truck charging trailer

[Perry Butler]

Perry your right. I checked and with 400 amps AC you're getting over 36 amps DC. I'm going to leave my generator home.

400 /12.8 = 31.25 amps for flooded
400/13.2 = 30.3 amps for my LiFePO4’s
Trouble is the above is in a perfect world.

With the IP22 set at 30, 29, or 28 amps the trucks breaker stops charging. At 27 amps it works fine, but I choose 26 amps for some leeway.

Enjoy,

Perry

 

[Centex]

Perry your right. I checked and with 400 amps AC you're getting over 36 amps DC. I'm going to leave my generator home.

Is that supposed to be 400 Watts (referring to the truck inverter's rated output)?

With the IP22 set at 30, 29, or 28 amps the trucks breaker stops charging. At 27 amps it works fine, but I choose 26 amps for some leeway.

Hi, Perry - Those are examples of the user-configurable values for the maximum amp-load the IP22 will place on its AC power source (IOW, maximum input power demand), is that correct? And those can be set from null to 30A in 1A increments, is that correct?

I don't have an IP22 (yet ), I'm just looking at the downloaded Owner's Manual trying to find where / how that input-load limit is set.

TIA for any clarification, your description of its functional utility for you has me intrigued.

(My question has nothing to do with DC output / charging 'rate' which is determined by the charger's output algorithm / configurable charging profile - an entirely separate matter)

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

the charging rate is set by the charger. My statement was based on my PD4655, which WILL output 50A into a discharged lithium battery if it has 120VAC, you can't change that. This will require 700-800 watts of AC input and if your supply can't provide that, the supply will pop a breaker or go into shutdown or whatever.

 

[jnfrombigt]

Is that supposed to be 400 Watts (referring to the truck inverter's rated output)?


Hi, Perry - Those are examples of the user-configurable values for the maximum amp-load the IP22 will place on its AC power source (IOW, maximum input power demand), is that correct? And those can be set from null to 30A in 1A increments, is that correct?

I don't have an IP22 (yet ), I'm just looking at the downloaded Owner's Manual trying to find where / how that input-load limit is set.

TIA for any clarification, your description of its functional utility for you has me intrigued.

400 watts Senior moment

 

[Centex]

the charging rate is set by the charger. My statement was based on my PD4655, which WILL output 50A into a discharged lithium battery if it has 120VAC, you can't change that. This will require 700-800 watts of AC input and if your supply can't provide that, the supply will pop a breaker or go into shutdown or whatever.

And that's precisely why the Victron IP22 described by Perry is intriguing for we with a convenient AC power source rated at 'only' 400W.

400 watts Senior moment

No worries and thanks for the clarification - just trying to confirm whether the Senior Moment was yours or mine as I struggle to follow this thread (heaven knows it could well have been mine!).

 

[Ron in BC]

Perry your right. I checked and with getting over 400 amps AC you're getting 36 amps DC. I'm going to leave my generator home.

Now that would be the ultimate fast charger.

Ron

 

[Chamberman]

Is that supposed to be 400 Watts (referring to the truck inverter's rated output)?

Hi, Perry - Those are examples of the user-configurable values for the maximum amp-load the IP22 will place on its AC power source (IOW, maximum input power demand), is that correct? And those can be set from null to 30A in 1A increments, is that correct?

I don't have an IP22 (yet ), I'm just looking at the downloaded Owner's Manual trying to find where / how that input-load limit is set.

TIA for any clarification, your description of its functional utility for you has me intrigued.

I have the IP22 12/30 model and I've not seen that level of adjustment in the output charging current, only 15/30A. Unless I've completely missed the boat on that and overlooked a button somewhere in the app. The DC output is adjustable in very small increments and was one reason for me in purchasing the IP22. The "smart" features, power supply mode and customizable charge profiles, were the primary reasons.

 

[Perry Butler]

I have the IP22 12/30 model and I've not seen that level of adjustment in the output charging current, only 15/30A. Unless I've completely missed the boat on that and overlooked a button somewhere in the app. The DC output is adjustable in very small increments and was one reason for me in purchasing the IP22. The "smart" features, power supply mode and customizable charge profiles, were the primary reasons.

We’re currently camping. The app only works when the extension cord from the 400 watt inverter is connected to the IP22, so going by memory.

I have no idea what the 120 volt input is and not going to dig to find it. I do know that you go into “custom” settings (?) to set the output to your desired number. For us, that’s 25-26 amps to the battery to avoid the 400 watt inverter shutting down.

We use it to bring the battery back to a decent level, not charge to 100%.

I was messing with the solar before we left and screwed up my counter, so the Victron BMS was incorrect. Two days ago, camping in heavy shade, I had to run the IP22 for two hours to get enough back in the batteries so we will make it to Sunday. It worked great and now with sun are slowly building our charge back up. Can’t do that with flooded batteries. Lithiums don’t need to be at 100% at the end of every day. In our case 30-40% is fine.

With 600 watts of solar, traveling down the road tomorrow we’ll be 100% by the time we get home and then I’ll reset the Victron shunt.

Enjoy,

Perry

 

[Centex]

I have no idea what the 120 volt input is and not going to dig to find it. I do know that you go into “custom” settings (?) to set the output to your desired number. For us, that’s 25-26 amps to the battery to avoid the 400 watt inverter shutting down.

Thanks for taking the time while on the road, it's much appreciated

With the above I now understand how you are managing the IP22 (on the output side) to avoid shutting down the F150's 400W inverter (on the input side).

Again, thanks and I hope y'all have a great time on your trip!

 

[jnfrombigt]

Now that would be the ultimate fast charger.

Ron

Yes I know. Probably do some arc welding with that output and then some

 

[Chamberman]

I have no idea what the 120 volt input is and not going to dig to find it. I do know that you go into “custom” settings (?) to set the output to your desired number. For us, that’s 25-26 amps to the battery to avoid the 400 watt inverter shutting down.

That's good to know that the current is much more adjustable. The next time I'm out at the trailer I'll have to open the Victron app and play around and see what I'm missing. Thx!

 

[Centex]

That's good to know that the current is much more adjustable. The next time I'm out at the trailer I'll have to open the Victron app and play around and see what I'm missing. Thx!

Just FYI, with the tip from Perry I found the instructions relating to this in the PDF Owner's Manual, section 8.1 Advanced settings, sub-heading Maximum charge current.

 

[Chamberman]

Just FYI, with the tip from Perry I found the instructions relating to this in the PDF Owner's Manual, section 8.1 Advanced settings, sub-heading Maximum charge current.

Instruction manual??? Nah that's much too easy Alan!

Thx! Sometimes the easy way eludes me.

I think that I've become too conditioned to how poor many of the manuals are for the equipment I support at work and I expect they will not tell me what I want to know.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

is this IP22 replacing the factory converter, or just acting as an aux battery charger when running off the truck AC ?

the stock power converters in our trailers are not just battery chargers, they are also DC supplies for everything DC when on shore power.

 

[Centex]

.... or just acting as an aux battery charger when running off the truck AC ? ....

^This^. The IP22 is simply a hard-wired aux AC powered battery charger, completely independent of all other charging devices. It can be used concurrent with other charging devices (e.g. solar) if desired.

If wired 'properly' relative to any shunt / battery monitor (+ to battery terminal, - to load-side of shunt), its contribution to the battery will be 'properly accounted' by such device monitoring the battery SOC, etc.

As described by Perry in previous posts, its utility is in certain circumstances when an additional charge may be helpful. Some (many?) folks (yourself, perhaps?) may never encounter those circumstances, No Worries!

 

[Perry Butler]

is this IP22 replacing the factory converter, or just acting as an aux battery charger when running off the truck AC ?

the stock power converters in our trailers are not just battery chargers, they are also DC supplies for everything DC when on shore power.

It’s just a aux battery charger.

We haven’t needed a DC power supply from the WFCO (or IP22) since January 2020. Our batteries/solar handle all our DC needs when hooked to shore power, with no issues, so missing the WFCO for our DC loads just doesn’t happen. However, we mostly camp without services and many times don’t even hook to shore power, unless air conditioning is needed.

We mostly fall/winter/spring camp. The furnace has always been the largest user of DC power, but we only use the furnace when not on shore power. When on shore power we have 300 watt and 1500 watt electric heaters. This month a Wave 3 catalytic heater will be installed to either eliminate (above 32 F) or augment (below 32 F) the furnace, and yes, we will provide proper ventilation for the catalytic heater. We’ve been using a portable Martin catalytic heater, with no condensation or CO problems, since 2020, but it requires a 1 pound tank that we want to eliminate.

If you have solar and decent batteries, and camp like most here, a DC converter is not needed. I’m sure someone has an exception though.

Enjoy,

Perry

 

[Chamberman]

is this IP22 replacing the factory converter, or just acting as an aux battery charger when running off the truck AC ?

the stock power converters in our trailers are not just battery chargers, they are also DC supplies for everything DC when on shore power.

It can be either a secondary charger or the main charger/power supply for the RV. I used the IP22 12/30 to replace my WFCO in my lithium conversion. Now if you bought one of the lower amperage versions of IP22 you may have a problem, but the 30A version will suffice as either.

One of the things I really like about the IP22 is that when we're on shore power and I finish charging the batteries I can switch the IP22 into "Power Supply" mode in the Victron app and then cut the batteries off with the disconnect. In power supply mode you can set the fixed output voltage to whatever you want it to be, 12.80V and up, adjustable in .01V increments. I keep it at 12.80V when on shore power to protect electronics and LED lights.

 

[Perry Butler]

One of the things I really like about the IP22 is that when we're on shore power and I finish charging the batteries I can switch the IP22 into "Power Supply" mode in the Victron app and then cut the batteries off with the disconnect. In power supply mode you can set the fixed output voltage to whatever you want it to be, 12.80V and up, adjustable in .01V increments. I keep it at 12.80V when on shore power to protect electronics and LED lights.

Around 2020, I got caught up in the DC-DC argument and purchased a Orion non-isolated DC-DC, but realized that we didn’t need one with our rooftop solar providing our DC needs. It’s been sitting since. It can be used as a voltage controller. I keep meaning to install the Orion to provide whole house 12.8 voltage from our batteries. I really need to get it installed before the 14.6 solar charging voltage ruins a piece of electronics.

Enjoy,

Perry

 

[Chamberman]

Around 2020, I got caught up in the DC-DC argument and purchased a Orion non-isolated DC-DC, but realized that we didn’t need one with our rooftop solar providing our DC needs. It’s been sitting since. It can be used as a voltage controller. I keep meaning to install the Orion to provide whole house 12.8 voltage from our batteries. I really need to get it installed before the 14.6 solar charging voltage ruins a piece of electronics.

Enjoy,

Perry

I had planned on installing a buck/boost converter, but to date we've only camped on shore power and setting the IP22 into its fixed voltage power supply mode is similar to a buck/boost. I expect I'll eventually install a buck/boost in the next year or two as we plan to begin traveling and staying without shore power.

 

[Centex]

.... I keep meaning to install the Orion to provide whole house 12.8 voltage from our batteries. I really need to get it installed before the 14.6 solar charging voltage ruins a piece of electronics....

That's what I did when I did my lithium installation as a precautionary measure, I just didn't want to have any concerns about high voltage DC effects on any trailer devices.

Like your case my solar takes care of my battery charging needs, I do not have any charging connection to my vehicle, I've only connected to shore power when I wanted extended air conditioning (I can run my mini-split off my battery for a few hours of daily respite without problem). I have a pair of Eu2000 generators for use on my rural property but have never carried one while trailering.

So, thus far I've not had a situation where an IP22 would be needed or useful, but I'm thankful that you shared your experience and helped me understand how it can be useful.

No plan to immediately install one but I'm definitely keeping it in mind as a 'someday' contingency device, thinking that might be a good idea when I finally swap my LP fridge for a compressor model.