Orion XS50 only giving 20amps …why ?

[MarkHoughton]

Hi,
Long run down M6,M1 and M25 on Sunday. First chance to really monitor the XS50 performance.
It was only giving max 20a ?
What settings or conditions can cause this ?

The 300ah Fogstar was at 260ah when we set off, I had drained it pre-set off so that i could monitor the B2B refuelling it.

Where and what do I check ?
A couple of screenshots whilst driving attached.

The Orion is mounted on a thermal concrete style board, raised above a cut out, so air can flow around.
However though not “crammed in” and has nothing to the right of it, all the solar controllers, busbars, fuses etc are in the standard box cavity in the Carthago sub-floor battery section. So though while not open to free air flow as such, it is a large volume of air as the box is 40x40x120

Do i need to fit a fan in the area to create airflow ?
How do i measure the temperature of the Orion whilst driving ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Assuming you have a smart alternator.
Also is Schaudt B2B still in circuit?

Need a photo of your settings there is something wrong as there is a red dot on the settings icon.

Also the fridge will take 15 amps so with the B2B delivering 20 amps only 5 amps will go into the battery.

Don't take much notice of the Fogstar app if the van has been sitting on your drive with the batteries not in use as it won't measure current drains below 1 amp. Only accurate after a full charge and when in normal use. Best to fit a shunt.

 

[AdrianChen]

Hi Mark,

Could you post the battery settings with the expert switch on, and the first page of the settings menu?

 

[StillGoing]

The Orion does not need a fan if installed as per the installation instructions.

I suspect your battery is nearly full so the current is dropping. You can’t believe the Fogstar app to tell you how full the battery is. You really need a shunt.

 

[AdrianChen]

Sorry Lenny HB - just saw your post.

Reckon the Exclamation mark will be a firmware update (Victron released a few in quick succession!)

The Bulk charge voltage seams a little low....

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[Lenny HB]

Sorry Lenny HB - just saw your post.

Reckon the Exclamation mark will be a firmware update (Victron released a few in quick succession!)

Will that be the dodgy one that's best not to install or just the app?
Not had it on mine.

 

[MarkHoughton]

It is a victron shunt. Red dot is the firmware update which i had read to avoid doing just now.

Had switched fridge on/off to determine if that was causing the drop or drawing in addition.

On our way to Spain on Thursday, staying with family next few days so a little time to resolve this, we arrived at my younger brothers house last night to visit.

Half an hour after we went to bed, his wife is banging on the door saying she thinks my brother is having a heart attack. Ironically my wife is a cardiac specialist though just retired from NHS last week. She checked him out and got him off to A&E ! So that adds to the drama for the day , though stable is being kept in and monitored.

Just added Expert mode battery settings from Orion

 

[AdrianChen]

It is a victron shunt. Red dot is the firmware update which i had read to avoid doing just now.

Make sure you have the latest version of the connect app, it should update to 1.08.

 

[AdrianChen]

Will that be the dodgy one that's best not to install or just the app?
Not had it on mine.

The dodgy one was 1.07, I think that was only installed via VRM, and not through Connect. The latest version of connect should install 1.08, which seems stable........

Up until 1.06 was not a problem either.

 

[Guigsy]

Is 14.2v the issue? The battery is nearly full, so might it start to slow down? Not sure.

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[AdrianChen]

Just noticed the different times - was one at the begining of the journey, and one at the end?

 

[MarkHoughton]

Just noticed app is only 1.05 and wants to update to 1.06

 

[MarkHoughton]

Just noticed the different times - was one at the begining of the journey, and one at the end?

Hi adrian, just tried to grab screenshots while driving. Asked wife to take photos on her phone but was not able to get clear images.
Started monitoring it an hour into the journey. Was over 250 miles all in as Burnley to Maldon in Essex via Stafford

 

[AdrianChen]

Just noticed app is only 1.05 and wants to update to 1.06



View attachment 1011250

Thats fine, - there may be an update to your Connect app if you check. Safe to do the update though.

 

[AdrianChen]

It is a victron shunt. Red dot is the firmware update which i had read to avoid doing just now.

Had switched fridge on/off to determine if that was causing the drop or drawing in addition.

On our way to Spain on Thursday, staying with family next few days so a little time to resolve this, we arrived at my younger brothers house last night to visit.

Half an hour after we went to bed, his wife is banging on the door saying she thinks my brother is having a heart attack. Ironically my wife is a cardiac specialist though just retired from NHS last week. She checked him out and got him off to A&E ! So that adds to the drama for the day , though stable is being kept in and monitored.

Just added Expert mode battery settings from Orion



View attachment 1011248

View attachment 1011249

Looks fine.

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[yorkiebar]

Perhaps I missed it but I didn't see what input and output current values you'd set the XS50 to ?

 

[AdrianChen]

So at the beginning of the Journey you input and output voltages are the same at 13.5v (which the Fogstar agrees with) and you are in Bulk mode. I would have expected the Input voltage to be higher then 13.5v, unless the start battery was very low, since the alternator should be putting out 14.X volts.

At the end you have 14.2v on the output terminal, which is correct for Absorption, and 13.8v coming to the input terminal from the alternator, which after 250miles seems a bit low since the start battery should be full, unless the van was on tick over I suppose.

What size cables do you have running between the input and the start battery?

Are you certain that the Relay is correctly set up, and that the D+ signal is disconnecting the CBE DS470 internal SCR?

 

[Lenny HB]

What type of Alternator do you have?

If it is a Smart Alternator you need to turn off "Engine Shutdown Detection", I also have "Input Voltage Lockout" disabled.

 

[MarkHoughton]

So at the beginning of the Journey you input and output voltages are the same at 13.5v (which the Fogstar agrees with) and you are in Bulk mode. I would have expected the Input voltage to be higher then 13.5v, unless the start battery was very low, since the alternator should be putting out 14.X volts.

At the end you have 14.2v on the output terminal, which is correct for Absorption, and 13.8v coming to the input terminal from the alternator, which after 250miles seems a bit low since the start battery should be full, unless the van was on tick over I suppose.

What size cables do you have running between the input and the start battery?

Are you certain that the Relay is correctly set up, and that the D+ signal is disconnecting the CBE DS470 internal SCR?

As for the relay… i am not sure. If you recall my previous post on what to connect where.
Certainly after ignition on and i rev the engine then a few seconds and the cabinets self lock and the retracting step alarm kicks in. So those elements are ok.
But how else to determine if it has been disabled / enabled. If you recall i took the relay option to avoid the need to snip the resistor.

 

[Lenny HB]

But how else to determine if it has been disabled / enabled. If you recall i took the relay option to avoid the need to snip the resistor.

I take it you don't have a smart Alternator then?

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[MarkHoughton]

AdrianChen , starter battery may have been low as not been driven in quite a while other than for a service, MOT and weighbridge. 3 trips under 5 miles on 3 different weeks.

 

[MarkHoughton]

I take it you don't have a smart Alternator then?

Daft question but how do I know if it is ? Standard Ducato 3.0 comfortmatic 2016 regn but probably 2015 model year build.

 

[EuroTrotters]

The dodgy one was 1.07, I think that was only installed via VRM, and not through Connect. The latest version of connect should install 1.08, which seems stable........

Up until 1.06 was not a problem either.

See my version ? Are we talking about the same APP ? V6.14

 

[MarkHoughton]

See my version ? Are we talking about the same APP ? V6.14

View attachment 1011265

My Connect app version is 6.14

 

[AdrianChen]

See my version ? Are we talking about the same APP ? V6.14

View attachment 1011265

Thats the Victron Connect app, 6.14 is the latest release, so all good!

The Connect app will have the latest version of the firmware for the Orion XS, which may still be 1.06, but could be 1.08. Wont make any noticeable difference! Both are safe.....

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[AdrianChen]

As for the relay… i am not sure. If you recall my previous post on what to connect where.
Certainly after ignition on and i rev the engine then a few seconds and the cabinets self lock and the retracting step alarm kicks in. So those elements are ok.
But how else to determine if it has been disabled / enabled. If you recall i took the relay option to avoid the need to snip the resistor.

Mmm good question!

Bear in mind pinning down what is happening isn't easy for an old fart sitting miles away from the van!

I would just try a test! Disconnect the cable from the alternator to B1 at the B1 terminal. Then there is no way the CBE box can connect the two batteries (assuming you have nothing on B+). Insulate it well, then start the engine and see what you get from the orion.

Not sure how you ended up on the wiring for the relay, either as a change over, or as a cut off, so the above may be a red herring if that is all as it should be....

Before you do, just check the voltage on the Input terminal / output terminal of the XS with the engine off.

Or ignore all this, when someone else hits the nail!

 

[LostInSpace]

Will that be the dodgy one that's best not to install or just the app?

Any equipment that attracts comments like this is in my opinion not fit for purpose.

My Schaudt WA 121545 just works - no silly messing about with upgrades.

And no Apps - just an NDS Energy Meter which also just works - and it has a nice physical dispplay.

 

[Guigsy]

Any equipment that attracts comments like this is in my opinion not fit for purpose.

My Schaudt WA 121545 just works - no silly messing about with upgrades.

And no Apps - just an NDS Energy Meter which also just works - and it has a nice physical dispplay.

Without the information the apps provide, how would you know?

 

[LostInSpace]

Without the information the apps provide, how would you know?

Because the nice physical display on my NDS Energy Meter constantly shows me the leisure battery State-Of-Charge, Charging-Current, Load-Current and Voltage.

And all the 12volt stuff in the 'van just works. - all the time.

 

[Guigsy]

Because the nice physical display on my NDS Energy Meter constantly shows me the leisure battery State-Of-Charge, Charging-Current, Load-Current and Voltage.

And all the 12volt stuff in the 'van just works. - all the time.

So just shunt information while you're looking at it. No source for the current. No history. So you arrive at your destination and it's 86% full, but you don't know that the B2B was under performing.

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