B2B location

[Take2]

Has anyone fitted their B2B under their drivers seat?
My 100 amp Lithium is under the there at the moment and it would be neat if I could also place a 30 amp VictronConnect B2B there too.
I know it gets hot and needs some ventilation but if I could fit it to a metal grill like I’ve seen on YouTube that’d be great. Just need that bit of confirmation or outright condemnation. Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers Ray

 

[Zigisla]

My 60 amp B2B is fitted under my seat and not had any snags. Vanbitz fitted mine a few years ago and no problems with heat dissipation. It is fitted flat on the floor in front of the battery.

 

[Take2]

My 60 amp B2B is fitted under my seat and not had any snags. Vanbitz fitted mine a few years ago and no problems with heat dissipation. It is fitted flat on the floor in front of the battery.

Thanks for the reply. Mind if I ask a few questions?
With it supplying 60A, how have they prevented it burning the floor?
Was any extra ventilation fitted?
TIA

 

[Pausim]

Have you already bought the Victron 30A B2B? The newer 50A version runs much cooler and should not be a problem under the seat. If it is a Fiat base there should be a vented removable plastic cover on the back of the seat and there may be room under that cover. If there is then it would be easy to temporarily remove the cover if the B2B gets too hot (2 release lugs on the top of the cover).

My original 25A Schaudt B2B is under that cover and my additional 50A Victron B2B is under the seat. The Schaudt unit is mounted on a metal plate suspended from the seat frame. The 30A Victron unit has a particular reputation for getting hot, some units have built in fans and others like the 50A Victron have different electronics that produces less heat.

 

[Dolmen]

I have a 2022 FiatDucato with a 230ah lithium, 30 amp Victron b2b and battery master under the drivers seat. I have heard about b2b’s getting hot, however, have checked a number of times and never experienced it

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[fishplug]

The old Orion 30A were notorious for getting hot and I'd certainly not be installing one somewhere without adequate airflow.

However, the current version of the Orion XS is not only smaller but it puts out 50A and doesn't get hot in the same way.

 

[CaptainPaul]

Factory fitted (2024 Carthago Malibu) 150ah Super B Lithium leisure battery under passenger seat, no issues so far & location seems very well ventilated

 

[TrudeandDall]

Have you already bought the Victron 30A B2B? The newer 50A version runs much cooler and should not be a problem under the seat. If it is a Fiat base there should be a vented removable plastic cover on the back of the seat and there may be room under that cover. If there is then it would be easy to temporarily remove the cover if the B2B gets too hot (2 release lugs on the top of the cover).

My original 25A Schaudt B2B is under that cover and my additional 50A Victron B2B is under the seat. The Schaudt unit is mounted on a metal plate suspended from the seat frame. The 30A Victron unit has a particular reputation for getting hot, some units have built in fans and others like the 50A Victron have different electronics that produces less heat.

You beat me to it Pausin....
My setup is the same as yours, only the 50A is a Votronic. Often both the Schaudt and Votronic run at the same time with no cooling issues.
If you can ditch your 30A in favour of a cooler running 50A it may be worthwhile in the long run.

 

[oldiesontour]

Both my front seats are " boxed in" 1 has 320ah battery and a 2000w psw inverter under it the other has a 320ah battery and a 50a B2B with mppt and a separate 40amp mppt both have temp controlled computer fans (40 c) behind 9" x 6" vents ...they have never come on (yet but hope the long hot summer of 2025 will see them over worked)

 

[Markman]

I have a Victron 30A B2B which works great but doesn't charge my 230Ah Li battery under the driver's seat very quickly. Should I change to a 50A B2B? What is the max current i could take of the alternator on a 2018 Ducato?

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[Lenny HB]

When I helped Paul (Helen Ariel) we fitted the B2B under the seat, mounted a ply panel behind the battery as the B2B needs to be mounted vertically.
It was Victron 50 amp XS, I wouldn't fit a 30 amp there they run too and need plenty of ventilation.

 

[oldiesontour]

I have a Victron 30A B2B which works great but doesn't charge my 230Ah Li battery under the driver's seat very quickly. Should I change to a 50A B2B? What is the max current i could take of the alternator on a 2018 Ducato?

It will have at least 110amp probably 140 or 160amp alternator so a 50amp b2bb is no problem ,you could add a 50amp to your existing 30 amp...as I'm going to do by refitting my old 30amp 2020 boxer)

 

[rod_vw]

The later Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A reputedly runs much cooler than the older 30A type and is a bit smaller. However the XS does need a D+ (old description), ignition on (current work around) or a proper alternator charging signal from the BMS. Those depend on your vehicle and if it has a smart alternator fitted.

I'll tell you if that's a fact when I've fitted mine.

 

[AdrianChen]

I have a Victron 30A B2B which works great but doesn't charge my 230Ah Li battery under the driver's seat very quickly. Should I change to a 50A B2B? What is the max current i could take of the alternator on a 2018 Ducato?

We had an Orion 30, it was installed in the garage so pretty well ventilated - after 45mins or so it would start to throttle the output down from 30 to around 24amps, then it was pretty stable. Because the van's standard wiring was 16mm² and the run from the front is around 9m there was 0.9v voltage drop, which meant that the Orion input was 13.3, rather than the 14.2 of the alternator, the output voltage was set for 14.25 for lithium. So working on the basis that the Orion was having to work harder than necessary I planned to change to a 35mm feed. They really do need good ventilation, and correct cables to work well. I have seen (youtube) some installed with an external fan to cool them.

I like the fanless approach of the Victrons, so when the XS came out we changed to that type - still needs a 35mm feed, but it is more efficient at 98% vs 83% for the older model which means less heat produced. As I still haven't got round to sorting the cable the XS is normally set to a 35amp output, I've tried it at 40 which it delivered over a couple of hours with no problem, and certainly far less heat. I wont set it to 50 until the cable is changed. The point being that the XS is very configurable to suit the installation.

Not sure what type of fridge you have, but if it's a 3way type that can use 17+amps, and the output of the Orion is down to the 24 or less amps, there isn't much left for the battery!

I don't think you will have a problem with your alternator at 50amps, but if you can find the sticker/part number you can check what output you have. Rule of thumb with older front fan types used to be 30% of the Alternator output, but modern alternators cool much better with twin internal fans etc, and if you have a modest battery then it will only require a short period at full charge rates. Pushing the alternator to maximum, especially when the van is not moving and the engine is idling (traffic jams and farting around leaving a pitch with lights on and wipers/heaters etc) risks getting the alternator hot, some then drop their voltage to keep cool, so I tend to be cautious on the spec, then I don't have to think about it.

 

[AdrianChen]

The later Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A reputedly runs much cooler than the older 30A type and is a bit smaller. However the XS does need a D+ (old description), ignition on (current work around) or a proper alternator charging signal from the BMS. Those depend on your vehicle and if it has a smart alternator fitted.

I'll tell you if that's a fact when I've fitted mine.

Tested the XS with the engine shutdown protection before connecting D+ and it worked! Prefer the D+ method though.

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[Zigisla]

Thanks for the reply. Mind if I ask a few questions?
With it supplying 60A, how have they prevented it burning the floor?
Was any extra ventilation

nothing fitted under mine, just doesn’t get hot enough I suppose. No additional ventilation as there is enough any way

 

[AdrianChen]

nothing fitted under mine, just doesn’t get hot enough I suppose. No additional ventilation as there is enough any way
View attachment 995766

Does it have an internal fan?

 

[Zigisla]

Does it have an internal fan?

Yes it does. A small 40mm one but enough I guess.

 

[AdrianChen]

Yes it does. A small 40mm one but enough I guess.

Thats why it wont get hot, plenty of air flow.....

 

[Take2]

I have a 2022 FiatDucato with a 230ah lithium, 30 amp Victron b2b and battery master under the drivers seat. I have heard about b2b’s getting hot, however, have checked a number of times and never experienced it

Thanks for that. Could you tell me what kind of surface your b2b is attached to, under the seat?

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[Take2]

Have you already bought the Victron 30A B2B? The newer 50A version runs much cooler and should not be a problem under the seat. If it is a Fiat base there should be a vented removable plastic cover on the back of the seat and there may be room under that cover. If there is then it would be easy to temporarily remove the cover if the B2B gets too hot (2 release lugs on the top of the cover).

My original 25A Schaudt B2B is under that cover and my additional 50A Victron B2B is under the seat. The Schaudt unit is mounted on a metal plate suspended from the seat frame. The 30A Victron unit has a particular reputation for getting hot, some units have built in fans and others like the 50A Victron have different electronics that produces less heat.

Thanks for the info on the cooler 50A. Bear that in mind

 

[Take2]

You beat me to it Pausin....
My setup is the same as yours, only the 50A is a Votronic. Often both the Schaudt and Votronic run at the same time with no cooling issues.
If you can ditch your 30A in favour of a cooler running 50A it may be worthwhile in the long run.

Thanks for all the advice. Does the 50A run cooler cos you’re limiting it to 30A or does it run cooler at 50 amps?

 

[Take2]

Both my front seats are " boxed in" 1 has 320ah battery and a 2000w psw inverter under it the other has a 320ah battery and a 50a B2B with mppt and a separate 40amp mppt both have temp controlled computer fans (40 c) behind 9" x 6" vents ...they have never come on (yet but hope the long hot summer of 2025 will see them over worked)

(yet but hope the long hot summer of 2025 will see them over worked) Here’s to positivity

 

[TrudeandDall]

Thanks for all the advice. Does the 50A run cooler cos you’re limiting it to 30A or does it run cooler at 50 amps?

When I mentioned to "ditch your 30 amp" I should have said that I was referring to your 30 amp Victron, as in your original post.
My Votronic B2B runs okay at 50 amps, with no issues at all on a 5000 mile trip down to Spain and back in September. I can derate it at the push of a button, but only to 39 amps.
It has a built in fan, but I don't really hear the fan cutting in as the B2B is only operational when the engine is running and that normally means driving. The fan may be on quite a lot!

 

[PeterCarole29]

I can confirm the Victron 30amp B2B do run hot if no computer fans are fitted they will throttle down in amps
I havent had any problem with mine, But if i did another van i would definately go victron 50amp new version

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[StillGoing]

Thanks for all the advice. Does the 50A run cooler cos you’re limiting it to 30A or does it run cooler at 50 amps?

It runs cool at 50A.

I know a couple of people with the 30A version. One of them had to install cooling fans and has now replaced it with a 50A. The other tells me it drops to only 20A (or less) when it gets warm (which it does all the time).

My recommendation is to get the 50A even though you are only planning to run it at 30A and it is more expensive. You won’t regret it unless you want a heated drivers seat?

 

[Dolmen]

Thanks for that. Could you tell me what kind of surface your b2b is attached to, under the seat?

The unit was installed by Bluefix energy solutions, basically, the 230ah eco tree battery (specifically designed for underseat, as are others), sits towards the front, there is then a wooden board with the b2b attached vertically to it and hence just behind the ventilation slats at the rear of the seat. Everything works perfectly and has been a true fit and forget, however, having read reports on here b2b's getting hot, I occasionally check mine after a long run and can honestly say I have never felt any heat coming out through the rear vents and the b2b is right behind them. Now I just get on with enjoying my travels. The only thing that might have made a difference is that Bluefix go on endlessly about the need for specifying the correct cable diameters based upon location, length of cabling etc and wont compromise. I have just put the van away after a trip and wont be out for another couple of weeks. I will take a photo then showing the i9nstallation and which model of Victron 30a b2b it is. Bluefix are ex Victron engineers who started their own business

 

[AdrianChen]

The unit was installed by Bluefix energy solutions, basically, the 230ah eco tree battery (specifically designed for underseat, as are others), sits towards the front, there is then a wooden board with the b2b attached vertically to it and hence just behind the ventilation slats at the rear of the seat. Everything works perfectly and has been a true fit and forget, however, having read reports on here b2b's getting hot, I occasionally check mine after a long run and can honestly say I have never felt any heat coming out through the rear vents and the b2b is right behind them. Now I just get on with enjoying my travels. The only thing that might have made a difference is that Bluefix go on endlessly about the need for specifying the correct cable diameters based upon location, length of cabling etc and wont compromise. I have just put the van away after a trip and wont be out for another couple of weeks. I will take a photo then showing the i9nstallation and which model of Victron 30a b2b it is. Bluefix are ex Victron engineers who started their own business

Given your's is well ventilated, and has properly sized cables I'm sure it would have worked well, I'm sure mine would have if I had got of my ar$e and changed the input cable - most of the vids I've seen that used fans etc were when the device was installed in a small cupboard, with other warm kit in the same location. The efficiency of many of these devices is not great, and an internal fan gives more tolerance to the installation being acceptable I suppose.

 

[Take2]

The unit was installed by Bluefix energy solutions, basically, the 230ah eco tree battery (specifically designed for underseat, as are others), sits towards the front, there is then a wooden board with the b2b attached vertically to it and hence just behind the ventilation slats at the rear of the seat. Everything works perfectly and has been a true fit and forget, however, having read reports on here b2b's getting hot, I occasionally check mine after a long run and can honestly say I have never felt any heat coming out through the rear vents and the b2b is right behind them. Now I just get on with enjoying my travels. The only thing that might have made a difference is that Bluefix go on endlessly about the need for specifying the correct cable diameters based upon location, length of cabling etc and wont compromise. I have just put the van away after a trip and wont be out for another couple of weeks. I will take a photo then showing the i9nstallation and which model of Victron 30a b2b it is. Bluefix are ex Victron engineers who started their own business

Appreciate the reply. Many thanks to you and all the other guys on the thread. HNY one and all

 

[Markman]

The unit was installed by Bluefix energy solutions, basically, the 230ah eco tree battery (specifically designed for underseat, as are others), sits towards the front, there is then a wooden board with the b2b attached vertically to it and hence just behind the ventilation slats at the rear of the seat.

As is mine, exactly, also installed by Bluefix (although in my case it got a bit complicated with accidental damage when putting the screws in to fix the board to the van. The drill hit Fiat cabling and caused the installation to take longer than anticipated! Not their fault but complicated things. They fixed it all.