LifePo4 with a dedicated alternator.

[Bessy765]

This is what I get from my alternator when driving around 55 mph. 2019 Fiat 2.3 150 hp auto.I have 700 watts of solar, 2 x 100 amp Transporter Lithium and a 12/2000/80 Victron inverter charger. This is whilst running my Telair Freshjet 2200, there is no B2B fitted in the system, I am assured how this is set up one is not needed as the batteries approach fully charged the charging rate and voltage decrease. The installer warrants the whole system for 5 years and the batteries for 10. The only advice is not to run the engine stationary to just charge the batteries for more than 15 mins. 3 years and 17500 miles later all is fine.
View attachment 674551

The minus sign is the charging rate from the alternator so it is putting 67 amps towards the hab air con the solar putting the rest. Did one day reach 88 amps when setting off one morning after parked up for a couple of dull days. But with no 240 draw. Very pleased with the set up.

 

[Pausim]

The minus sign is the charging rate from the alternator so it is putting 67 amps towards the hab air con the solar putting the rest. Did one day reach 88 amps when setting off one morning after parked up for a couple of dull days. But with no 240 draw. Very pleased with the set up.

That surprises me, I would have thought the minus sign meant the power was coming out of the battery.

Edit. Not suggesting you are wrong just surprised how it is displayed.

 

[Hoovie]

That surprises me, I would have thought the minus sign meant the power was coming out of the battery.

Edit. Not suggesting you are wrong just surprised how it is displayed.

It is an awkwardness of the Victron VRM setup. "DC Power" means DC Load typically, similar to the "AC Load", so a +ve value on "DC Power" is a draw, same as a +ve value on "AC Load" is a draw.
And when you have a negative value on "DC Power", it is due to a charger running that the Victron system doesn't know about. So the DC Power is the difference between the AC Loads, PV Charger, AC Input and Battery Charge Current.

 

[Bessy765]

The bottom three displays shoe bottom left 5.9 amps going into battery. Middle is current being supplied to the inverter 63.47 amps bottom right current going to inverter from 700 watts of solar 6.3 amps. so a total of 69.97 from alternator.

the DC power display shows when amps out are used no sign, but when amps in are being generated shows a minus sign?? Seems back to front but works really well. As we keep our van in the garage and get no solar from the roof \.i have fitted the old 100 watt panel that was on the van originally it will also shown a negative when it’s charging the van.

 

[jongood]

So, Ive had a good look at the FB 12v boating group as helpfully recommended by bigtwin ( thanks Ian) and also had a chat with the Life batteries man and I'm going to give the hybrid route a go, removing one of my gels and replacing with a 200ah Life PO4, using the existing settings. The biggest hazard in my particular case seems to be whether I get any spikes at the alternator when the BMS decides that the lithiums are full, however the concensus seems to be retained Gel should be Ok with it and the exisiting 5m run from alternator to leisure bank should be sufficient not to overheat the alternator but something I think I will monitor at first charge.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bigtwin]

So, Ive had a good look at the FB 12v boating group as helpfully recommended by bigtwin ( thanks Ian) and also had a chat with the Life batteries man and I'm going to give the hybrid route a go, removing one of my gels and replacing with a 200ah Life PO4, using the existing settings. The biggest hazard in my particular case seems to be whether I get any spikes at the alternator when the BMS decides that the lithiums are full, however the concensus seems to be retained Gel should be Ok with it and the exisiting 5m run from alternator to leisure bank should be sufficient not to overheat the alternator but something I think I will monitor at first charge.

Sounds like a plan!

In the narrowboat world, those who have gone down that route say that it’s transformational. Anxiety around battery capacity and battery charge status virtually disappears overnight. Be interesting to get your feedback in due course.

Ian