Sounds like a good plan. Since you camp in the winter, I would consider the BB batteries that have a built-in heating element (only adds $49/battery to the price). Also, I would recommend a Victron 712 BMS for the system. Uses Bluetooth and a phone app to monitor your system. There is also a temperature accessory to monitor the battery temperature at the terminals.

 

Some thoughts...

• Much of the Victron ecosystem is built around their BMS/battery setup, with it's charge/load disconnect signals controlling all the components.
• GX real usefulness is in VRM upload. Full time internet is nice for monitoring, but sporadic uploads can give you data to analyze later.
• Orion 24/12-70 is probably what you want for a buck converter
• Victron has the BuckBoost product for vehicle 12-24 charging - doesn't talk to the GX though
• with a GX, SmartShunt is probably a better choice than the 712, Lynx shunt if you really want to go crazy

 

with a GX, SmartShunt is probably a better choice than the 712

If you are going with the Cerbo GX and the display this is the right choice. The smart shunt is like a headless 712 and you don't need the display that comes with the 712 since you have the smart display for the Cerbo. And yes, be sure to get a dedicated Internet/WiFi so you can access the Cerbo remotely.

I did a write up on the Cerbo here:Victron Cerbo GX for a Camper Van

And my in van network here:"ON Grid" Internet... for the Van, Yo

 

Awesome. Thanks, y'all. Gonna start ordering so I can set up the electric panel. Can one of you confirm that the Smart Shunt interacts with the Cerbo? Seems like it's a bluetooth thing and Cerbo is GX?

Can't do the silly solar panels until I get the 5-degree angle thingies for the mounts. 🙄

Batteries will be... whenever I decide which to go with /and/ they get them in stock. Considering the build-your-own (with an off-shelf BMS) again... just not sure. 🤔

 

Awesome. Thanks, y'all. Gonna start ordering so I can set up the electric panel. Can one of you confirm that the Smart Shunt interacts with the Cerbo? Seems like it's a bluetooth thing and Cerbo is GX?

Can't do the silly solar panels until I get the 5-degree angle thingies for the mounts. [emoji849]

Batteries will be... whenever I decide which to go with /and/ they get them in stock. Considering the build-your-own (with an off-shelf BMS) again... just not sure. [emoji848]

Smart Shunt has a GX port. You will need a cable.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Preference / advice question:

I'm going 24V batteries and solar (and thus inverter/charger and solar controller) but also want to have an alternator-charge option. Seems like the Orton inverter approach might be best for this. (If you have other thoughts, please share.)

So... if I go the Orton approach, considering the 175A CCP2 connection (if I'm understanding that correctly), I should be able to power a 2kw inverter to deliver close to 20A @ 110VAC into the house battery charger (Victron MultiPlus 3000 24-volt).

Does that sound right to y'all? And preferable to a 200A 24V > 12V DC-DC charger (if there even IS such a thing)?


(edit) OH... forgot the other thing: if the inverter is the way to go, considering a decent (but not overly fancy) 2000W+ unit such as this: https://amzn.com/B07CKBJ9KP

Victron only makes 1200w max and costs more and I don't see much cool info coming out of that one if there's a shunt measuring the input anyway? Missing something here?

 

Preference / advice question:

I'm going 24V batteries and solar (and thus inverter/charger and solar controller) but also want to have an alternator-charge option. Seems like the Orton inverter approach might be best for this. (If you have other thoughts, please share.)

So... if I go the Orton approach, considering the 175A CCP2 connection (if I'm understanding that correctly), I should be able to power a 2kw inverter to deliver close to 20A @ 110VAC into the house battery charger (Victron MultiPlus 3000 24-volt).

Does that sound right to y'all? And preferable to a 200A 24V > 12V DC-DC charger (if there even IS such a thing)?


(edit) OH... forgot the other thing: if the inverter is the way to go, considering a decent (but not overly fancy) 2000W+ unit such as this: https://amzn.com/B07CKBJ9KP

Victron only makes 1200w max and costs more and I don't see much cool info coming out of that one if there's a shunt measuring the input anyway? Missing something here?

Sterling 12v70A to 24v35A B to B X 2 in parallel is an option you might want to consider.
Whatever way you go it will need to play well with the lower (12.2) voltages of the "smart" alternator as well as the "occasional" 15.2V "refresh" mode.

 

Concerning the Orton approach, 175A CCP2 connection, if anyone could provide clarity on this it would be much appreciated. Seems there may have been changes to the CCP starting in 2019 or 2020?
Also, it wondering why most post on this forum favor the Sterling over the Renogy's DCC50S DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger. Renogy is over $125 less.

 

Also, it wondering why most post on this forum favor the Sterling over the Renogy's DCC50S DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger. Renogy is over $125 less.

The Renogy DCC50S came out just about a year ago. Mine is working fine other than the non functional bluetooth dongle. It's great for a smaller more compact build maybe not so much if you plan on a lot of inverter 120v capacity. I don't have an inverter as part of our system. The Sterling units seem more robust and better supported. Personally, if I had it do over I would use discrete Victron DC>DC and MPPT charger so they are integrated/controlled by my Victron Cerbo GX.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that my system draws about .5A with the Cerbo GX and supporting Internet router running 24x7. So keep thAt in mind for those times the van sits for days unused with no solar.

 

When using a Victron Buck Boost is it necessary to use an isolator between the started batteries and the Buck Boost?

 

No. It expects to be directly connected to the vehicle charging system and is fully programmable as to when and how much current to draw.

https://www.solar-electric.com/lib/wind-sun/Manual-Buck-Boost-DC-DC-converter.pdf

 

@njvagabond , this is the inverter I went with: https://amzn.com/B07CKBJ9KP
Will Prowse reported that he's run a couple of them for years. He also likes this one: https://amzn.com/B0131NFWX2

Having little experience with them myself (had a Magnum in my last rig), these are pretty inexpensive if they work even half-decent. I ran this WirthCo B2B in my Sprinter and it worked; but that rig was 12V AGM house batteries and this one will be 24V Lithium.

That last point is one of my bigger concerns: I understand that the LiFePo batteries are more persnickety about their charging profiles, so it seems wiser to run the charging through the nicer charging gear - which /could/ be a fancy Victron 12V>24V but other than efficiency, I can't think of a reason why it's preferable. 🤔

And, yeah, @Vanpackr , I've always got some draw going - mobile internet / wifi / Cerbo / whatever small draw I leave. But solar takes care of that.

Back to your "discrete Victron DC>DC and MPPT charger so they are integrated/controlled by my Victron Cerbo GX" comment: just for the fancy reporting... if that /works/ I'd probably do it. I didn't see a Victron unit that I thought would report. Is there one? I'd probably pay for that... 😄

 

Back to your "discrete Victron DC>DC and MPPT charger so they are integrated/controlled by my Victron Cerbo GX" comment: just for the fancy reporting... if that /works/ I'd probably do it. I didn't see a Victron unit that I thought would report. Is there one? I'd probably pay for that... 😄

That's a major point of the Cerbo GX and always on WiFi. All GX capable gear can be controlled and data collected and sent to the VRM portal via the onboard WiFi. This is just what comes out of the Smart Shunt. There are modules for GX chargers, inverter/chargers, etc. Even gives you a remote console just like the touch screen on board via app or browser.

 

FYI - when purchasing keep in mind your reseller is your support. I’ve bought from 3 of the big of the online victron dealers. I’d summarize by saying I will never buy from inverter supply again, (they sent me used product, wouldn’t refund, and then just ignored me), battle one was amazing, pksys has some smart folks and simplified guides.

Whatever you do don’t buy from Amazon or inverter supply again for this very reason.

They make great products although you have to be pretty tech savvy to get the value from the “extra features” you are paying much of the premium for. Looks like you’ve grasped this. One comment on the victron DC to DC chargers you may not be aware of - even with the Bluetooth version they don’t play on the networked ecosystem of victron. They will show up directly connected in the app - but that’s it. No cerbo stats or integration, network connectivity etc.

Cheers!

 

One comment on the victron DC to DC chargers you may not be aware of - even with the Bluetooth version they don’t play on the networked ecosystem of victron. They will show up directly connected in the app - but that’s it. No cerbo stats or integration, network connectivity etc.

Thanks much for the tips, @Whoknows . That bit above is exactly what I thought I saw with the DC-DC - I didn't think they had GX or other integration - no pretty graphs an data. By chance, do you know where I would look to confirm this? I've browsed so much stuff I can't remember where I got that thought in the first place.

Of course, if they /DO/ make pretty graphs and integrate with Cerbo, then I'll seriously consider spending money on them, @Vanpackr . But I'm not sure they do.

Similarly, I considered the Victron inverter option, but it's only 1200w versus 2000w - and a lot more money. I wonder if I could run a second shunt into the Cerbo to see the flow to the inverter... 🤔

@njvagabond , thanks for the confirmation on the smart alternator side. I'm just crossing my fingers so far. 🤞

I still have to decide what batteries... but the last of the Victron gear should arrive by Wednesday. Now about batteries...

 

My understanding is the legacy Victron Products work with the Cerbo GX. The Buck Boost would connect through the UBS connection. For more info:

 

Just an FYI. I just bought a bunch of Victron and Blue Sea equipment from the Inverter Service Center in White House TN. I was concerned that just buying off Amazon would leave me with no tech support if I had a problem. Jordan at ISC was very helpful and WAY better prices than Amazon, PLUS free shipping. I can't speak to the post delivery technical support yet, but I can tell you pre-sale tech support the response was amazing.

Inverter Service Center

inverterservicecenter.com

 

Thank you, @Williemakeit . Wish I'd known before ordering it all! 😄