Hookup And Consumer Unit Under The Bonnet

[Jimm]

I’m looking at doing this with a Victron BlueSmart 15A charger under the bonnet and running the 12v charger leads through to the battery under the drivers seat. I’m adding the victron inline fuse at the battery end but what about protection of the cable running through the cab and bonnet? Does the charger have a fuse that would protect against shorts here or should I cut the charger +ve lead under the bonnet and fit an inline fuse? Or am I over-thinking it?! Thanks

 

[Deaky]

The charger can only supply 15a. The charger will have an internal fuse I’d of thought, the worry is current going the other way from the leisure battery which is why you need a fuse close to the LB to protect the cable

 

[Dellmassive]

not sure in the internal fuse as they are IP65 sealed units . . (im trying to find a PCB picture - but cant find any yet)

but the spec sheet states that the IP65 smart range are all:

Protection - Reverse polarity, Output short circuit, Over temperature












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https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/IP65_A4_2022_smart_230V_web.pdf

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Blue Smart IP65 Charger (120V and 230V) - Victron Energy

The Blue Smart IP65 Charger is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. Find a Victron Energy dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

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[Jimm]

The charger can only supply 15a. The charger will have an internal fuse I’d of thought, the worry is current going the other way from the leisure battery which is why you need a fuse close to the LB to protect the cable

Thanks Deaky yeah totally agree, so I bought the extra ‘fuse to ring terminal’ part with the charger. Just wondered if the short was between the charger and that fuse, (under the cab floor for instance) when you are on EHU, would it cut out. Sounds like it might as it has ‘output short circuit’. Cheers

not sure in the internal fuse as they are IP65 sealed units . . (im trying to find a PCB picture - but cant find any yet)

but the spec sheet states that the IP65 smart range are all:

Protection - Reverse polarity, Output short circuit, Over temperature


View attachment 150567




View attachment 150568




.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/IP65_A4_2022_smart_230V_web.pdf

+

Blue Smart IP65 Charger (120V and 230V) - Victron Energy

The Blue Smart IP65 Charger is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. Find a Victron Energy dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

.

not sure in the internal fuse as they are IP65 sealed units . . (im trying to find a PCB picture - but cant find any yet)

but the spec sheet states that the IP65 smart range are all:

Protection - Reverse polarity, Output short circuit, Over temperature


View attachment 150567




View attachment 150568




.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/IP65_A4_2022_smart_230V_web.pdf

+

Blue Smart IP65 Charger (120V and 230V) - Victron Energy

The Blue Smart IP65 Charger is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. Find a Victron Energy dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

.

Thanks, I’d missed that bit on the spec about output protection. I might get in touch with them just to find out what that actually means/how it’s protected.
Thanks

 

[Bzp]

RCBOs 'compare' the current in the PHASE current against the NEUTRAL current, if they are equal, all is well, if they are not equal, some is 'leaking' (hopefully not through a person!) and the device trips. There's no need for an earth connection. In 30 years of electrical engineering, I've never seen any type of ELCB with an earth connection.

Incoming EHU earth must connect firmly to a clean chassis point, I think it's supposed to be the only connection at that point (i.e. no other van wiring there). Facebook will be full of people raging about the pros and cons of making this connection, but T6Forum will be unanimous in this (I think!). So get over your feelings and connect it! If there's a ground fault in the van, and the tyres are dry, you don't want to be the human current path to earth!

I would assume that the RCBO blue wire is there to allow it to fit in domestic Consumer Units, a standard busbar will connect all of the MCB/RCBO Line 1 (or live in) terminals together, and then the blue wire will reach to the standard neutral block.

Hi do you know which earthing point you used under the bonnet? Thanks

 

[Rifc38]

I am in the process of doing the same style install in my t5.1 I intend to mount the ehu socket and rcbo with rcbo enclosed between the battery and headlight. And relocate the split charger to make space. I have te victron 15a smart charger to for the leisure battery. But after a few hours of head scratching I've decided to mount that unde the scuttle . And use ot to charge the starter battery. Conveniently this then activates the split charger relay and also charges the leisure battery. I will have to source a ip rated single socket or cut the plug off the charger to make this work. As I'm only running one double socket and charger off the ehu I was considering a 13a rod spur instead of rcbo and enclosure to save space. Not sure what you guys think about my cunning plan?