A charger like the Renogy 12v DC To DC On-Board Charger is a great vehicle charging solution. Easily install the compact yet sturdy DC-DC battery charger on RV's, commercial vehicles, boats, yachts, and many more applications! Starts out fine when I run engine and turn on lights. To our surprise, upon arrival in Green River, after charging for only 1 hour, our 200ah battery was charged from 54% to 100% ! However, since standard/traditional alternator has a fixed voltage when charging, while smart alternator has a controlled charging output based on operating conditions, it is required to connect the charger to the smart alternator through the Vehicle Ignition Port by the IGN Signal Wire comes with the package. This took way longer than I had hoped, mainly because I had never used a hammer crimper before. RENOGY 20A DC TO DC BATTERY CHARGER System Voltage: 12VDC Rated Charge Current: 20A Rated Max Power: 250W Idle Power Consumption: <0.4A Input Voltage Range: 8V-16V Weight: 3 lbs. Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! While your vehicle's alternator prioritizes your starting battery, this unit will allow your solar system to charge your service battery first! Pretty good in theory, but it was much much harder to accomplish the cable pull through the hose. : The theory was, wed use one long run of the #4 welding cable to run from the Trucks battery, all the way to the tail of the truck. Install is pretty simple. What types of battery does the charger support? Due to afternoon shade and an AC-power heavy dinner (toaster oven, microwave) and heavy use of the 3 DC fans in the camper (it was 93F), we brought our Battle Born batteries down to 54% after morning coffee and a toasted bagel. I now have to order that part in order of the above item to work more precisely. step 13 : old lucky 13 ! The DCC50S is a bit larger than our first choice, at 9.6 inches wide, 5.7 inches deep, and 3 . DCC30S 12V 30A Dual Input DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT. Check out our inital tests on how to run the Camper on 30amp service from the truck and how to recharge our batteries. step 16 : OK, so now that we knew that we were missing Trailer Frame Ground in this whole setups circuit, all we needed to do was get Trailer Frame Ground into the input side of the DC-DC Charger unit. This will give maximum battery cell life. What is its purpose? Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! WIth Built-in Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology, this battery charger with MPPT maximizes the solar power when charging from solar panels, and ensures that the loads receive maximum current to be used. However, I did find that not supplying the BVS which is required but supplying the ignition detection wire that isnt was odd. They were just totally overwhelmed, trying their best to have their techs work remote and adapt to the Pandemic workflow. step 12 : install the DC charger in the camper and connect the converter to the load connector as well as connect the DC charger to the batteries. Installing a Renogy 12V 40amp DC to DC Battery Charger on a Travel Trailer. Special thanks to Matt for helping us out ! Posts: 8. Luckily, there was an existing ground which Eddie could re-use, right under the tail. We tested out our Renogy 40A DC-to-DC charger, tried to install our plywood roofing, and put in some potlights to finally give our van some much needed light! This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. It is able to charge: Flooded, Gel, AGM, and Lithium batteries using multi-stage charging. Renogy you need to have active cooling like a small inbuilt fan to fix the overheating? For our style of camping, having only solar power, we are covered for about 90% of the time. For boats, the DC to DC charger will be plugged into a dockside outlet for use when the boat is in port. And finally, connect the a DC positive wire to switch ON the converter and see if it works. Since we had plans to head down to Arizona in late April 2020, I hit up Eddie Glonek of Mobile Homestead Solar Services to see if he was available to do this install for us. This diagram shows the whole connection of the DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger. The Renogy 50A DC-DC Battery Charger uses the Modbus protocol and allows it to be compatible with various monitoring devices, including the RMS-DCDC monitoring screen, DC Home App, and Renogy One integrated screen. This side of the DC Charger is the Incoming power from the hose connector, the two #4 cables that run out of the camper, along the frame, and can be connected to the Truck-side Anderson Connector plug. The D+ Ignition cable is a design method used to identify whether the generator is started. The key components of a solar van installation are: Solar panels: Solar panels come in two main types: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Love it. I have some 4AWG that I think I can repurpose, or I'll just buy new wire off Amazon or something. Similar to what Ray did, we wanted the install to be set up in a way that we have the option to only turn on the DC-DC Charger when we need it. This design method can well prevent the starting battery from being over-discharged during the charging process. For even more flexibility, we added a portable 100 watt panel in the fall of 2018. Installing a Ductless mini-split on an outdoors rv travel trailer, Installing a Victron 250watt Phoenix inverter, sure wish I had found this guys blog sooner, F-150 Powerboost. While your vehicle's alternator prioritizes your starting battery, this unit will allow your solar system to charge your service battery first! Filter By Request Wholesale Price REGO 12V 60A DC-DC Battery Charger Compare $499.99 Add to Cart DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT Compare $269.99 $339.99 This is stated in the manual but can easily be overlooked, so the cable and fuse size chart is a good reference point. 3. This high-quality battery charger has multiple intelligent protections including battery isolation, over-voltage protection, battery temperature protection, over-current protection, overheat protection, reverse current protection, solar panel and alternator reverse polarity protection, guaranteeing charging safety and protecting your batteries. The RV came with a mechanical solenoid isolator but I believe it was broken. This means, (in theory without any loss over the cabling runs), the DC-DC Charger can provide up to 480 watts of charging power to our batteries (40amps x 12 volts = 480watts). Ive tried connecting the D+ directly to TT battery but same thing. Easy to install and well made. welcome to our little blog. This multi-stage, multi-input battery charger can charge a service battery from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit. B2B chargers are hands down the best way to charge if you drive regularly IMO. Renogy 40A DC-DC Charger 60 Amp Switchable Breaker 50 Amp Switchable Breaker Battery Terminal Fuse Holder (if not already on battery) 60 Amp Terminal Fuse 4 GA Cable 20 FT 100% Copper Booster Cables Anderson Type Connectors 4 GA Lugs and Heat Shrink Hydraulic Crimper Bernzomatic Torch Vamplier Electrician Scissors Uni-T Clamp-On Amp Meter Therefore, our latest camper modification : the addition of a a Renogy 12V 40amp DC to DC Battery Charger. hi Steve, thanks for reading my post. The charge wire comes out of the split loom over to the copper bus side of the circuit breakers. The charger needs to select the charging mode according to the battery voltage. 18-16AWG copper cable recommended. An external fuse is required for installation. Step 7: mount the breaker to the Truck compartment, and pull the new #4 wire for connection to the breaker. Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger is designed to give you options! This Renogy DC-DC battery charger is compatible with traditional and smart alternators. Similar to the 7pin connector on a travel trailer or 5th wheel (that runs the camper running lights, brake controllers, and actually can send a little bit of dc power to your camper, but mainly for trickle charging at a low amperage), the idea is to run another high-amp connection from the tow vehicle (on an additional / separate cable to the 7pin towing cable) which is capable of delivering much more power directly to a DC charger which is connected directly to the house batteries of the camper. We went with a 40amp model, but they also make them in 20 and 60amp. This diagram shows the whole connection of the DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger. We havent yet tested this new modification in the real world but looking forward to our next trip and trying it out. And with multi-stage charging and multi-chemistry functionality, Renogy's DC to DC MPPT Charger has you covered whether you're using Flooded,Gel,AGM, orLithium batteries. The compact and robust design makes it suitable for all conditions. I have dealt with Renogy Customer Service in the past, and they were very responsive. Your email address will not be published. step 10 : connect the long #4 wire from the tail of the truck to the breaker in the engine compartment. You simply attach the positive and negative leads from each battery to either side of the charger, then connect a wire from the charger to the ignition system. These types of systems are not new, and actually quite common in drivable RVs, but I will be describing this in terms of a towable camper. We went with a 40amp model, but they also make them in 20 and 60amp. This Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT was specially die-cast aluminum designed for efficient and ZERO dB noiseless heat dissipation. Please note the LC cable is not included. It's the smart way to keep yourself fully charged and off-grid longer! This is how Ray at Love Your RV did his install, and it seemed to work just fine for him. Also it seems like not alot of folks have the power and heated seats so there wasn't much info on wiring bit. Make sure that the plug cannot tough the post by pushing it down out of the way. I had seen Ray over at Love Your RV do this upgrade on his 5th wheel, so we were hoping to do the same. Why do we need Smart DC-DC chargers? The general quiet and tranquility of being out camping is part of the magic. Renogy Dual Input DC-DC On Board MPPT Battery Charger with its built-in VSR allows vehicle owners to enjoy the benefits of fully charged deep cycle service batteries while reliably isolating it to the engine starting battery with one easy-to-install charging system. Note: Our product department found that there are some errors in the paper manual attached to the battery charger sold before March , and now the manual on the website has been updated. These six charging voltages meet the requirements of lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries in order to provide more charging options. For RV solar panel installation with limited space, we'd recommend going with monocrystalline panels for the most bang for your buck. The compact and robust design makes it suitable for all conditions. This would complete the Truck positive and ground for the power output from the battery. 50A DC DC Board Battery Charger with MPPT Renogy 20/40/60A DC to DC Battery Charger Rover 20/30/40/60/100 Amp MPPT Charge Controller Rover Elite 20/40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller 40A Set w Holder ANL Fuse, 40 amp (40A ANL Fuse Set w/Fuse) Renogy One All-in-One Smart Panel System Energy Monitoring ; Nominal System Voltage : 12V DC : 12V DC If you have any questions regarding this product, please, More questions about your off-grid power system? Is it necessary to connect? How to set the charging voltage value of the charger? This Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT is compatible with both traditional and smart alternators. 1. If you have any questions regarding this product, please submit a case ! The Renogy DC-DC Battery Charger with unique dual charging options. 18-16AWG copper cable recommended. Please note the temperature sensor is not included and it cannot use with Lithium batteries. Below are the supplies I used to wire this in:Renogy DC-DC Battery Charger with MPPT: https://amzn.to/3lkLr96(they sell out quick but are back in stock quickly as well)4 Gauge 25 feet red wire: https://amzn.to/2YE7VIyThe conduit shielding: https://amzn.to/3hCbFSg4 Gauge black wire: https://amzn.to/32wdoC7Wire stripper: https://amzn.to/2YFbwpATerminal Lug pack: https://amzn.to/3b1exFQHammer crimp: https://amzn.to/32zW8fEMarine style terminal kit: https://amzn.to/3hx1DSzMarine style terminal fuse mountsSingle Fuse: https://amzn.to/3hxp5idDouble Fuse: https://amzn.to/3lu3Hx560a fuse: https://amzn.to/3aY0l0l80a fuse: https://amzn.to/3llO8XU (get 75a instead if they have it) This Renogy DC-DC battery charger is compatible with traditional and smart alternators. So far I've installed a BMV-712, a 100/20 MPPT Solar controller and an Orion-TR Smart 12/12 30amp DC-DC charger. Its possible that setup would work, but in our case the 7-pin isnt connected to our trailer battery. Well after having this fitted for just over 2 weeks I can honestly say how easy it was to fit. In short, Id suggest youre probably better off with a higher rated. 2. This is a good quality hose, very pliable and wide. Everything was connected up and it just works. The DC-DC battery charger isolates the input and output to prevent voltage transmission errors and interfere with house battery charging. Then connect a new short #4 wire from the breaker to the terminal fuse on the positive terminal on the Truck battery. I use a solar cut off switch to gain the full power when driving, this is causing an overheating issue and is the same when the solar has turned itself off when dark. 3. The DC-DC Battery Chargers are the most effective way to charge your house batteries from the starter battery. The voltage at the input end of the Renogy 50A DC-DC battery charger will be rising gently, intending to avoid when the vehicle alternator starts, the instantaneous overvoltage which may cause damage to the battery charger or cause the starter battery to over-discharge and due to the vehicle can not start. After flying back home, we were not ready to give up our new lifestyle yet, so we bought a minivan, converted it into a DIY minivan camper, and drove across Canada in search of beautiful campsites and stunning mountains to climb. Please allow up to 1 to 2 business days for processing and 3 to 5 business days for shipping. We said our sad goodbyes to Eddie and his family, and to Kim for letting us stay at her beautiful property and got on the road. Compatible with a multitude of alternator types, the DC-DC battery charger offers correct charging for AGM, Flooded, Gel, and Lithium batteries. We decided to try a DC-DC charger from Renogy . The LC wire can automatically adjust the charging current to prevent excessive charging current from damaging the house battery. 1. Im calling Renogy Monday morning but hoping to figure it out sooner than later. If you have any questions regarding this product, please, 2.65 X 1.38 X 0.55 in (67.3 X 35 X 14 mm), SBPVW (Self build panel vans with windows) on Mar 23rd 2021, 12V 20A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger, DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT(New Version), 12V 40A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger, 12V 60A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger, 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Bluetooth, RBC3050D1S Fuse Installation Instructions, Monitoring Screen for DC-DC MPPT Battery Charger Series manual, Alternator Input Voltage : Traditional Alternator: 13.2-16VDC Smart Alternator (Euro 6): 12-16VDC, Operating Temperature Range : -31F~149F / -35C~65C, Dimensions : 9.6 x 5.7 x 3.0 in / 244 x145 x77 mm, Communication Port:RJ45 (RS485 Protocol), Operating Temperature Range: -4F~113F / -20C~45C, Dimension: 2.76 x 4.33 x 1.25 inch / 70 x 110 x 31.8 mm. Renogy's DC to DC charger packs all the same capabilities as any other manufacturer's, at a lower price point. I then bought a wirthco battery doctor, but then found out that is not really designed for deep cycle batteries. If you were going to own the van for 10 years, which would you put in? 18-16AWG copper cable recommended. The DC-DC battery charger will charge your house batteries from the starter battery by 3-stage charging (Bulk, Boost, and Float), to make sure it optimally and automatically charge to 100%. It also isolates the input and output to prevent voltage transmission errors and interfere with house battery charging. In the picture below, was the existing setup done by Eddie back in the Summer of 2017, showing all the DC loads and Trailer Frame Ground coming in to the left side of the shunt. 3. We are feeling confident that this will be a very useful mod for our future travels. What is its purpose? SO this means, it will never enable unless we turn ON the breaker, under the hood of the truck. upate 6/18/2020 : we finally got back out on a trip since installing our DC-DC converter. The new ground wire was working as expected, and the red dc wire was turning on the DC unit. We checked that we had good current coming in to the input side of the unit, that was working properly. Below is a proud Eddie, and his new Load side Anderson connector. Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger is designed to charge service batteries from a starting battery linked to an alternator or by utilizing solar panels connected directly to the unit, offering multiple charging options and ensuring your battery stay fully charged. On-board chargers can be installed easily and used on vehicles such as cars, vans, boats, and more. This Renogy DC-DC battery charger is compatible with traditional and smart alternators. Thanks. Renogy 20A 12V DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger is designed to charge secondary batteries while driving using the primary battery connected to the alternator. Eddie recommended the following gear, which we mostly bought from Northern Arizona Wind and Sun (highly recommended retailer!) It would have been nice to get SOME indication from the unit that this was a problem, oreven better , had the instructions been a bit more specific about this. Eddie and I thought it was indeed possible that the specific unit we installed could have been faulty, we had no way of knowing. We decided to try a DC-DC charger from Renogy. It allows me to charge my batteries with proper multi-stage charging by both my alternator AND solar panels. The DC-DC will not power on or operate until the D+ ignition cable is connected. We looked at the instructions a few more times, even searched for a more recently updated version of the instructions as a pdf (in case ours were out of date). 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