Simon, While doing research for my build, I came across this youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5q7_4FH4LQ&t=2167s . He also has diagrams on his website which he links. He specializes in camper vans, but he has layouts for 50 amp solutions. May be helpful.
- Marcus G-R
8V92TA 43.5' 1991 Newell # 258
Toad 2015 Mercedes-Benz Gl350 on a BigTex open trailer.
From my last night reading while attending the mandatory couch session with my wife for TV cuddle time, (Couldn't get away from that assignment) I snuck in my phone and did a little research. Seems there have been issues with the Quattro immediately shutting down when powered up with some stating the Cerbo communications wire needs to be unplugged. From there it may or may not start up. If it does, they say plug in the wire and go check online for updates. I am no programmer so this is foreign territory for me despite having the USB Victron computer communications dongle. Having just finished an amazing breakfast, I need to feed two of my youngest birds, take a shower and start my day. First up the list is to make three panels into series. I'll have three on parallel and three in series. Advice I received from store was three and three in parallel but I would think that would overload the 10gauge wire coming in with excess of amperage.
You may find this link useful, It's a solar calculator, so that you can see how series, vs parallel effects your Voltage and Amperage. Just input your solar panel details, and you can play around with panel configurations, and it will do all the math for you. https://www.explorist.life/solar-charge-...alculator/
(edit, forgot the link)
- Marcus G-R
8V92TA 43.5' 1991 Newell # 258
Toad 2015 Mercedes-Benz Gl350 on a BigTex open trailer.
(This post was last modified: 04-02-2023, 11:04 AM by Dystrakti0n.)
Wattage equals voltage times current. Doesn't matter if they're in series or parallel, voltage is additive in series current is constant, current is added in parallel, voltage is constant. Just from the books I've had to read.
I had some startup issues which befuddled my grey matter. Whenever I turned the single 48v server battery it would overload and shut down. Whenever I turned on the inverter main 120v power it too, would shut down. I don’t know if it is due to needing more battery power to start the thing? I didn’t want to carry another 108lb battery to the bus. I set two strings of series 3 panels and sent both series strings into a “Y” parallel adapter. With a nice load of 140v, I turned on the system and the lynx distributor would cycle itself on and off. From there I turned on the battery and voila, power up. Of course I was taking DC loads off the distributor at first and when finally connecting the inverter with a nice large spark, it came to life. I did the minimal settings on the cerbo for the lithium charge profile. 57.6v and 100ah. Tail current is at 4%. Need to fine tune these if need be. For now it’s working. I’d like to prioritize solar instead of grid since one ac unit can run free all day on the power being being generated. Can’t figure that one out. If there’s a Victron specialist in my area, I’d gladly pay them while I watch and learn.
The main issue is the buck converter. It is set for a max of 56v and will cut off 13.6v production at that point. I’ve reached out to the seller on Amazon who is the manufacturer and in China. I know they program these for custom voltages and will see if they can help me. If not, I’ll have to shell out another $280 on a life’s lesson learned.
Its been a couple years so forgive me as I'm pulling from memory.
From the picture of the color panel it shows your inverter is not connected to shore power, did it ever show up on the color panel as on line to shore power? Here is a picture of what it should look like using battery only and then shore power. Can you open victron connect on your lap top using the usb adaptor that plugs into the inverter charger via ethernet connection? Have you set the type battery you are using in the inverter charger to Lithium? There are a number of features that if not turned off or set up correctly will drive you crazy on the victron inverter charger. Make sure you link everything using the blue tooth app. The DC to DC converter is stepping down to 13.6 in replacement of the house batteries or is this to charge the house batteries? 57V is 100% charge on a 48V lithium system so the inverter charger shouldn't be putting out any voltage to the batteries. Looks like you set up the MPPT charge controller via blue tooth. Here is a chart that I use, I use the conservative values to the right of the chart on all my solar projects, it will prolong the life of the batteries well beyond my life. Not saying you should but the chart to the left for 48v will give you an idea of state of charge of your battery and you can program that via blue tooth to the shunt that measures voltage and current and it will appear on your color panel. Maybe dropping your battery voltage to 54v rather than 57v will help out of the DC to DC converter which has a max of 56v
Hi Jack! Yes, I do have the Grid showing power and load going out. When I took that pic, I was in testing phase where I started turning on things one by one to see where the thing would trip off. A/C, TV's, Fridge (Cooling phase), microwave and bedroom lighting were all working and drawing 3300 watts with 2280 coming in from panels. When I turned on the Breville toaster, that's where it all went down. I set dip switch 5 in the inverter to 50a Vs it's default 30a.
I really appreciate the chart! I was looking high and low on setting charging voltages. I set mine according to the booklet that came with the battery but even I too, felt it was at its max charge. I will drop it down to the 90% level. I ordered another converter that can handle 175 amps (Even though I do not need it that high) as their new version can handle 60v. I really do not feel comfortable having such a thin margin of voltage from cutting off all the lights and pumps in the coach. Since the seller is in China they would have to program it there. Shipping it to them wouldn't make sense. Maybe I can return the other? It's an Amazon transaction.
In this pic, this is the idle consumption with everything on and on standby. Fridge was in cooling cycle as I left the doors open. You can barely hear the compressor running. Really efficient!
Looks like you got it handled! I am going to do pretty much the same but use two 3000w victron inverter chargers in parallel , I was thinking about using the growatt like we have here in our home but with growatt you don't have the color panel that you can mount anywhere and I want to be able to see what the system is doing without having to have a wifi connection, Victron is so much better equipment.
Getting that touchscreen wire fished through took about 4 hours alone. What a pain in the butt! I chose Victron for its supposedly low idle consumption. At the end of the day, a simple all in one Chinese inverter would do the job very will. The color screen is nice but I came from a three line LCD display and a rotary wheel. Anything is nicer than that... (By the way, I went outside and set the new parameters for the battery.) Thanks again!!
(04-03-2023, 07:57 AM)BusNit Wrote: Getting that touchscreen wire fished through took about 4 hours alone. What a pain in the butt! I chose Victron for its supposedly low idle consumption. At the end of the day, a simple all in one Chinese inverter would do the job very will. The color screen is nice but I came from a three line LCD display and a rotary wheel. Anything is nicer than that... (By the way, I went outside and set the new parameters for the battery.) Thanks again!!
I wish we were closer, I love to see where and how you mounted the Unistrut. What size Unistrut did you use 1.5" tall? I was wondering if 1.5? tall would allow the panel to clear the crest of the roof.
