Victron DC to DC charger - draining starter battery ?

[andyjturner]

Hi all..

Hope someone may be able to shed some light on this one.

So I am using an Victron 12-12-18a isolated DC to DC charger.

This is how I have wired it :

- Positive from starter battery to input positive on Victron
- Negative from earth point under seat to negative input on Victron
- Positive output of Victron to positive of leisure battery
- Negative output of Victron to negative of leisure battery

Then from the leisure battery :

- Positive to the positive of a 12 way 12v distribution board
- Negative from rear earth stud (drivers side rear quarter) to negative of 12 way 12v distribution board

The issue :

- When on a camp site for 2 or 3 days on mains hook up (there is a battery charger under the seat, charging the leisure battery), the starter battery is losing voltage to the point where I can't start the van ??


Is this being caused by the DC to DC wiring / vsr or maybe something else.

Your help would be much appreciated - I am completely lost !

Thanks,

Andy....

 

[Dellmassive]

The starter isnt being charged in any way . . . Every time you open the door etc or run the lights the starter is draining.

Im assuming the EHU doesnt have a charger? . . Maybe a 12v PSU on the leisure side?

Try moving the EHU charger over to the starter side.... then that will be charheged via the EHU.

The orion dc_dc will then kick in when the starter is charger and top up the leisure battery.

 

[Dellmassive]

or try fitting a revers charger . . that will charge the starter from the leisure . .

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It -- Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020) The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks. The cold weather doesn't help the battery's...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

or . . just add a second charger to the starter side thats fed from the EHU . .

more on that here:

Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

Battery Chargers - How I Did It - So its that time of year again, cold, rainy. . . . . . . flat battery =[ This time we look at Battery Chargers. Our vans will most likely come with a AGM style starter battery, for this type of battery we need a "Smart Charger" . . . . but what does this...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

short cut --->

easiest way is to just fit one of these . .

AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

rover.ebay.com

 

[Dellmassive]

post some pics of your setup . . .

 

[andyjturner]

The starter isnt being charged in any way . . . Every time you open the door etc or run the lights the starter is draining.

Im assuming the EHU doesnt have a charger? . . Maybe a 12v PSU on the leisure side?

Try moving the EHU charger over to the starter side.... then that will be charheged via the EHU.

The orion dc_dc will then kick in when the starter is charger and top up the leisure battery.

Dell,

Very much appreciated for all the comments so quickly....

No PSU on the leisure side

I will answer others below....

 

[andyjturner]

post some pics of your setup . . .

This is the under seat setup

 

[andyjturner]

or . . just add a second charger to the starter side thats fed from the EHU . .

more on that here:

Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

Battery Chargers - How I Did It - So its that time of year again, cold, rainy. . . . . . . flat battery =[ This time we look at Battery Chargers. Our vans will most likely come with a AGM style starter battery, for this type of battery we need a "Smart Charger" . . . . but what does this...

www.t6forum.com

.

Ill have a good read up on this - thanks again...

 

[Dellmassive]

more good stuff here:


**************************************************
Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread
**************************************************

 

[Pete C]

2 or 3 days of moving around the van should not kill the starter battery, unless you have something else powered by it.

How old is the battery ?

Pete

 

[Dellmassive]

Good call on the condition of the starter battery @Pete C

I didnt ask the age of the van either..... Doh.

There could still be some MOL batteries out there.

 

[andyjturner]

2 or 3 days of moving around the van should not kill the starter battery, unless you have something else powered by it.

How old is the battery ?

Pete

Thanks Pete,

2019 plate T6 - original battery

Could the Victron be defective ? - is there any way that the 12v leisure system can use the starter battery power if the leisure battery is not on hook up ?

 

[Dellmassive]

Could the Victron be defective ?

- very unlikely.

is there any way that the 12v leisure system can use the starter battery power if the leisure battery is not on hook up ?

- it depends on the Orion settings . .

what are they set for? - do you use the Application?

it doesnt look like you have a Ign/Ignition feed connected to the Vic Orion.



so im assuming its running on the auto-setting?

all the settings are changed via the App.

VictronConnect App - Victron Energy

Use the VictronConnect app to configure, monitor, update and diagnose your Victron product. Available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS X. It can...

www.victronenergy.com

.


can you screen shot the App settings?

 

[Dellmassive]

more info here:

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

DC-DC Charger (for Leisure battery) -- How I Done It -- ************************************************** Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread ************************************************** Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --...

www.t6forum.com

this is mine . . 12/12/30

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

DC-DC Charger (for Leisure battery) -- How I Done It -- ************************************************** Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread ************************************************** Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Dellmassive]

fyi .

here is the page and setup docs.

Orion-Tr DC-DC Converters Isolated - Victron Energy

Provide a stable DC output voltage using the, easy to install, Orion DC-DC Inverter from Victron Energy. Find a dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

 

[Dellmassive]

hold on . . .

looking at your pic again . . your one isnt the SMART version? - so not Bluetooth?


this is the guide for that model.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-Orion-Tr-isolated-DC-DC-converters-EN-FR-NL-ES-IT-DE-.pdf

...

 

[Dellmassive]

so . . . yes.

The Orion may stay ON in the AUTO mode until the starter battery rest voltage drops to the switch off point. - it will the AUTO OFF.

you could look at getting the IGN feed connected to it?

you could look at upgrading to the SMART version.?

 

[andyjturner]

Thanks again Dell…

Unfortunately it is not the smart model, so no Bluetooth..

the green connector block to the right just has a link wire across the terminals - straight out of the box

 

[andyjturner]

so . . . yes.

The Orion may stay ON in the AUTO mode until the starter battery rest voltage drops to the switch off point. - it will the AUTO OFF.

you could look at getting the IGN feed connected to it?

you could look at upgrading to the SMART version.?

Sorry - I’m not quite sure how to do this - ignition feed ?