Charging House Lithium Batts with Alternator

[Glennman]

I recently purchased all my Victron equipment for my house power system. Along with the components, I purchased a Victron Energy Blue Power Cyrix-Li-ct Intelligent Li-ion Battery Combiner 12/24V-230A unit. This will be connected to the positive side of the 2002 MCI D4500 bus batteries with factory alternator. It is a rather simple unit. I would have expected something more elaborate.

With the earlier thread on this subject regarding overcharging the bus batteries while charging 8, 12V series/paired for 24V lithium iron house batteries, is this something you guys would use, or have used? Thanks everyone in advance!

[luvrbus]

You should check your Vanner it probably has the charging capability without adding anything.I would use a separate alternator,you keep fooling with the multiplex system with the chassis computers adding gadgets no telling what you will end up with 

[Glennman]

You're probably right luvrbus. A separate alternator may be the way to go. The last thing I need is to screw up the multi-plex system!

[luvrbus]

Some of the new Prevost conversion will have 3 alternators. We were looking at another RV that had the Multi Plex system, it had a warning sign not to add a auxiliary 12v plug use only the factory installed outlets .Those systems save a lot wiring but adding a computer with all the relays I cannot see a saving myself.LOL every door I open on my Country Coach has relays.   

[freds]

There are Victron DC to DC converters that know when the engine is running and perform charging automatically.

[Glennman]

There are Victron DC to DC converters that know when the engine is running and perform charging automatically.

Hey freds! What Victron DC to DC converter model would you suggest for an '02 MCI where I will be charging 8 lithium iron house batteries (should I decide not to install separate alternator)? By the way, my bus system is 24v and my inverter and battery bank will all be 24v. Thanks everyone!

[luvrbus]

Draw back to DC to DC chargers they don't have a enough charging amps to charge a large battery bank in a hurry,A friend of mine Jerry has 2 DC to DC charger to help over come that hiccup,people forget the power used has to be replaced in some way,the time and way involved to replace the power used can vary a lot 

[freds]

Hey freds! What Victron DC to DC converter model would you suggest for an '02 MCI where I will be charging 8 lithium iron house batteries (should I decide not to install separate alternator)? By the way, my bus system is 24v and my inverter and battery bank will all be 24v. Thanks everyone!

For the 24V range they have 12 and 17 Amp output. So 280 and 400 watts of charging. The question then; kind of becomes how much driving time do you do verses your house battery system capacity?

https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-Orion-Tr-Smart-24-17A/dp/B07YN4LGR9/ref=asc_df_B07YN4LGR9/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475789621573&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3173738895236457913&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028171&hvtargid=pla-882628097924&psc=1

I have seen people in YouTube videos install two units in parallel.

And then there's a Non-Isolated version that is about $20.00 less.

https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-Orion-Tr-Non-Isolated-Bluetooth/dp/B086KVM439?th=1

My inverter/solar/house battery storage is 24V with Tesla Battery modules.

My bus has 24V bus/start batteries which is maintained with a Orion-Tr 24/24 17amp non-isolated.
12V RV/Generator start battery which is maintained with a Orion-Tr 24/12 20 amp isolated model.

I originally had their dumb 24/12 70 amp model but it had a weird quirk of back feeding the 12V to the input when you disconnected it from the 24V source. But that ended up crapping out on me.

[windtrader]

Glenn,
Since you went all in on Victron, very good solid equipment, maybe the next step is doing some solar panels. What I do to keep starts charged is use a cheap AC battery charger, it stays on and will trickel too. Most of the time, I heave the inverter on 24/7, solar keeps the house fully charged and panels and house capacity keeps all low current AC stufff running all the time. Really makes a boondock ready off grid setup just like home, which is good for those not proudly wearing the "ruff-it" badge.

[Glennman]

Glenn,
Since you went all in on Victron, very good solid equipment, maybe the next step is doing some solar panels. What I do to keep starts charged is use a cheap AC battery charger, it stays on and will trickel too. Most of the time, I heave the inverter on 24/7, solar keeps the house fully charged and panels and house capacity keeps all low current AC stufff running all the time. Really makes a boondock ready off grid setup just like home, which is good for those not proudly wearing the "ruff-it" badge.

Yep. I've installed 10 solar panels on the roof delivering just under 3000 watts in 2 systems (2 solar charge controllers). I have 6 on one controller and 4 on the other, with capacity for additional panels on the 4 panel side of things. Thanks!

[luvrbus]

I have a friend with a total electric bus (45 ft) with solar and big battery bank 1200 amp hour (Battle Born) and 3 mini splits. He tells me solar limits him on the places he used to go in Idaho on the lakes and rivers because of to much shade. He was always anti generator but told me last night he broke down and is spending 12 G's on an Onan QD 10000, any of you other solar users have generators. I live in AZ I cannot see a bus parked in the sun here in July and Aug depending on solar alone.It gets hot in Idaho too along the rivers,Sonja wants solar but I haven't gave in yet

[dtcerrato]

I have a friend with a total electric bus (45 ft) with solar and big battery bank 1200 amp hour (Battle Born) and 3 mini splits. He tells me solar limits him on the places he used to go in Idaho on the lakes and rivers because of to much shade. He was always anti generator but told me last night he broke down and is spending 12 G's on an Onan QD 10000, any of you other solar users have generators. I live in AZ I cannot see a bus parked in the sun here in July and Aug depending on solar alone.It gets hot in Idaho too along the rivers,Sonja wants solar but I haven't gave in yet

Being a principal resident of the sunshine state and recently adding supplementary solar arrays on the bus roof - we never wavered away from our genny set up but have noticed in general our genny hours are a fraction of what they used to be between the solar & inverter & battery bank upgrades.

[luvrbus]

Dan,you probably have propane on board to heat water,and cook with,these total electric coaches are not made for dry camping he has a panel to heat his water separate from his charging panels.My RV is total electric hog with the 22 cf fridge,the convection microwave in ours takes a lot juice alone,my water is heated from the Aqua Hot so I am lucky there.I can live with the generator running @ a gal per hour when under a load.I have a 1000 amp hr battery bank and takes a while to recharge @120 amps about 4 hours when at 50% for the 3 stages of charging

[thomasinnv]

If you have the victron MP, MP2, or Quatro they have a 4 amp trickle charge output for maintaining start batteries. Charging the house bank from the alternator while under way is as follows

My house bank is in the front compartment so the charge line is quite long by the time it gets from the alternator to the house bank. The long run introduces enough resistance that I am able to control the amperage delivered to the LifePo4 house bank by adjusting the voltage output of the alternator. I have it adjusted so that even at a high dod the amperage from the alternator to the house bank doesn't exceed 200 amps. This gives me enough room to run 2 ac units while under way and still have some amps going into the house bank. It is connected by a tyco 350 amp solenoid. Been this way for a few years with no issues whatsoever.

[windtrader]

Dan,you probably have propane on board to heat water,and cook with,these total electric coaches are not made for dry camping he has a panel to heat his water separate from his charging panels.My RV is total electric hog with the 22 cf fridge,the convection microwave in ours takes a lot juice alone,my water is heated from the Aqua Hot so I am lucky there.I can live with the generator running @ a gal per hour when under a load.I have a 1000 amp hr battery bank and takes a while to recharge @120 amps about 4 hours when at 50% for the 3 stages of charging

My water heater is electric and runs on the "overflow" circuit on the solar charging system. Once house is full, the energy can be used elsewhere. Propane is stove and once I determine induction works fine then I may swap that out. The refrigerator is a 3-way but not efficient on electric. Future plan to swap for small apartment AC unit will complete disconnecting propane.
I am fully confident it can run solar only except when sun is not sufficient. Meaning, multiple cloudy days or choosing to park where panels do not get sun. I have some portable to ensure I can place them in the sun to keep the batteries going. Not enough to run full tilt that way but as long as AC not running much then it's fine.

I'd have a hard time if someone says they are 100% off grid 100% of the time. Nearly all of us need to supplement from time to time. Even places that state 300 days of sunshine, what about the other 60 days, yes, two months?

Making the full conversion is not automatic, free, or no hassle. If someone wants to run energy hogs all day and park in the shade, then maybe solar is not the right path for them. With careful planning and research, it can is being done all them time.