Lithium charging from a genny

[Nigel Crompton]

I have a gas-converted Honda EU10i, 1000w genny. It's a left over from our regular autumn/winter trips to Scotchland when solar wasn't quite enough to keep the heater running. I just used to plug it into the EHU inlet and the BBQ outlet. Current van currently has both ...

If in the projected forthcoming lithium conversion (150/200/300ah as yet undecided) if I simplify things and reduce costs by dispensing with EHU and associated AC charger (my EBL doesn't have a lithium setting) what would I need to do to enable lithium charging from the genny?

First thought is via the DC2DC battery charger that will be fitted, but would I have the isolate the vehicle electrics in this scenario ?

What does the hive-mind suggest ?

PS: In Spain so sun can be generally relied on (325w available)

 

[Jev88]

B2B sounds a simpler option and will charge whenever engine running?

You do need to disable any split charger (pull a fuse) as the lipo Can pull more amps than the old trickle charge split charge relay can cope with. That's as I understand it.

I will be disabling my auto battery link (American RV) that does a similar job to a common split charge relay but it also allows Emergency Start from leisure battery if engine battery went flat. For me it is one 15 amp fuse .

 

[autorouter]

According to the specs, the 12V DC output of that generator is 8A, so that's a wattage of 96W. The EBL mains charger is 18A at 12V, which is 216W. A Victron IP22 30A charger would charge at a rate of 360W. This is still a small fraction of the available 1000W of the generator AC output.

A 300Ah 12V lithium battery has an energy capacity of 300 x 12 = 3600Wh. That's 10 hours at 360W to fill it. Or 37.5 hours at 96W.

If you are only using the generator, not a site hookup, then the EBL mains charger set to gel would be OK. The only possible problem is overcharging if for example it is left on a site hookup for days. If you are running it from a generator, with limited time, then it won't be a problem. it may not get it up to 100% but that's no bad thing.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

A 300Ah 12V lithium battery has an energy capacity of 300 x 12 = 3600Wh. That's 10 hours at 360W to fill it. Or 37.5 hours at 96W.

That puts it into perspective, but I was only really thinking of using it in extremis and probably only for the 150ah option.

 

[Steve and Denise]

The good thing with the Honda it has a smart throttle so can run on a very slow setting and will power your 220v charger on low power at 220v and still give you a 30 amp output at 12volt? autorouter any thoughts

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[Nigel Crompton]

The good thing with the Honda it has a smart throttle so can run on a very slow setting and will power your 220v charger on low power at 220v and still give you a 30 amp output at 12volt? autorouter any thoughts

But if I have no AC input to the van's electrical system ?

 

[autorouter]

The good thing with the Honda it has a smart throttle so can run on a very slow setting and will power your 220v charger on low power at 220v and still give you a 30 amp output at 12volt? @autorouter any thoughts

I think it will still use the same power at 220V as it would at 230V or 240V, it adjusts the AC amps slightly to compensate and give the same power (volts x amps). The charger output voltage and amps will be the same no matter what the mains voltage is - within a limited range obviously, probably at least 200V to 250V.

 

[autorouter]

If there is definitely no AC charger, then you'd have to look at the exact voltage of the '12V' generator output. If it's 13V or so, then maybe it could be used directly to charge the lithium battery.

If it's more like 12.0V, then you'll need to feed it into a B2B charger, and switch the B2B on somehow using its 'D+' input. Also you'd have to set the B2B output to no more than 8A. Not all B2Bs allow this, but the new Victron Orion XS 50A DC-DC charger allows output to be set in 1A steps, I believe.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Thank-you all. Think the genny will be staying home then, as per usual .....

 

[Steve and Denise]

I think it will still use the same power at 220V as it would at 230V or 240V, it adjusts the AC amps slightly to compensate and give the same power (volts x amps). The charger output voltage and amps will be the same no matter what the mains voltage is - within a limited range obviously, probably at least 200V to 250V.

Yes I should have said 220/240 v ac I assumed it would be taken that way
What is the max current in to the charger at that voltage

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[Steve and Denise]

Yes I should have said 220/240 v ac I assumed it would be taken that way
What is the max current in to the charger at that voltage

Someone has just said less than 2 amps @230volts

 

[Bessy765]

We have the same genny running on lpg, 2 x 100 amp lithium a Victron 12/2000/80 inverter/charger. If at a rally or show and need to top up we can. Set the Victron to 2 amp input and the genny runs on the fast idle and puts in around 20 amps if we need a bit more set the Victron to 3.5 amps and 38 amps, 4 amps is putting a lot of strain. And noise for only a couple of amps gain. But as you say you have no a.c. Input