What Have You Bought Today?

[Bav]

To be fair, that does seem like a more powerful option (looks like it can provide up to 30a charging from LB to SB) but I don't think you'd anything that powerful. Even with constant use on site, or the van being left standing for weeks, the Ablemail is capable of keeping it topped up.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[z1ts]

The 'fold on lock/unfold on unlock' option sounds cool, but not sure it's very practical on a camper - the whirring noise, the wear on the motor and the power draw on the SB are all considerations when you're constantly in and out of the van whilst on site.

Ordinarily the setting is that it folds on lock and unfolds on ignition (rather than unlock) which saves the SB some...

 

[davecdjt]

I’ve just bought the Victron shunt to fit to my LB and maybe link to SB, and I have a tab open for the Ablemail. Where are folks fitting the Ablemail, is it next to the SB? Pictures would be nice if you’d like to show off.

 

[TallPaul_S]

I’ve just bought the Victron shunt to fit to my LB and maybe link to SB, and I have a tab open for the Ablemail. Where are folks fitting the Ablemail, is it next to the SB? Pictures would be nice if you’d like to show off.

In with the LB. One positive on mine goes to the SB feed (DC-DC input) before it goes into the DC-DC. The other positive to the LB. Negative to your negative busbar or wherever your negatives terminate.

Or...

If you've got a Victron MPPT 100/20 or smaller, you can use the Load output on that for the LB positive and the negative connection. Saves some cabling, and lets you monitor the Ablemail via the load output monitoring on the MPPT.

 

[ginkster]

Where are folks fitting the Ablemail, is it next to the SB?

Next to the LB. It’s tiny, about the size of a deck of cards. I did 3 cables, as per the instructions, one into each terminal of the DC-DC (sounds like the Victron XS doesn’t like having 2 cables because of the cover but it’s fine on the older ones).

 

[Bav]

If your converter charged you £50 for fitting the Ablemail, he'd be ripping you off! As Paul says SB no less than 12.3 now. No SB anxiety any more.
And don't forget, you are Northern!
X

My converter has suggested they'd need to remove all the O/S cabinetry and the cab roof lining" in order to run a new cable from the SB to the Balmar (which they'd locate next to the LB, which lives inside said cabinetry). Are they pulling the wool, as this doesn't sound like a sub-£50 installation to me?

 

[Drive Wayne]

My converter has suggested they'd need to remove all the O/S cabinetry and the cab roof lining" in order to run a new cable from the SB to the Balmar (which they'd locate next to the LB, which lives inside said cabinetry). Are they pulling the wool, as this doesn't sound like a sub-£50 installation to me?

I smell several sheep. What B2B have you got, and where is it?

 

[TallPaul_S]

My converter has suggested they'd need to remove all the O/S cabinetry and the cab roof lining" in order to run a new cable from the SB to the Balmar (which they'd locate next to the LB, which lives inside said cabinetry). Are they pulling the wool, as this doesn't sound like a sub-£50 installation to me?

What? No, no, no...

Where's your DC-DC charger located?

There's already a cable from the SB to the LB area, which the DC-DC uses...

 

[Bav]

I smell several sheep. What B2B have you got, and where is it?

I've got the Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12|12-30, which is situated under the passenger seat.

 

[Drive Wayne]

I've got the Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12|12-30, which is situated under the passenger seat.

Exactly where and what mine is, 3 little wires into that from the Ablemail, job done...

 

[TallPaul_S]

I've got the Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12|12-30, which is situated under the passenger seat.

Presumably that feeds back to the LB somehow, so yeah all you need is the Ablemail right next to the DC-DC, one positive on the input wire that goes to the DC-DC, one on the output wire that goes to the LB, and the negative to chassis ground or your negative connection.

 

[Bav]

Exactly where and what mine is, 3 little wires into that from the Ablemail, job done...

The thieving little $***$!!!!!!

 

[Bav]

The thieving little $***$!!!!!!

To be fair, he was just musing off the top of his head, so I'll have to see what they formally propose, but anything like he was saying is taking the p1$$.

 

[TallPaul_S]

To be fair, he was just musing off the top of his head, so I'll have to see what they formally propose, but anything like he was saying is taking the p1$$.

That thing (as it can provide 30a) might need that wiring, but you really don't need a 30a trickle charger for the SB!

 

[ginkster]

I've got the Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12|12-30, which is situated under the passenger seat.

As @Drive Wayne says. I have exactly the same DC-DC under my passenger seat too and 3 cables to attach the Ablemail. It took longer to change the settings on the Ablemail than it did to fit it!

 

[Bav]

They said they suggested the Balmar because "it plays nicely" with all the other Victron kit. I'm guessing you guys don't have any interoperability issues using the Ablemail with any Victron kit you have, do you?

 

[spooks007]

Bought a pair of jesus handles as I call them for a incoming T6.1

VW A-pillar grab handles + brackets - Chilli Jam Vans

A-pillar internal grab handle and bracket set for both N/S and O/S. A-pillar: The A-Pillar grab handle makes getting in...

chillijamvans.co.uk

 

[Drive Wayne]

They said they suggested the Balmar because "it plays nicely" with all the other Victron kit. I'm guessing you guys don't have any interoperability issues using the Ablemail with any Victron kit you have, do you?

The Ablemail plays nicely with my Victron kit, no issues. An idiot could fit it, well, I did!

 

[Drive Wayne]

As @Drive Wayne says. I have exactly the same DC-DC under my passenger seat too and 3 cables to attach the Ablemail. It took longer to change the settings on the Ablemail than it did to fit it!

I left mine on default out of the box setting 4, no hassle.

 

[TallPaul_S]

They said they suggested the Balmar because "it plays nicely" with all the other Victron kit. I'm guessing you guys don't have any interoperability issues using the Ablemail with any Victron kit you have, do you?

Mine works perfectly fine, it's just a 12v device that pull a couple of amps every so often - so I'm not sure how it needs to 'play nicely' with Victron kit

The option they've given may be a more complex, better option but it's just keeping the SB charge topped up, it doesn't need to be complex!