Van of enormous power Mk 4

[Joeboy]

Had a dive in the Red Sea today. Absolutely epic, the fish variety, Octopus, coral. Truly a game changing experience. I left a little bit of my heart at that dive site.

I thought it would be just another dive. WAY more than that!

You're making me jealous! Broke my leg 2 weeks ago, new hip now and recovering but not even allowed in the pool for 3 months

Sorry to hear that Stig, get well soon.i hope.

[Joeboy]

Morning,
Looking around for 12V to12V battery charging gear for the van and found the victron orion 12/12 30A(also an 18A version) Seemed a decent fit to add to the existing dual.battery system in the van?

Odd (to me) that it has a max input V of 17V in either guise while all the small victron.panels even the smallest have a max V output of over 18V. What am I missing? Has anyone run one of these Orions, does it have smart circuitry to limit the power in from a panel with greater V capacity? Cheers for any explanation on this.

I think whichever way I go I'll start with either 1 or 2 ecoworthy 195's if not the Victrons. If I've got topside space I'll do two with the excuse being that I will end up in Remote locals with the van at some point.

https://uk.eco-worthy.com/products/bifa ... olar-panel

I'll do it in two stages, install some existing LB system solar to get me going. I've still to test the existing LB. It's a big old green unit with not much markings so we'll hope but not expect much. I find it easier to process by typing here. A couple of decisions made. As to the potential to overvoltage the Victron, if that is the case I'll go elsewhere but I must admit that I do like the Victron gear.

Beyond that I'll measure up for space I'm willing to give up for extra battery space once ive seen how we get on with a 110Ah LA & gas combo. Must check for camping gas regulator and hose. On UK spec at moment, would like both.

[Countrypaul]

Morning,
Looking around for 12V to12V battery charging gear for the van and found the victron orion 12/12 30A(also an 18A version) Seemed a decent fit to add to the existing dual.battery system in the van?

Odd (to me) that it has a max input V of 17V in either guise while all the small victron.panels even the smallest have a max V output of over 18V. What am I missing? Has anyone run one of these Orions, does it have smart circuitry to limit the power in from a panel with greater V capacity? Cheers for any explanation on this.

I think whichever way I go I'll start with either 1 or 2 ecoworthy 195's if not the Victrons. If I've got topside space I'll do two with the excuse being that I will end up in Remote locals with the van at some point.

https://uk.eco-worthy.com/products/bifa ... olar-panel

I'll do it in two stages, install some existing LB system solar to get me going. I've still to test the existing LB. It's a big old green unit with not much markings so we'll hope but not expect much. I find it easier to process by typing here. A couple of decisions made. As to the potential to overvoltage the Victron, if that is the case I'll go elsewhere but I must admit that I do like the Victron gear.

Beyond that I'll measure up for space I'm willing to give up for extra battery space once ive seen how we get on with a 110Ah LA & gas combo. Must check for camping gas regulator and hose. On UK spec at moment, would like both.

The Orion 12/12, 12/24, etc. are aimed at vehicles probably mainly boats where battery to battery or alternator input is used rather than for PV panels.
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/do ... 0W-EN-.pdf

[Joeboy]

Thanks CP, I read this morning on the unit having circuitry so it could switch off panel input when vehicle is running and being charged by alternator.

Although I've been up for hours reading my dive training book and searching the net for solar so could have imagined it.

That would not be a first!

[Joeboy]

Something like this in the 100/20 or 30 range would be more like it. Has headroom to expand from basic LB charging up to full 48V.(which I'm not doing)...(yet).

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-cha ... -15-100-20

They'd go well (100/20) with a set of ecoflow 195W bifacials. Could leave the load disconnected until I get a feel for the existing leisure side install then add a secondary off grid circuit later if needed. That's pretty much what the Bongo had. An ehu and a secondary inverter driven circuit.

I've now to resist.pressing buy on anything until measure up properly at home for the panel(s).

https://uk.eco-worthy.com/products/bifa ... 3680519408
Thanks CP, you helped me avoid making an arse of that out the gate!

[Stinsy]

Something like this in the 100/20 or 30 range would be more like it. Has headroom to expand from basic LB charging up to full 48V.(which I'm not doing)...(yet).

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-cha ... -15-100-20

If I were you I'd buy 2x huuge panels. Have one permanently fitted on the roof and another that can be set up nearby when parked.

Something like this:

https://www.bimblesolar.com/575w-canadian-solar-panel. If you're going that way then you want a 100/50 really.

Personally I'd stick with 12V just to keep things simple. That way you don't need complex charge control hardware sitting between the starter and leisure batteries, just a means of disconnection.

[Joeboy]

Something like this in the 100/20 or 30 range would be more like it. Has headroom to expand from basic LB charging up to full 48V.(which I'm not doing)...(yet).

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-cha ... -15-100-20

If I were you I'd buy 2x huuge panels. Have one permanently fitted on the roof and another that can be set up nearby when parked.

Something like this:

https://www.bimblesolar.com/575w-canadian-solar-panel. If you're going that way then you want a 100/50 really.

Personally I'd stick with 12V just to keep things simple. That way you don't need complex charge control hardware sitting between the starter and leisure batteries, just a means of disconnection.

You are literally the devil!
The problem with the HUGE panels is that the van is only so big. I deliberately went for something manoeuvrable. The cost of that is only so much space on the roof rack to play with before blocking skylights etc. Also got a vent pipe and it's shading to think of. Fair play on the stick to 12V.

At the moment the only load on the LB is some lights and the water pump and toilet as far as i know and hooking in the stereo too soon so it will likely run a lonngg time. If at a later date I want to expand into the fridge being off grid and TV etc I'll look into what I can extend underbonnet battery tray to and what Ah unit I can fit into that space. The old Bongo system ran a 105Ah battery and with the 100W panel it was in a slow decline when running the fridge. Moving to another site every couple of days helped that. Almost triple the PV and say a 25% bigger battery along with gas fridge and gas hot water system (boo hiss) should get me well enough along the road.

[Joeboy]

Since I'm at pool today as last dives hopefully tomorrow ill run a wee costs scenario.

Ecoflow x 2 bifacial (390W total) £180
2 x Y splice £12
Bulkhead penetrator £15
Victron 100/20 with load control £71

£278 without the DC cables, stick another £50 on for DC cables and larger battery clamps.

A bit over £300 to get the van up to 1st stage off grid. That's no bad. I reckon I could do a fortnight in that van off grid. I did 2 months in the Bongo! I was younger then though.

One penetration through the monocoque to bring pv cables into vented utility cloakroom type deal. It's all under a hatch for the utilities. Could site charge controller in there then run the DC cables straight down alongside with water pipes thru floor and along underside up into engine bay. That would leave me nice and simple underbonnet expansion of battery if that's possible. Plus the facility to tap into load side of the solar controller and onto inverter then fully offgrid circuit.

I'll have to read more on the advantages of having a load function on the solar controller rather T'ing off the DC cables close to basic solar controller and to the future inverter?

[richbee]

Morning,
Looking around for 12V to12V battery charging gear for the van and found the victron orion 12/12 30A(also an 18A version) Seemed a decent fit to add to the existing dual.battery system in the van?

Odd (to me) that it has a max input V of 17V in either guise while all the small victron.panels even the smallest have a max V output of over 18V. What am I missing? Has anyone run one of these Orions, does it have smart circuitry to limit the power in from a panel with greater V capacity? Cheers for any explanation on this.

I think whichever way I go I'll start with either 1 or 2 ecoworthy 195's if not the Victrons. If I've got topside space I'll do two with the excuse being that I will end up in Remote locals with the van at some point.

https://uk.eco-worthy.com/products/bifa ... olar-panel

I'll do it in two stages, install some existing LB system solar to get me going. I've still to test the existing LB. It's a big old green unit with not much markings so we'll hope but not expect much. I find it easier to process by typing here. A couple of decisions made. As to the potential to overvoltage the Victron, if that is the case I'll go elsewhere but I must admit that I do like the Victron gear.

Beyond that I'll measure up for space I'm willing to give up for extra battery space once ive seen how we get on with a 110Ah LA & gas combo. Must check for camping gas regulator and hose. On UK spec at moment, would like both.

Pretty sure the orion chargers only do the alternator charging, they don't have the mppt input.
It does seem that the solar voltage limit is the biggest issue with all the combined dc - dc +mppt systems - think the ctek one is around 23v from memory.
I think I might have seen a renogy one with higher voltage input during my research for van 2

[Joeboy]

Ah OK, (thanks richbee). The load function mounted into the victron solar controller acts as a smart cutoff to stop me killing the LA battery.

Let's be honest,I'll need that function!.

"Load output
The intelligent Load output function prevents damage caused by running batteries 'flat'. You can configure the voltage at which SmartSolar disconnects a load - thereby preventing excessive drain on your batteries. And here's the clever bit: SmartSolar will attempt a 100% recharge every day. If it can't - during periods of poor weather - it raises the disconnect voltage, daily, until it achieves success. We call this feature BatteryLife because it maintains the health, and extends the life of your battery."