Is B2B working?

[Saucer]

Just discovered the battery+ cable was loose in the Victron solar controller. The history tab on the controller app showed changed behaviour around 6th April, which was when I first became concerned about the Fogstar battery charge.

I measured the battery voltage at the terminals - 12.05v, but at least it is charging now. One day it might even help to keep the engine battery charged!



View attachment 1045223

I’m glad you’ve discovered the problem. Should the b2b be topping up the engine battery? I’ve noticed that my engine battery is at 50% while the leisure is 100%. This after a couple of days parked with solar going.

 

[G-RMPS]

My understanding is B2B uses surplus energy from the alternator to charge leisure batteries (while the engine is running). A battery master tries to maintain the engine battery with the engine off, provided the voltage of the leisure batteries is higher than that of the engine battery.

 

[Saucer]

My understanding is B2B uses surplus energy from the alternator to charge leisure batteries (while the engine is running). A battery master tries to maintain the engine battery with the engine off, provided the voltage of the leisure batteries is higher than that of the engine battery.

Thank you. That makes sense. We're having vanbitz fit alarm next week as well as a battery master, so hopefully that'll help, albeit I'm surprised the vehicle battery has gone down so quickly

 

[1967bowesj]

Thank you. That makes sense. We're having vanbitz fit alarm next week as well as a battery master, so hopefully that'll help, albeit I'm surprised the vehicle battery has gone down so quickly

What radio do you have fitted in cab, the pioneer ones are well known to have a larger drain when off. Some people even fit and isolation switch in the feed to truly switch them off

 

[Saucer]

My understanding is B2B uses surplus energy from the alternator to charge leisure batteries (while the engine is running). A battery master tries to maintain the engine battery with the engine off, provided the voltage of the leisure batteries is higher than that of the engine battery.

Thank you. That makes sense. We're having vanbitz fir alarm next week as well as a battery master, so hopefully that'll help, albeit I'm surprised the vehicle battery has gone down sonqu

What radio do you have fitted in cab, the pioneer ones are well known to have a larger drain when off. Some people even fit and isolation switch in the feed to truly switch them off

That's the one! Maybe vanbitz could put a switch in when fitting the tracker etc. Thanks for the info

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[StillGoing]

Just discovered the battery+ cable was loose in the Victron solar controller. The history tab on the controller app showed changed behaviour around 6th April, which was when I first became concerned about the Fogstar battery charge.

I measured the battery voltage at the terminals - 12.05v, but at least it is charging now. One day it might even help to keep the engine battery charged!



View attachment 1045223

There doesn’t look to be much clearance at the top of that controller for ventilation. Victron say you should leave a minimum of 10cm above and below for optimal cooling.

 

[G-RMPS]

Yes, I read the installation instructions yesterday!

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Very few of us have the desired ventilation space. Worse these things are squeezed into closed unvented cupboards and stuff is wedged all around.

 

[G-RMPS]

The van has a cubby hole for charging a mobile phone in the dash. It gets so hot in there that the phone stops charging/working.

 

[Pausim]

The opening cubby on top of the dash is cooled by the air con in hot weather but gets hot in winter when the heater is on.

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[G-RMPS]

This is under the head unit. It has a red or blue light when you slide a mobile phone in.

 

[AdrianChen]

The van has a cubby hole for charging a mobile phone in the dash. It gets so hot in there that the phone stops charging/working.

The one in out car does that - I wondered if it was something to do with my phones case - but haven't tested that theory yet....

 

[StillGoing]

The problem with B2Bs, chargers and solar controllers getting too hot is it can reduce the life of the electronic components. Also, the level of charge reduces to try and reduce the temperature so you’re not getting the full charge output. I’m sure we all have units that do not have ideal ventilation. It surprises me how many professional installations seem to disregard the manufacturer’s installation recommendations - some are really bad.

 

[G-RMPS]

Adrian, possibly. I have a case on mine.