Li-thiiii-um.... continued.

[ATHiker]

Where do you plan to connect the two power wires for the Victron Smart Shunt?

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by ATHiker

Where do you plan to connect the two power wires for the Victron Smart Shunt?

the main +12V wire is connected to the red terminal strip which is directly attached to both batteries by way of 100A fuses and fairly short #4 gauge wires. the other 'aux' one, if I find the temp sensor it came with, I'll tape that between the batts and configure it as a temp sensor.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

actually, I'm thinking of replacing the original battery external vent with a waterproof connector box, and having a dual powerpole in there, fused for 30 amps or so.

and, hmmmm. not finding much in the way of waterproof marine style DC connectors for more than 1-2 amps. thinking of getting weird, and using a AC style twist-lock receptacle, clearly labeled 12V DC, and making a breakout box with a pigtail with the plug, and a variety of powerpole, USB, and cigar outlets. maybe a 'smartplug' like this, but yeesh, expensive. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/smart...58?recordNum=3

[Centex]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

and, hmmmm. not finding much in the way of waterproof marine style DC connectors for more than 1-2 amps. thinking of getting weird, and using a AC style twist-lock receptacle, clearly labeled 12V DC, and making a breakout box with a pigtail with the plug, and a variety of powerpole, USB, and cigar outlets. maybe a 'smartplug' like this, but yeesh, expensive. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/smart...58?recordNum=3

If you've got the ETI original removable shore-power cord you might consider the linked smartplug to replace that and repurpose / relocate the ETI outlet / cord-end for your 12VDC purpose.

Yep, they're proud of those smartplugs but I sure like the feel of it since upgrading my ETI removable shore-power to that system.

Enjoying following your continuing progress, keep Having Fun!

[BobG]

John, I don't think charging voltage for lithium batteries is affected by temperature so I don't think you need a battery temperature sensor for the purpose of dynamically adjusting charge. If you are using the temperature to turn off charging when temperature drops to freezing, that should be built in to the battery BMS.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by Centex

If you've got the ETI original removable shore-power cord you might consider the linked smartplug to replace that and repurpose / relocate the ETI outlet / cord-end for your 12VDC purpose.

Yep, they're proud of those smartplugs but I sure like the feel of it since upgrading my ETI removable shore-power to that system.

Enjoying following your continuing progress, keep Having Fun!

I have one sitting in my garage waiting for my next trailer.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by BobG

John, I don't think charging voltage for lithium batteries is affected by temperature so I don't think you need a battery temperature sensor for the purpose of dynamically adjusting charge. If you are using the temperature to turn off charging when temperature drops to freezing, that should be built in to the battery BMS.

Temperature is important to the maximum charging rate for lithium-ion batteries, and electric vehicles carefully monitor temperature, but if the charging rate is kept low enough the temperature can be ignored... as long as it is within some set limits.

[Vermilye]

I don't know if it is necessary with the Smart Shunt, but with the shunt used with the 712, the battery temperature sensor must be connected to one of the battery positive terminals - it supplies the + voltage to the shunt & meter and replaces the battery + wire.


As to why use it with the lithium batteries, I set the low temperature cutoff on the solar controller at 34°F. The 712 is networked to the 100/50 solar controller. A belt & suspenders approach to not charging the batteries below freezing.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I don't know if it is necessary with the Smart Shunt, but with the shunt used with the 712, the battery temperature sensor must be connected to one of the battery positive terminals - it supplies the + voltage to the shunt & meter and replaces the battery + wire.

mine is effectively connected to the battery +, just after a foot or so of #4AWG

As to why use it with the lithium batteries, I set the low temperature cutoff on the solar controller at 34°F. The 712 is networked to the 100/50 solar controller. A belt & suspenders approach to not charging the batteries below freezing.

so to network them, I just need a ve.direct(?) patch cable ? I didn't think the SmartSolar could directly talk to a shunt, reading the docs kind of left me with the impression you needed one of their master controller things, GX something or the other?

[BobG]

John, The Smart Solar Charge controller will talk via bluetooth to the Smart shunt without additional cables. It will also talk to Victron Connect on your phone and you will be able to set the MPPT settings using Victron Connect on your phone. However, if you want to use a GX touch screen, then you may have to use network cable or USB cable from the MPPT smart solar controller to the Cedrbo GX device in order to display the the solar panels in a separate window on the Touch 50/70 screen.


I am not an expert or professional with Victron stuff but I have managed to figure out enough to setup and manage my system. When I have been stumped, people have helped me. Just the other day I was asking a Victron guy in the Big Tent how to download, modify the setting file and then upload it to the trailer using Victron Remote Management (VRM). It turned out to be easy if you know where to look.


You are getting close to finishing. Before you travel with the trailer, change the PIN for each piece of Victron Equipment from the default 000000 (six 0s) to something else. You can use the same PIN for each piece of equipment. Here at Quartzsite, my Victron Connect connects to other people's Victron equipment. Changing the PIN keeps someone from messing with you.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by BobG

John, The Smart Solar Charge controller will talk via bluetooth to the Smart shunt without additional cables. It will also talk to Victron Connect on your phone and you will be able to set the MPPT settings using Victron Connect on your phone. ....

good to know. I'll play with that. I'm using the android app now on my old tablet to collect stats from it while I'm playing with them, but it only can connect to one device at a time.

....You are getting close to finishing. Before you travel with the trailer, change the PIN for each piece of Victron Equipment from the default 000000 (six 0s) to something else. You can use the same PIN for each piece of equipment. Here at Quartzsite, my Victron Connect connects to other people's Victron equipment. Changing the PIN keeps someone from messing with you.

very good idea. I hadn't bothered to do this with just the SmartShunt as it has no control functions, just display, AND I get /very/ weak signal even immediately outside the trailer.

[BobG]

I am not able to use my surface pro tablet for Victron Connect. I don't think Victron equipment works with Windows Bluetooth at this time.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by BobG

I am not able to use my surface pro tablet for Victron Connect. I don't think Victron equipment works with Windows Bluetooth at this time.

there is a 'download for Windows' here,
https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-...victronconnect

can't say I've ever tried it.

oh., on another page (the manual), it says...

Note that on Windows, VictronConnect cannot use Bluetooth Smart to connect to a product. Other connection methods, such as USB, or LAN and WiFi do work properly.

so you need their USB adapter for Windows.

[BobG]

Wow! I missed that. I knew Victron was working on it but failed to notice it had happened. Thanks. I will update in the morning.

[John in Santa Cruz]

so. got the SmartShunt 500A and SmartSolar 100/12-30. Both hooked up to VictronConnect on my spare tablet and my phone via bluetooth. I can create a VE-Direct network with either of them, but the other never sees it, I can't "Join Existing"... They are mounted a foot or so apart on a plywood board.

I am going to stick the thermistor between the batteries so I can monitor temps, and I figure if the solar controller can use that, even better. I know I can't get the PD4655Li to read it, but in a pinch, the battery has low temperature shutoff at 32F, so it won't be ruined, and if the PD is plugged in, there's a very good chance the battery is already fully charged. I suspect that as long as 30-50 amps of charge power is flowing into the batteries, its not likely to freeze inside until its fully charged, the current goes to zero, and then it cools down, and then the BMS shuts down the charge, thats ok.. the low *discharge* temperature is -22F, I hope to never ever see weather that cold again.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by BobG

I am not able to use my surface pro tablet for Victron Connect. I don't think Victron equipment works with Windows Bluetooth at this time.

oh. WHICH Microsoft Surface Pro tablet do you have? They have made like 8 generations, and the newest ones use a ARM CPU instead of Intel X86. only some Windows software will work on these. Stuff built with DotNet should be portable, but traditional compiled x86 code, not so much so.

[BobG]

I have a Surface Pro 7.

[BobG]

When I try to install Victron Connect Windows version I receive the message "This app can't run on your PC".


There is a Facebook Group "Victron Powered Camper" that has some very Victron knowledgeable people.

[ATHiker]

Where are you planning to install the Orion-Tr DC-DC 12/12-18 charger?

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by BobG

When I try to install Victron Connect Windows version I receive the message "This app can't run on your PC".


There is a Facebook Group "Victron Powered Camper" that has some very Victron knowledgeable people.

I installed VictronConnect on my MS Surface and the app runs fine. It won't work with bluetooth tho. Says USB will work but I don't see a USB port. There's a port named 'VE' i think it is but it ain't like no USB port I've ever seen. Victron has a bunch of cables on their site. One of those would probably do the job.