I have this new kit but what should I know about it

[Swifter]

You wouldn't want the earlier version ....
View attachment 614683
Like a scene from "Aliens"

Like a scene from a Gadget John electrical YouTube install more like it .
The only difference is that his looked like this at the end of the video

 

[stevec]

FWIW, This is my Electrics Locker where I keep all the Victron kit.

(The Ablemail B2B is at the front close to all the batteries).

And for cooling, fitted this fan/vent kit in the locker door, controlled by a temp sensor.
View attachment 614441View attachment 614442
Electronic devices can keep running at remarkably high temperatures, but it is always good if you can keep them as cool as possible. Where there are installations in the largeish garages in the big Motorhomes (and see some outstanding installations posted up here on the forum), it is worth keeping an eye on the temps and if holidaying in the warmer climes, consider adding external ventilation if not already present.

Would be interested in where you got the combined bus bar from for both pos and neg.

 

[Hoovie]

Would be interested in where you got the combined bus bar from for both pos and neg.

They are a pretty generic product nowadays and used to be readily available from eBay and Amazon as well as direct sellers at silly (low) prices. but since Brexit and Covid, they are getting much harder to find and the free shipping from China listings have all disappeared.
Try a search for something like "Midi fuse holder".
They are very handy and I use them a lot for combining different charging devices into a battery. If you can't find any listed anywhere, I have a couple left I think.
For info, my installation shows one main +ve and one main -ve into the box.... you can actually have two of each cable in, so it can be a handy way to parallel two batteries in balance depending on your layout.


UPDATE: Here is one on Amazon ... https://amzn.to/3P23Oi8

 

[stevec]

Thanks for that. Have not yet decided how to wire up the new van when it arrives at the end of the year (I hope) but that will get filed as a possible piece of kit.

 

[Raul]

The way the victron declares the ratings in their data sheet is spot on. That way a professional that understands what apparent power is, the rating is there. The absorbed power in W, is dependable on load, and as mentioned before, if you connect a resistive heater it will be PF1, therefore it will absorb all the power delivered. Stick a switch power supply on it and can have a PF as low as 0,6; so the PF0,8 in their data sheet is a middle ground.
Other manufacturers declare the rating in W @ PF1. That means, it will be xxx W, if load is a PF1. Many folk misinterpret this as the inverter delivers xxxW at PF1, very wrong.
Any AC source the rating is in apparent power. The absorbed power depends on the load type, and what’s not absorbed it returns back to source as reactive power.
Kva- apparent power
Kw- absorbed power
Kvar- reactive power

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[funflair]

The way the victron declares the ratings in their data sheet is spot on. That way a professional that understands what apparent power is, the rating is there. The absorbed power in W, is dependable on load, and as mentioned before, if you connect a resistive heater it will be PF1, therefore it will absorb all the power delivered. Stick a switch power supply on it and can have a PF as low as 0,6; so the PF0,8 in their data sheet is a middle ground.
Other manufacturers declare the rating in W @ PF1. That means, it will be xxx W, if load is a PF1. Many folk misinterpret this as the inverter delivers xxxW at PF1, very wrong.
Any AC source the rating is in apparent power. The absorbed power depends on the load type, and what’s not absorbed it returns back to source as reactive power.
Kva- apparent power
Kw- absorbed power
Kvar- reactive power

I read somewhere Kva is what you get to use and Kw is what you get billed for so on that basis Kvar is the cost of a reactive load or power factor less than1.

 

[The Wino]

Does it need to be that complicated. Wouldn't it be sensible to look at the rating at the pessimistic side of the different ratings and just stay below that

 

[pampam]

What a wonderfull locker, i want one!and i dont even have a motorhome,….im jealous of your knowledge

 

[nabsim]

Does it need to be that complicated. Wouldn't it be sensible to look at the rating at the pessimistic side of the different ratings and just stay below that

My thoughts as well lol. I would be upset spending a couple of hundred pounds to find it wasn’t up to the job but Victron is several times more than that. If companies sell to the lay person it should be easy to identify what they rate equipment at.
When I was looking at updating my mains chargers I sent info on make model etc of my generator to them to check I could run two 30amp chargers from it. Victron said no problem but it doesn’t work. If I leave the chargers set to 30amp one or other of them will kick out up to 45amps. Still not found out how to consistently run both together. It’s a nicer problem than buying something rated at X and only cable of giving half X but I would much prefer to get what I am told I will get.
This is why I still prefer Votronic kit myself even though I have less from them.

 

[autorouter]

Would be interested in where you got the combined bus bar from for both pos and neg.

It's a 4-way fusebox with a built-in 4-way negative busbar. The fuses look like standard size blade fuses. There's a few here, for example

Standard Blade Fuse Box With Positive & Negative Busbars - 6 Way

6 way standard blade fuse box with 2 positive busbars & 1 negative busbar. The -ve busbar is useful to common cables back to the battery -ve terminal.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

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[pappajohn]

If you plug an item into the inverter that needs more watts than said inverter can supply the inverter will let you know audibly and probably shut down

 

[Hoovie]

It's a 4-way fusebox with a built-in 4-way negative busbar. The fuses look like standard size blade fuses. There's a few here, for example

Standard Blade Fuse Box With Positive & Negative Busbars - 6 Way

6 way standard blade fuse box with 2 positive busbars & 1 negative busbar. The -ve busbar is useful to common cables back to the battery -ve terminal.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

Different animal.
Standard blade fuses max out at 35A and that kind of amperage is too much really for a blade fuse for extended periods. The one that I fitted and was asked about is a Strip/Mini-ANL/Midi Fusebox and is designed for much greater current capability and for extended periods.

 

[Itsmcb]

If you plug an item into the inverter that needs more watts than said inverter can supply the inverter will let you know audibly and probably shut down

That's not much use after you have installed the inverter specifically to power that item

 

[stevec]

Different animal.
Standard blade fuses max out at 35A and that kind of amperage is too much really for a blade fuse for extended periods. The one that I fitted and was asked about is a Strip/Mini-ANL/Midi Fusebox and is designed for much greater current capability and for extended periods.

Also it will probably have a lower voltage drop than The blade fuse holder. It’s surprising how the millivolts add up!