensor or to intervene in the CAN-bus system. Apart from this detection, the Orion Smart DC-DC charger can also be activated by a forced allowed to charge feature, e.g. connected to the ignition switch."

From this I would expect the starter battery to be protected from low voltage by the Orion even without an ignition or engine run feed.
I can believe that if the starter battery was at a healthy voltage the unit may still charge the leisure battery for a period after engine off.
As I say I am just interested as I have the Renogy DC-DC unit on a T6 with a straightforward ignition on switch feed.

 

[Dellmassive]

Thanks @Dellmassive . So I have a Victron Orion 30a, Victron MPPT 30a but not connected to panel yet, and a Victron 30a mains charger not plugged in although they are all connected together. I was playing music through the head unit and needed the ignition on to recognise my bluetooth. This is when i noticed a rise in voltage. BM3 and my USB with voltage meter both showed the voltage creeping up ??. I didnt have the engine running but I did notice that the starter battery became low. I will give it another test today, thanks for the help again

Id agree with @Loz,

On my Van the feed is from the BCM Run as detailed above. (and not the ignition feed) and its connected to the H-Pin. ( @Loz has detailed "BCM RUN" the location for you above)

You could try just removing the ignition input in to the Orion and let it run in "auto mode" for a while to see the difference . .

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-Orion-Tr-Smart-Charger-Isolated-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE-IT-.pdf

Victron Orion 12/12/30 input range is from 10v up . .




...


make sure your IGN input is on the H-Pin . . . (for remote on/off)



.

Charge statagy . .



.





so maybe for now just try the default "Auto Mode" and disconnect the IGN feed.

.

 

[Flyingspanner]

T6.1 Relay J7 position if you aren’t feeling lazy

 

[Dellmassive]

T6.1 Relay J7 position if you aren’t feeling lazy

View attachment 68713

View attachment 68714

If fitted from OEM / Factory.

ie - did you spec the Aux/Leisure battery from Factory?

 

[Garny999]

Thanks a lot everyone. I didnt spec aux battery on mine. As @Dellmassive suggests, I might try the auto route and see how it behaves. Just a bit confused about the tapping relay thing but will have a look into it.

 

[Flyingspanner]

@Garny999, I thought you had the factory aux battery, in which case all my info can be disregarded.

 

[Dellmassive]

@Garny999 keep us posted with how your Victron Orion 12/12/30 does in auto mode,


any BM2, BM3 readouts . . .?

 

[Garny999]

@Garny999 keep us posted with how your Victron Orion 12/12/30 does in auto mode,


any BM2, BM3 readouts . . .?

I certainly will @Dellmassive .I have the Quicklynks BM2 and if you remember, I was having issues with the battery monitor not displaying the percentage soc and shows charging all the time.(Lithium battery of course).
However, I have BM3 software and the percentage now appears, although it doesnt appear to move from 100% and still shows charging all the time. I will get a screenshot shortly. It made me think the Quiklynks was a waste of time but.......I now like that I can tell exactly when the battery has been used, what time it was used and when it started to charge by the vehicle running. The graph view is great.

 

[Garny999]

As you can see below...100% charging with everything off. The graph shows that I have just been for a drive and has been charging.