Victron DC to DC Charger Installation

[@BradandNicoleBean]

What did you think of this video?

[@harleydavidson521]

Seems awfully complicated to just charge house batteries from starter batteries.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

@@harleydavidson521 The DC DC charger is the only thing charging from the starter. Once set up very simple We haven’t touched it since.

[@georgewashington938]

so far, this is the only video that shows the actual settings for the charger - thanks

[@BradandNicoleBean]

I’m glad I could help!

[@truckerdad2259]

Good video you guys. I'm building a system for my Peterbilt and that victron looks like what I need.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Awesome if you need any help along the way let us know!

[@jackconway3248]

Hi Brad & Nicole. Nice video. I plan to use the 12-12-30 Isolated Tri-dc to dc charger on my pop top pickup camper. Does the + 12 feeding the charger from the truck come directly from the alternator or the +post on the truck battery? Nowhere can I find instalation instructions covering this. Thank you for any info.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Thanks for the comment Our DC DC charger has options for both coming from the alternator or the battery. But our battery is already in the cab of the vehicle so we used that instead of running a separate wire. Most new batteries have a brain. They will only allow it to charge so much. So Personally, I would rather replace a $400 battery rather than a $2000 alternator if anything was to go wrong. Hope that’s helpful.

[@jackconway3248]

Yes, as well the Victron will taper and float not to over charge if you have a regular battery. Thnx it was helpful. Happy trails n camping👍

[@jonnytacooutdoors]

Using same charger. Gets so hot I can’t touch it for more than a few seconds! Is that normal? I’m using 6awg wire and 60amp fuse at the battery. Is the burning hot normal?!

[@BradandNicoleBean]

That’s not normal. The fins on the back will be warm even a little hot to the touch but you should be able to keep your finger on it. I would make sure the unit gets airflow if possible. I want to say it’s only a 30 amp fuse, but you should be able to go into the app in the settings. Determine how much wattage or AMPs you’re allowing through. Mine is 10 AMPS on start up and 13 at idle but that’s based on my alternator and the type of battery I’m running. You can call the 1-800 number they have a help line. I hope that’s helpful

[@EverydayIsSaturday2]

What does the little green gizmo do that you plugged in the bottom?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Wire bridge, this was the term they used in the manual for item S1, little green connector. This acts like an on and off switch for the device. You can use the input, depending on how you want to activate the charger. See link www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-Orion-Tr-Smart-Charger-Isolated-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE-IT-.pdf

[@jamesfalvey77]

So, it will boost the voltage if the selected absorption voltage is higher than the input voltage?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Not boost, most alternators put out 13-14 volts with the heavy duty and duel setups putting out more. If your absorption voltage is higher than the input voltage, you’ll wear your alternator out faster. Based on your alternators output, you have to assign the voltage if it doesn’t match one of the preconfigured settings. Transit, Ram and the sprinters configurations are all available out of the box.

[@jamesfalvey77]

​@@BradandNicoleBeanlooks like I seen a higher output than input in your video.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

@jamesfalvey77 if we’re talking about the same moment at 3:44, this is the delayed settings to ensure the vehicles batteries charge first if you look later in the video, you’ll notice that the numbers match after running for a couple of minutes.

[@jamesfalvey77]

@@BradandNicoleBean thanks for the response. Love the channel. I feel that being able to control the output current would make this device more attractive

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Thanks much! I agree

[@EverydayIsSaturday2]

Where did you attach your ground for your DC charger?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Directly to the chassis through a hole in the floor.

[@cliffw6031]

Have you had any heat issues with the DC to DC charger being mounted on timber?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

I extended them away from the wood itself, so there was more airflow. You can see what I’m talking about in the video 🤞🏻no problems yet!

[@cliffw6031]

@@BradandNicoleBean Thanks for the quick reply. I'm looking at installing one in an Aluminium Canopy on the back of my ute. I have heard that they get very hot so I'm thinking of getting a sheet of Aluminium plate. also installing some ventilation for air flow. Cheers and happy travelling

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Thanks! Anytime!!!

[@tonypatterson4827]

In your RV , you have TWO white boxes next to the three breakers , Power distribution boxes , what do you call these ,The White boxes have a large positive Cable and several smaller power wires , and the Other Has a Large NEG cable and several Neg wires. They look very good for my upcoming install. WHAT do you call these , or a brand or part number would be great . It looks like some kind of a BUS terminal ( buss bar ) I like these and any info is apprecaited

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Yes there is a power distribution block We’ll reference our video electrical part 1, where we go over all of the components and where you can get them. I’ll put the link in the video description.

[@tonypatterson4827]

@@BradandNicoleBean thank you

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Yes sir! Happy to help

[@davidpatrick1813]

I wonder what type of battery you were using in the coach part? Lithium iron etc. would be 14.2-14.6 right?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Yes Lithium and yes 14.2-14.6 is preprogrammed in the charger

[@davidpatrick1813]

@@BradandNicoleBean thanks for such a quick reply... I am still workin on my rig and have a solar and dc to dc by victron ... later.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

I actually enjoy this part of it, if you have any other questions hit me up!

[@Wiliamstuff]

Input 13.9 and output 13.6v. Are these numbers feel alright to you? I thought alternator produce above 14v. I have same charger and it feels like an over advertised scam. I mean if it makes less or more 0.3v then alternator itself. So whats the point and where is the magic?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

I have a heavy duty alternator Capable of much more(50amps) but I think what it comes down to is what your batteries are capable of absorbing, for instance the lithium that I’m running, are only capable of an absorption rate of 14.25 V.

[@eng-jp6qc]

It’s also acts as an amperage limiter, if you just ran a cable from your start battery to your house battery with a on off relay it would try and pull 100s of amps and cause damage to the system.

[@bobhackworth8781]

I’m confused about the connection to the alternator. Do I connect to the starter battery OR do I connect to the alternator itself?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

You’re going to connect to the starter battery with positive and negative or ground negative to the chassis.

[@ahm7548]

I also have the isolated version. Can I use the chassis for negativ as input and output. Ore do I have to get an wire to my starter batteri?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

That is correct. You’ll have two different electrical systems. Your vehicle system and your house system. This is the only piece of equipment that is connected to both systems. You have the positive from the vehicle starter/battery and ground to chassis. The house electrical has to be grounded to back to its closed system (Not grounded the chassis).

[@tomloweshow]

The input voltage on my transit with the headlights off is only 12.5V which isn’t triggering the Orion. With the headlights on its 13.2V Why would this be and how do I increase the voltage with headlights off?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Are you just trying to get the DC to DC charger come on? You can adjust the Settings and then go to engine Shut down detection. You can program Start voltage and the delay voltage I think this could help.

[@tomloweshow]

@@BradandNicoleBean yeah just trying to get the Orion to come on. I was thinking of changing the start voltage but I’m worried that if the voltage is too low then the starter battery won’t charge properly? Or it won’t be enough to fully charge the leisure batteries?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

It is a possibility! Are you able to access it on the app location and is your wire bridge in place correctly?

[@tomloweshow]

@@BradandNicoleBean sorry I probably sound a bit clueless but what’s a wire bridge? It’s wired straight into the positive terminal of the engine battery as there’s two under the drivers seat. The whole system is grounded to the van chassis at the back. It appears in the victron app which is how I’ve been monitoring the input voltage

[@BradandNicoleBean]

@@tomloweshow lol not at all. You can go back and watch the beginning of this video or look at the Manuel. It’s the little green connector that’s wired to its self. You can’t start the charger without it being inserted.

[@AkhonaNgquba]

That DC DC charger has one major problem, it is not a battery isolator as well while National Luna, Projecta😂and other brands come with both a built in MPPT and isolator. I found out the hard way when both my auxiliary and main batteries were dead and my car locked (double locked mind you) and the lock had to be drilled out to open the car (it was an emergency)

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Akhona thanks for the comment but your statement is incorrect. This is the Victron Energy Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-Volt 30 amp 360-Watt DC-DC Charger, Isolated (Bluetooth). This is exactly why I purchased this particular one. I’m sure some of these other brands are good but I only use Victron because of it quality.

[@AkhonaNgquba]

They might be different@@BradandNicoleBean. I have the 12|12 9 (110w) isolated (non-bluetooth). It does not isolate the two batteries. It only "manages" the charging profile of the auxiliary battery. I have experience of this. I left a cooler on (the cooler draws a constant 45 watts when cooling) and, I promise you, my battery died. I love Victron (don't get me wring), My entire dual battery system is Victron and it is really good. I was just as shocked when my main battery died. Do some searching on the net and you will see that yours is also not an isolator as defined. When the ignition is off the two batteries do not get "disconnected" so that you only use up the aux battery only. Here is another awkward one that I didn't know until yesterday (after the locksmith opened my car), My DC DC charger does not charge backwards. My auxiliary battery has solar input (Victron MPPT) and Victron AC DC charger (Victron Blue Smart IP67 12|25) so I hooked up the 25 amp (powerhouse) AC DC charger and the auxiliary battery was fully charged in no time but guess what, I still couldn't start my car (funny). I had to jump start it (luckily the two batteries are next to one another). I was so lucky that all of this happened while I was in a safe place (home).

[@BradandNicoleBean]

I only did research on this one. This one actually does isolate. I’m looking at the Bluetooth right now. Engines off. Key is off power coming in 12 V, power going out zero. That’s the luxury of having the Bluetooth so you can see what the unit is doing on or off And from a distance. Definitely an unfortunate circumstance that you found out that yours isn’t isolated. But if it’s supposed to be, I would highly recommend getting with Victron and finding out if it’s wired correctly, there are ways to bypass and in doing so you run the risk of running your main battery down as well.

[@patHopper-bq3rl]

What if the bluetooth light doesn't come on and start blinking? Also our on/off light is not coming on.

[@BradandNicoleBean]

If the the Bluetooth light isn’t flashing that means the unit isn’t getting power. I’d go back and check all your connections and make sure line has power. I didn’t do a very good job of filming it but the on light is on.

[@tim1299]

what is a wire bridge? can this be controlled using a usb cable? thanks

[@BradandNicoleBean]

This was the term they used in the manual for item S1, little green connector. This acts like an on and off switch for the device. You can use the input, depending on how you want to activate the charger. See link www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-Orion-Tr-Smart-Charger-Isolated-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE-IT-.pdf

[@malcolmkegel3905]

hi what bus bars are those?

[@BradandNicoleBean]

The entire list is on the video setting up our electrical but Ferraz Shamut FSPDB3A, 310 Amp, 8-1-1 Distribution Block amzn.to/3i24bcx

[@cesarbetancormartin3633]

very good if you are interested in more people seeing it and subscribing to your channel activate the subtitles in all languages ​​and you will have more views and earn more money I like what you do but I will not watch the video because I do not understand you I wish you the best

[@BradandNicoleBean]

Thank you for your comment. I will on this video, check out some of our other videos. We normally do the video in multiple languages, especially when it an international video.