How do I set the battery since there is no display screen? Unfortunately, I was now back in Denver by this time, so having Eddie finish the job wasnt in the cards as he was still down in Arizona. The DC-DC battery charger is capable of identifying whether the generator is started, to prevent over-discharge of the starting battery and protect the generator. output voltage drops to low, around 12.5 volts, the Renogy unit will stop charging the "house" battery. If Renogy added this already, or adjusted the charging algorithm to accommodate such scenario (low PV power) it would be perfect. If the efficiency of the DC charger is 95% then that would need 49.8A @ 11.5V. We had several days of heavy cloud cover, mist and steady rain while staying at Hartman Rocks near Gunnison, CO. Gender: Male. Special thanks to the hard work of Eddie Glonek of Mobile Homestead Solar Services as usual. SO this means, it will never enable unless we turn ON the breaker, under the hood of the truck. Therefore, Eddie asked me to do a quick test : take a jumper cable, and make a direct attachment from the Frame Ground on the trailer (which we have one easy to get to right under the A Frame of the trailer), and then take that same polarity of the jumper cable and attach it to the Frame Ground on the Truck. Check out our UPDATED DC-DC charger review and installation video:https://youtu.be/6nAFz8mF7k8Happy New Year everyone!We took time off over the winter break to spend some much appreciated time with our family. I appreciate Eddie explaining ( a few times ) , the exact steps Id need to do to finish this one on my own. Opened up the hood of the truck and flipped the breaker to ON which means we were sending power from the truck battery to the DC Charger. For battery settings please refer to the Manual Book on page 12&15. We chose the 40amp charger, one because it was a little bit cheaper than the 60amp charger, but also, we wanted to play it safe with extra strain on our alternator in the case that we end up using it more than anticipated. If you have any questions regarding this product, pleasesubmit a case. Love it. How do I set the battery since there is no display screen? This wire turns the unit on and off whenever it has DC positive. Check out Rays video on this subject at this point of the video linke : https://youtu.be/ww_4yhQPGwY?t=643 . . For the RV system, The generator ensures stable power supply to the starter battery, and uses the extra power of the starter battery to supply power to the house battery. Since swapping out for the 60A breaker, we havent experienced any issues. Most default dual battery systems support auxiliary battery charging through an isolator but commonly this does not allow for a full charge of the second battery bank. The D+ is going to my running lights on my TT after the 7-pin connector. It also isolates the input and output to prevent voltage transmission errors and interfere with house battery charging. Isolating the solar solves the problem. It has multifunctional safety technology including over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, and reverse polarity protection to make it safer for use. This Renogy DC-DC battery charger is compatible with traditional and smart alternators. Compatible with a multitude of alternator types, the DCC12 offers correct charging for AGM, Flooded, Gel, and even Lithium deep cycle batteries! That would make a nice durable coating/covering for the 2 #4 wires. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. This guy Matt at Adventurousway.com has some great info ok on with the show ! Check out our UPDATED DC-DC charger review and installation video:https://youtu.be/6nAFz8mF7k8Happy New Year everyone!We took time off over the winter break . The RV came with a mechanical solenoid isolator but I believe it was broken. If the battery charger is connected to the starting battery and solar panels at the same time, the maximum input current will be 15A for each; if the battery charger only connects one of the two DC inputs, the maximum input current will be 30A. See photo 1.2. A charger like the Renogy 12v DC To DC On-Board Charger is a great vehicle charging solution. Hey guys, so I've been meaning to figure out how to properly have my alternator charge my house batteries. Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! The Renogy 30A single input 15A/15A dual input DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT is designed to charge service batteries from two DC input, solar panels and the vehicles alternator Compatible with multiple deep cycle battery types: AGM, GEL, Flooded, and Lithium Starts out fine when I run engine and turn on lights. : The theory was, wed use one long run of the #4 welding cable to run from the Trucks battery, all the way to the tail of the truck. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. At this point, it was WELL PAST happy hour. I use a small fan to help it stop overheating. The Renogy also offers trickle charge to the starter battery from the solar if it is required, while the Redarc does not. Did you leave the charging cable on the 7 pin wired up or did you remove it? After install I received a dash light for . Get about 46A (40 from DC-DC and 6A from 7-pin. This wire is included with the charger. For battery settings please refer to the Manual Book on page 12&15. What will happen if the service battery is fully charged? How to set the charging voltage value of the charger? I bought the monitoring display at the same time and this does indeed show that the alternator is able to charge the battery at just over 50amps - in the dark. I have also read some strong feelings against Renogy. step 17 : So now that we knew everything was rewired and working properly, it was time to connect the DC ON wire to a 12 volt source, in our case, some running lights so that when the truck is in tow mode you could send power, if desired, to the DC Charger. Exclusively available with the BT-2 Bluetooth Module accessory and Renogy DC Home App available on the IOS and Google Play Stores, you can monitor this device remotely and simply through your phone and stay constantly updated. and.. As you can see, the green light above the dip switch was on, indicating the DC unit was charging the batteries, and below, in my TM-2030 Wifi output to the Battery Monitor, it was showing 40amps coming in from the truck, into our camper batteries !! As I mentioned if its a 40 amp charger ampacity doubles. This implies that various levels are employed while the battery charges. Key Features I needed a reliable DC to DC charger with solar input which had a maximum battery input of 50 amps. 1. We checked that we had good current coming in to the input side of the unit, that was working properly. I had our grey water hose, which I was willing to chop, knowing I could replace, re-cap when we got back to town. Obviously we can change our power consumption habits to adjust to the lack of sun (not using the microwave, not using the electric water kettle etc), but even then, after 3 days with no sun, our batteries start to dip down to low levels. This Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger has a built-in Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR), thanks to which the charger will Trickle Charge the service battery and maintain its fully charged status, and will also Trickle Charge the starting battery via solar panels. Also it seems like not alot of folks have the power and heated seats so there wasn't much info on wiring bit. The idea is, the alternator on the your tow vehicle (or in the case of a van, or drivable RV) creates extra surplus power that can be used charge the house batteries of the camper. Remove the (4) seat bolts at each corner of the base of the seat. Ensure that the maximum charging current provided by the DC-DC battery charger does not exceed the maximum charging current allowed by the house battery. Disconnect the main battery - This wasn't so easy, there is a small (5\" x 5\") plastic cover to the right of the accelerator pedal, pull it from the top and then pull up hard, its not easy bu t it comes off. Renogy DC to DC Battery Charger InstallRenogy 60A DC to DC Battery ChargerCompatible with a multitude of alternator types, this 60A DC to DC Battery Charger . 4. What is the D+ Ignition cable? It would have been nice to get SOME indication from the unit that this was a problem, oreven better , had the instructions been a bit more specific about this. Why do we need Smart DC-DC chargers? Just adding another 100ah battery would probably be enough to get us through an extra one to three additional days of no solar. The 50A Renogy will be ok, but "might" stress the battery. The wire gauge is so small (like 12g?) 3. Their app is easy to use and understand so I am happy with my choice of purchase. hi Jim, thanks for reading. The large terminal screw bolts are far too short for large cables and is a struggle to get the cables screwed down, All you need to fix this problem are longer terminal screw bolts. The RV came with a mechanical solenoid isolator b. Installing your own DC-DC Charger at home is actually incredibly simple when you follow this easy step-by-step guide! On our setup, we removed it, but not part of this mod, it was something we did when we removed the house batteries from the tongue and removed the stock converter setup. Renogy 20A 12V DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger is designed to charge secondary batteries while driving using the primary battery connected to the alternator. Charger Bob L on Jun 23rd 2022 We tested out our Renogy 40A DC-to-DC charger, tried to install our plywood roofing, and put in some potlights to finally give our van some much needed light! Step 2 : contact Eddie ! The compact and robust design makes it suitable for all conditions. How to choose a suitable battery charger? Make sure that the entire system is a 12V system, 2. This controller supports Gel, AGM, Flooded, and Lithium battery, but please make sure to set the correct battery type once it is installed. 4. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge the house battery from a starter battery linked to the car alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. And now it was time for a test. Things are starting to come together, but we still have a looooong way to go in this build.Now, time to get some painting done and get the insulation covered with our new, beautiful 1/4\" Maple wall and ceiling panels!________________We are a couple of full-time travel dreamers who decided to pack up our lives to explore the world - and then 2020 happened. 5. So, just for fun we hooked up the Anderson connector and turned on the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC battery charger will charge your house batteries from the starter battery by 3-stage charging (Bulk, Boost, and Float), to make sure it optimally and automatically charge to 100%. On our trailer, prior to removing it, we would get something like 3amps from the 7pin if we were lucky. and THERE WAS ! I will try and ask Eddie if a smaller gauge wire would work. I had to swivel the seat base in order to get a socket onto the back two bolts. These types of systems are not new, and actually quite common in drivable RVs, but I will be describing this in terms of a towable camper. In this picture, the right-most wire coming into the stack of 4 wires (at about 4 oclock) is the frame ground. To change the battery type you will need to press the push button that is located on the PV+ and ALT+ side of the DCDC, then continue to press the button and the LED will display different colors with each representing a single type of battery. The Terminal fuse protects the wire from the battery to the breaker, then the breaker protects the wire run along the length of the truck. How to set the charging voltage value of the charger? With this in mind, the NLDC-40 features a 600W MPPT solar regulator, unlike the NLDC-25's 375W MPPT. This one took a few more steps to complete after the fact than normal. When the generator is started, a signal will be obtained on the D+ Ignition cable, which will light up the indicator light of the charger. 1. Compatible with a multitude of alternator types, the DC-DC battery charger offers correct charging for AGM, Flooded, Gel, and even Lithium deep cycle batteries! Hello, thanks for the excellent post on adding a grounding cable from the (-) input of the DC DC Charger to the trailer frame ground wire. While your vehicle's alternator prioritizes your starting battery, this unit will allow your solar system to charge your service battery first! 12V 40A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger. Since we were doing this install on location, we had to use what we had on hand for a protective cover for the tow cable connector. 3. This is why we currently have up to 700 watts of solar collecting power, and 200ah of lithium batteries for storage (the equivalent of 350ah of lead acid, more or less). Renogy is a well-known manufacturer of power systems. here is a closeup of the anderson connector on the tail of the Truck (source) and the trailer side (load) the garden hose connector. fantastic item chargers leisure batteries and the starting battery also i have the blue tooth module to view the status, wish id bought this at the beginning of my build ,its excellent ,chargers leisure batteries and then the starter battery ,its also worth getting the BT module so you can see the specs while charging via solar, excellent item does flow back to starting battery when leisure batteries full , easy to fit and understand instructions , doesnt come with a bt module i suggest you order one , ideal to plug solar into as this does it all. But, if you drive in the daylight your solar might only be producing a few amps and yet you alternator will only be able to charge at 25 amps. If you were going to own the van for 10 years, which would you put in? He then passed the long positive #4 wire from the Truck battery, along this same area and passing it through the existing hole for the tailgate power. Connect the - to a factory ground point under the drivers seat. Brilliant charger, easy to connect up so long as you use a ground bus bar, but disappointed by the poor instructions regarding the smart alternator, & that there's no temperature adjustment if you have a lithium battery connected (even a Renogy one). It allows me to charge my batteries with proper multi-stage charging by both my alternator AND solar panels. Pre-Drilled Holes for Easy Installation - Renogy solar panels are equipped with back frame and ground mounting holes, ready for installation. Polycrystalline panels are cheaper, but they are also less efficient. With up to 99% MPPT tracking efficiency and 94% convert efficiency, the charger can fully charge a 1kWh battery within 2 hrs with solar energy. Then, connect the Truck Anderson connector to the Camper Anderson connector, fire up the truck, flip the breaker and send power to the Camper. For RV solar panel installation with limited space, we'd recommend going with monocrystalline panels for the most bang for your buck. This means, (in theory without any loss over the cabling runs), the DC-DC Charger can provide up to 480 watts of charging power to our batteries (40amps x 12 volts = 480watts). For the RV system, The generator ensures stable power supply to the starter battery, and uses the extra power of the starter battery to supply power to the house battery. 480 watts solar, more than will fit on your small compact roof. When connecting the charger and the battery, make sure the battery poles are clean when connecting the terminals, select a sufficient cross-section for the connection cable, tighten the nuts and bolts with proper torque as loose connections may cause overheating. Please note the D+ Ignition Cable is not included. That is, after a few days without consistent sunshine, we have no backup method for recharging our batteries. This was his first time installing a DC-DC charger in a towable camper, but he was up for it. Let me know if I can be of any more assistance. Please allow up to 1 to 2 business days for processing and 3 to 5 business days for shipping. step 10 : connect the long #4 wire from the tail of the truck to the breaker in the engine compartment. Due to afternoon shade and an AC-power heavy dinner (toaster oven, microwave) and heavy use of the 3 DC fans in the camper (it was 93F), we brought our Battle Born batteries down to 54% after morning coffee and a toasted bagel. High-quality DC-DC chargers are three-stage chargers. I have some 4AWG that I think I can repurpose, or I'll just buy new wire off Amazon or something. Below is a proud Eddie, and his new Load side Anderson connector. How to choose a suitable battery charger? CaptainMitch. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. This is clearly not a problem when you're parked (not running your engine) or driving at night - no solar. Its only when we are socked in for a few days in a row with absolutely no sun in sight that things start to run a bit thin. The DC-DC battery charger is installed between the starter battery and the house battery. I have a 2018 Winnebago View in which I recently installed lithium house batteries, an inverter charger, MPPT solar controller supporting 4, 100watt panels, xantrex monitor and a dc-to-do charger. If the solar is producing any power at all - it splits the charging capability equally between the two sources. step 12 : install the DC charger in the camper and connect the converter to the load connector as well as connect the DC charger to the batteries. Be careful not to over-torque the terminals on the DCDC as over-torquing may cause irreparable damage (Do not exceed 16 N-m / 3.3 ft-lb). The DCC50S is a bit larger than our first choice, at 9.6 inches wide, 5.7 inches deep, and 3 . Charger then connects to two 12V 35aH solar AGM batteries from harbor . Posts: 8. It has multifunctional safety technology including over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, and reverse polarity protection to make it safer for use. 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