Battery charging

[Mart 63]

Hi, first night last night off grid, my battery is down to 71%. I've switched the combi inverter off. Does it need to been on to charge batteries. Thanks, it's still a learning curve for us.

 

[Figaro]

I think the inverter will be powering any 230v appliances you have connected and therefore draining the battery.
Charging is done by solar, electric hook up or driving.
The inverter is still drain the battery if turned on and not powering anything, so it's worth turning off if not in use.

 

[fishplug]

As Figaro said, most inverters will consume some power on standby even if you don't have anything connected to the 240v so if you're 'off grid' and not using the 240 then switching the inverter off when not in use will help conserve the batteries.

There are also 'Inverter Chargers' which might be behind the question. These are 'all in one' units that act both as an inverter and as a charger. However, they only act as a charger when you connect them to shore power. Charging from solar or from a DC-DC (aka B2B) charger will be independent of this.

Short answer:
Turning inverter off when not using 240v is fine.

 

[MichaelT]

Depends how big your battery (s) is/are we can easily use 10 to 15% overnight out of 500a if you only have 100a then no cause for worry.

If you not using any 230v appliances turn inverter off as there is small drain. This time of year you will have heating on, tv, lights etc so normal I would think.

 

[Tombola]

Keep in mind, It wontcharge your batteries if you are off grid.
You need to be on site plugged in with ehu for the battery charger to work.

When off grid a b2b when engine running or solar does the charging if you have them

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[Lenny HB]

Always turn the inverter off when not using it as just sitting there it will draw 1 to 1.5 amps that's up to 36 ah over 24 hours.

We have been away 2 nights our batteries are at 73% so used 131 ah that's low for us normally use more than that in the summer.

 

[Mart 63]

Thanks for replies, the sun is out now. Will look in a bit if any charge is going in

 

[Figaro]

If you're in the UK solar is unlikely to do very much in December as the sun is so low in the sky.
But you should see some charge going in to confirm it's working

 

[Mart 63]

If you're in the UK solar is unlikely to do very much in December as the sun is so low in the sky.
But you should see some charge going in to confirm it's working

Thanks, we are in the Mar Menor, still on 72% with the inverter off and only using gas for fridge and hot water.

 

[MichaelT]

Always turn the inverter off when not using it as just sitting there it will draw 1 to 1.5 amps that's up to 36 ah over 24 hours.

We have been away 2 nights our batteries are at 73% so used 131 ah that's low for us normally use more than that in the summer.

But as I said SOC varies depending on the amount of battery ah you have, not sure how big the OP Mart 63 has to know if it's excessive.

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[Figaro]

we are in the Mar Menor

Ah, ok, you should get some solar there

 

[headlight]

Always turn the inverter off when not using it as just sitting there it will draw 1 to 1.5 amps that's up to 36 ah over 24 hours.

We have been away 2 nights our batteries are at 73% so used 131 ah that's low for us normally use more than that in the summer.

Depends on the inverter though.
My 2,000 watt inverter only draws 0.1 amps or 2.4 amps per 24 hours on standby according to the Victron Shunt.

 

[Mart 63]

Just took this screenshot

 

[headlight]

Just took this screenshot



View attachment 986423

So your solar is in bulk charge charging at 2.4 amps.
And the orange dot with the exclamation mark, top right of your screenshot, means that an update is available for the app.

 

[Lenny HB]

Depends on the inverter though.
My 2,000 watt inverter only draws 0.1 amps or 2.4 amps per 24 hours on standby according to the Victron Shunt.

That's very low mine in standby is 1.4 amps, in AES mode 0.9 - 1 amps, not tried Search mode as I know it may not turn on with light loads but supposed to be 0.4 amp. Victron 3000va Multiplus 2.

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[Lenny HB]

Just took this screenshot



View attachment 986423

That is just the solar charge not relavant to state of batteries.
You must have some good weather my 350 watts is only producing 5 watts.

 

[AdrianChen]

Hi, first night last night off grid, my battery is down to 71%. I've switched the combi inverter off. Does it need to been on to charge batteries. Thanks, it's still a learning curve for us.

Which make of Combi inverter do you have? Some will allow you to set a lower draw when on standby, but I tend not to use those features that automatically detect when a 240v device is turned on, and just switch it to "Charger Only" when we are not using 240v kit and are on EHU, and off when we are off EHU.

As others have said the batteries will charge from Solar, and the engine alternator if the Combi is off (its independant), then when you have EHU the Combi's charger will come on in addition to your solar.

 

[headlight]

That's very low mine in standby is 1.4 amps, in AES mode 0.9 - 1 amps, not tried Search mode as I now it may not turn on with light loads but supposed to be 0.4 amp. Victron 3000va Multiplus 2.

Yes I was surprised how low it is but my shunt confirms the draw is only 0.1 amps.
That is with the inverter turned on on its on/off switch and on standby on the remote display.
I haven't actually turned the inverter off on its on/off switch since fitting it nearly 12 months ago.
In winter my solar covers the drain easily as it is so low.

 

[headlight]

That is just the solar chare not relavant to state of batteries.
You must have some good weather my 350 watts is only producing 5 watts.

My 230 watts is producing 3 watts at the moment

 

[Mart 63]

It's gone up 1%, another question. Will charging a phone us much power. Thanks

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[Mart 63]

Which make of Combi inverter do you have? Some will allow you to set a lower draw when on standby, but I tend not to use those features that automatically detect when a 240v device is turned on, and just switch it to "Charger Only" when we are not using 240v kit and are on EHU, and off when we are off EHU.

As others have said the batteries will charge from Solar, and the engine alternator if the Combi is off (its independant), then when you have EHU the Combi's charger will come on in addition to your solar.

It's a Mastervolt system

 

[headlight]

It's gone up 1%, another question. Will charging a phone us much power. Thanks

No it won't.
Slightly less if you use 12v to charge it rather than 230v from your inverter.

 

[Lenny HB]

It's gone up 1%, another question. Will charging a phone us much power. Thanks

Not much my phone charging from a USB socket at 2.9 amps takes 1.2 amps from the 12v supply, if you are using a mains charger it will be a tiny bit more plus the inverter overhead that could be another couple of amps. So best not to use a mains charger.

It's a Mastervolt system

I didn't know Rapido used Mastervolt, I take it you have a fairly big Lithium system.

 

[MichaelT]

My 230 watts is producing 3 watts at the moment

So that will skew your draw on the shunt. The actual draw is 3.1 or more, turn solar off and see.

 

[headlight]

So that will skew your draw on the shunt. The actual draw is 3.1 or more, turn solar off and see.

What actual draw ?

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[AdrianChen]

It's a Mastervolt system

Our last Combi Pro would use 7w with the inverter on standby on its "energy saving mode" - I think the Combimasters use a little more, so in 24hrs between 12ah and 20ah ish.

 

[MichaelT]

What actual draw ?

If your shunt is showing a draw of 0.1a and you have 3a coming in from solar the actual draw is 2.9a so turn your solar charger off and see what the actual draw is without any charge coming in.

 

[headlight]

If your shunt is showing a draw of 0.1a and you have 3a coming in from solar the actual draw is 2.9a so turn your solar charger off and see what the actual draw is without any charge coming in.

The 0.1 amp inverter standby draw readings were at night so no solar charge to skew the readings.
If I have the inverter on and the remote on but am not using any 240v items from the inverter, so effectively standby, the draw is 1.2 amps.
Having the inverter turned on but the remote in standby reduces the standby drain to 0.1 amps.

 

[MichaelT]

The 0.1 amp inverter standby draw readings were at night so no solar charge to skew the readings.
If I have the inverter on and the remote on but am not using any 240v items from the inverter, so effectively standby, the draw is 1.2 amps.
Having the inverter turned on but the remote in standby reduces the standby drain to 0.1 amps.

On mine the remote turns the inverter on/off so no draw at all when off?

 

[Lenny HB]

On mine the remote turns the inverter on/off so no draw at all when off?

There will be some draw unless you are disconnecting the 12v supply to it.