Which DC-DC battery charger?

[Dellmassive]

Yes. Most lifepo4 BMS don't register loads below 500mA, so the soc reading will drift over time.

Fully charging the battery will reset the drift.

But I'm a geek and need to know exactly what's going on.


So I run the Victron smart shunt as it's very accurate.

 

[T6.1 slayer]

@Dellmassive just looked at trust pilot reviews what's your dealing with customer service/ support

Renogy is rated "Average" with 3.5 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with Renogy's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 5,118 customers have already said.

uk.trustpilot.com

 

[Dellmassive]

All good... I have had warranty kit replacements and good coms from technical.

They are China based so normally reply over night or the following day.

They have local UK stock warehouse and also sell on Amazon,.... So kit is normally fast delivery.

No issues as long as you buy from them, either directly from there UK website or there UK Amazon shop.

 

[Dellmassive]

Eg.

Dc50s + bt2

https://amzn.to/3PtoVc6

.

 

[T6.1 slayer]

OK cool because I favour the toggle of amps think that's a good feature and almost future proof can charge any battery I have a yellowtop agm for mobile normally fishing its 8 years old never missed a beat so can stick that on at 20amps ? I think it's one hell of a bonus feature to have .

 

[Dellmassive]

OK cool because I favour the toggle of amps think that's a good feature and almost future proof can charge any battery I have a yellowtop agm for mobile normally fishing its 8 years old never missed a beat so can stick that on at 20amps ? I think it's one hell of a bonus feature to have .

Yes. You can change battery type, charge current and charge voltage....

You can also maker your own profile "user".

I started with SLA on this charger, then moved over to AGM, now over to lifepo4.

 

[T6.1 slayer]

Yes. You can change battery type, charge current and charge voltage....

You can also maker your own profile "user".

I started with SLA on this charger, then moved over to AGM, now over to lifepo4.

Sold !

 

[Slunkie]

I'm currently looking to add a leisure battery to my T6 with solar at some point too so trying to figure out which DC-DC charger to buy, with integrated or separate MPPT.

It sounds like the consensus previously was;
The renogy dc50s is the best all round (despite some claims of faulty units and poor customer services).
The ctek 250se has similar issues, possibly worse, so best avoided?
Victron is perhaps the best build quality/support but would need separate units for DC-DC and MPPT and they also run hot, need a fan?

Have I got all that right? Has anything changed or any better products come out since the previous discussions?

Cheers

 

[Grim Reaper]

Still using the Redarc here, had no issues with it. It is expensive though.
If Marks and Spencer did DC-DC Chargers it would be a Redarc.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I'm currently looking to add a leisure battery to my T6 with solar at some point too so trying to figure out which DC-DC charger to buy, with integrated or separate MPPT.

It sounds like the consensus previously was;
The renogy dc50s is the best all round (despite some claims of faulty units and poor customer services).
The ctek 250se has similar issues, possibly worse, so best avoided?
Victron is perhaps the best build quality/support but would need separate units for DC-DC and MPPT and they also run hot, need a fan?

Have I got all that right? Has anything changed or any better products come out since the previous discussions?

Cheers

I have Victron dc-dc & MppT. The dc-dc (Orion) does run hot on full chat. But I have Lithium, so the Orion runs on full output initially. It soon drops away as the battery charges. It’s under the passenger seat, mounted on an aluminium plate. No fan required & silent. The MPPT is mounted at the side of the Orion & they get along fine. I prefer the separate unit “modular” approach, it makes for more redundancy in the system & is cheaper to replace if one section fails, which it hasn’t.

 

[Dellmassive]

I use the Renogy dc50s for dc-dc charging, with a lithium. (, With the app)

And even though it does solar, that splits the power 50/50 when you add a solar connection.

I use a seperate Victron mppt. As they are the best when used with the app.

I had the Orion, but sold it on, preferring to use the Renogy.

[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

.

[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It - There is loads of background to this . . . . . but for now here is a vid for you all. =] Just remember W = V*A and as a general rule a good 100W panel will give you up to 6A charge with good sun. 25w = 1.5A 50W = 3A 100w = 6A 200w = 12A 300w = 18A...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[waneos]

I use the Renogy dc50s for dc-dc charging, with a lithium. (, With the app)

And even though it does solar, that splits the power 50/50 when you add a solar connection.

I use a seperate Victron mppt. As they are the best when used with the app.

I had the Orion, but sold it on, preferring to use the Renogy.

[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

.

[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It - There is loads of background to this . . . . . but for now here is a vid for you all. =] Just remember W = V*A and as a general rule a good 100W panel will give you up to 6A charge with good sun. 25w = 1.5A 50W = 3A 100w = 6A 200w = 12A 300w = 18A...

www.t6forum.com

.

I am trying to find an optimal DC-DC charger for my current set up/future set up, so I am reading a lot of post and trying understand.

I have a question, any reason to use Regony with MPPT and then use a seperate MPPT. Why dont use Regony DC-DC without MPPT (they are cheaper) then add MPPT? Thanks!

Best regards,

 

[roadtripper]

They are cheaper but lower charge rate. The 50amp charger is compact, high current but only available with solar, the 60amp charger without is much bigger.

 

[waneos]

They are cheaper but lower charge rate. The 50amp charger is compact, high current but only available with solar, the 60amp charger without is much bigger.

Understood. Now I am doubting between the Orion and Regony, as I read that Orion runs very hot. As I am going to put under driver seat.. I dont want to add more complexity adding fans.

 

[roadtripper]

Unfortunately anything compact but high current is going to tend to run hotter.

Quite a few folks use the app to down rate the Renogy to around 30amps for general use that keeps it cooler.

 

[t0mb0]

Unfortunately anything compact but high current is going to tend to run hotter.

Quite a few folks use the app to down rate the Renogy to around 30amps for general use that keeps it cooler.

The size/current will obviously have an effect on the temperature but I think the main factor is the efficiency itself - the orion’s own stated efficiency is way lower than most others.

 

[roadtripper]

That's very true too, and given Renogy have got more current handling in about the same space they are doing a better job of thermal management.

I see a lot of folks mounting DC-DC chargers across the seat base on a board with the fuses and bus bars, I do wonder with the metal cases ones if there would be any advantage of trying to mount them to the seat base sides with a good thermal compound. I suspect the hassle isn't worth the gains but there is a nice big metal plate right there with good airflow...

 

[Gsixty]

Given that 30A is what people seem to set the charger to. What is the advantage of the Renogy 5oA charger compared to getting the 30A version?

 

[roadtripper]

Given that 30A is what people seem to set the charger to. What is the advantage of the Renogy 5oA charger compared to getting the 30A version?

Probably for a number of reasons...

Because, broadly, the safe limit for temperature is the same for them all, and that will be at full power.

So the 50A has to be more efficient and have better cooling, under running it means it should be cooler than a designed for 30A one.

There are also times that higher charge rates might be needed, given the small price differential it's nice to have options.

Also I think it's easy to spec and buy the 50A but then when it comes to getting the cabling and fusing in place 30A is kind of the breakpoint between "everyday but quite high current" and "that's a heck of current and cable size" and folks downrate then.

 

[Dellmassive]

I am trying to find an optimal DC-DC charger for my current set up/future set up, so I am reading a lot of post and trying understand.

I have a question, any reason to use Regony with MPPT and then use a seperate MPPT. Why dont use Regony DC-DC without MPPT (they are cheaper) then add MPPT? Thanks!

Best regards,

the cheaper Renogy blue units have cooling fans, the MPPT versions are fanless.

( i have both )