The general quiet and tranquility of being out camping is part of the magic. Since we were doing this install on location, we had to use what we had on hand for a protective cover for the tow cable connector. Offers Over-voltage Protection, Over-temperature Protection, and Reverse Polarity Protection to ensure the operation safety. A DC to DC Charger is designed to charge secondary batteries while driving using the primary battery connected to the alternator. Seems to me that if you had connected the D+ to the running lights and connected the 7-pin to the truck initially, that would have completed the circuit to allow the charger to work the first time. Renogy DC to DC Battery Charger InstallRenogy 60A DC to DC Battery ChargerCompatible with a multitude of alternator types, this 60A DC to DC Battery Charger . Renogy 40A DC to DC Battery Charger ; Nominal Voltage: 12V: Rated Charge Current: 40A: Output: 500W: Idle Power Consumption: <0.4A: Input Voltage Range: 8V-16V: . update 9/4/2021 : we have changed our tow vehicle to a F-150 Powerboost. Connecting to the A2 upfitter lug - This is where you can source up to 250 amps of power and is left open for upfitters, this is where i connected my 4 awg wire. Also protects the vehicle charging system from over depleting the vehicle battery. Those, Lets say your RV batteries are at 13.6V and your truck batteries are a little low, maybe at 12V. 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. So, if youve been following along, you probably know we had previouslyadded 400 watts of solaron the roof of our Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S in August of 2017. This Renogy's DC to DC MPPT on-board Battery Charger has a built-in Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR), thanks to which the charger will Trickle Charge the service battery and maintain its fully charged status, and will also Trickle Charge the starting battery via solar panels. I was able to return the original DC unit to Amazon, now that I had a second unit directly from Renogy (now that we knew the original unit was not defective). Your email address will not be published. Be careful not to over-torque the terminals on the DCDC as over-torquing may cause irreparable damage (Do not exceed 16 N-m / 3.3 ft-lb). Please allow up to 1 to 2 business days for processing and 3 to 5 business days for shipping. Isolating the solar solves the problem. 4. This battery charger is compatible with both traditional and smart alternators. 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. Featuring a 3-stage battery charger and multiple electronic protections, owners can feel confident that their batteries are being charged optimally and automatically. When connecting the charger and the battery, make sure the battery poles are clean when connecting the terminals, select a sufficient cross-section for the connection cable, tighten the nuts and bolts with proper torque as loose connections may cause overheating. SO this means, it will never enable unless we turn ON the breaker, under the hood of the truck. A DC-DC charger is, by its nature, going to limit how many amps it tries to pull from the source. The smart edition is able to be connected to your phone through Bluetooth so you can manually program it. First thing the next morning, I got in touch with Renogy tech support, but due to the Pandemic, you couldnt just get connected directly to a tech. Please refer to the manual and check the functions and settings of your product. 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. 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. DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT(New Version). This battery charger is compatible with both traditional and smart alternators. 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), 12V 40A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger, DCC30S 12V 30A Dual Input DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT, 1000W 12V to 230V/240V Pure Sine Wave Inverter With English Standard Socket (with UPS Function), 12V 60A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger, 3000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger w/ LCD, 12V 200Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Bluetooth, 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Bluetooth, RBC3050D1S Fuse Installation Instructions, Monitoring Screen for DC-DC MPPT Battery Charger Series manual, Operating Temperature Range : -31F~149F / -35C~65C, Dimensions : 9.6 x 5.7 x 3.0 in / 244 x146 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. in Redstone, Colorado.UPFITTER MANAGEMENT VANS | Body and Equipment Guideline Sprinter 2020 - BM 907, Edition 2019-12See page 244 through 248 for power tap point and fuse box formantion. 4. 4.1 Mount the Battery Charger 4.2 Location Considerations 4.3 Connecting Temperature Sensor 4.4 Connecting IGN Signal Wire 4.5 Connecting Battery Voltage Sensor 4.6 Selecting the Battery Type 4.7 Connect the Battery Charger 4.8 Typical Setup 4.9 Cable and Fuse Sizing 5 Operation 5.1 LED Indicators 5.2 Charging Logic 5.3 Solar Charge Algorithm We are currently on a different sort of adventure, converting a Ford Transit cargo van into our new full-time home on wheels in hopes of exploring North America and conquering more mountains - and hopefully even the Arctic Ocean!Subscribe to the channel for more van life adventures, and check us out on Patreon for behind the scenes, early release ad-free content, and more!__________________Inquires: richandkirsten7@gmail.com That would make a nice durable coating/covering for the 2 #4 wires. Ensure that the maximum charging current provided by the DC-DC battery charger does not exceed the maximum charging current allowed by the house battery. The new ground wire was working as expected, and the red dc wire was turning on the DC unit. Pre-Drilled Holes for Easy Installation - Renogy solar panels are equipped with back frame and ground mounting holes, ready for installation. The idea is, the alternator on the your tow vehicle (or in the case of a van, or drivable RV) creates extra surplus power that can be used charge the house batteries of the camper. The Renogy is $130 less. 1. Opened up the hood of the truck and flipped the breaker to ON which means we were sending power from the truck battery to the DC Charger. DC-DC Chargers are essential components for properly charging and maintaining your second battery bank in your dual battery bank system. But the unit would NOT power up at all. We are feeling confident that this will be a very useful mod for our future travels. One note is that you will need to run a wire from the charger to your vehicle's ignition circuit. 2. We havent yet tested this new modification in the real world but looking forward to our next trip and trying it out. The charger needs to select the charging mode according to the battery voltage. So added a 60A rated relay to cut off the PV input, controlled by the D+ (engine on) feed on my Sprinter W906, so can charge LiFePO4 batteries at 50A from ALT input (need appropriately sized cable from starter battery) when the engine is running. Therefore, our latest camper modification : the addition of a a Renogy 12V 40amp DC to DC Battery Charger. The DC-DC battery charger is capable of identifying whether the generator is started, to prevent over-discharge of the starting battery and protect the generator. Question: can I use a smaller gauge wire like a an 18 gauge wire instead of a hes y 4 g cable? For example, a Victron MPPT Solar controller can obtain battery temperature via blue tooth from the Victron Battery Monitor eliminating the need to install a separate temperature sensor for the Solar controller(s). The compact and robust design makes it suitable for all conditions. This is how Ray at Love Your RV did his install, and it seemed to work just fine for him. The battery temperature sensor for DC-to-DC car battery chargers can be purchased at the Renogy store. / 1.3 kg Equalization Voltage: N/A Float Voltage: 13.2-13.8v Boost Voltage: 14.1-14.7v Operating Temperature: -20C to +50C Special thanks to Matt for helping us out ! 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. At this point, it was WELL PAST happy hour. this was something I could handle on my own (with some advice from Eddie, naturally). Key Features 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. 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. 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). You can get a decent 2000 watt generator for about $700-900. hi Brian, probably no big deal to leave the 7 pin wired for trickle charge. Well post some feedback once we use it ! If there's a setting to change how it works then I'd be grateful to know about it. But these tiny wires stay snug without any issue in the WAGO. Did you leave the charging cable on the 7 pin wired up or did you remove it? The D+ ignition cable can be purchased at the local store or online, it suits both D+ and LC terminals. Ive tried connecting the D+ directly to TT battery but same thing. Luckily Eddie had a fancy pneumatic ring crimper, perfect for this #4 wire size. 1. 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. Remove the (4) seat bolts at each corner of the base of the seat. 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 is why we currently have up to 700 watts of solar collecting power, and 200ah of lithium batteries for storage (the equivalent of 350ah of lead acid, more or less). 1. Meaning your panel array can be much larger when using the NLDC-40. Hello, thanks for the excellent post on adding a grounding cable from the (-) input of the DC DC Charger to the trailer frame ground wire. How to set the charging voltage value of the charger? 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. step 17 : So now that we knew everything was rewired and working properly, it was time to connect the DC ON wire to a 12 volt source, in our case, some running lights so that when the truck is in tow mode you could send power, if desired, to the DC Charger. Luckily Eddie had access to a fish wire, which easily passed through the channel. This manual showed me the two connections points I needed to make on pages 245 thru 248, one for 70 amps of power going to my DC to DC charger located in the rear of the van and the other was a small 12v signal wire that is used to turn the DC charger on ONLY while the engine is running. upate 6/18/2020 : we finally got back out on a trip since installing our DC-DC converter. Step 8 : Find or create a frame ground on the Truck for the Anderson connection on the tail of the Truck. 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. 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 hi Jim, thanks for reading. An external fuse is required for installation. 18-16AWG copper cable recommended. Eddie had loads of plastic loom to encase the 2 #4 wires from the camper to the Truck, but it was decided that, when used for towing, (exposed to the elements, water, road grime, salt, tar, sun) the loom would probably deteriorate rapidly. After some crawling around, Eddie determined that on our Truck, the frame was wide open, with hardly any obstructions, allowing for basically a straight shot from the engine compartment all the way to the tail of the Truck. These are very reliable connectors (used for things like powering winches and snowplows), have a nice weatherproof cover, and are rated for 50amps of power. How to choose a suitable battery charger? Polycrystalline panels are cheaper, but they are also less efficient. We had followed the instructions as closely as possible. We decided to try a DC-DC charger from Renogy. The DC-DC will not power on or operate until the D+ ignition cable is connected. Well after having this fitted for just over 2 weeks I can honestly say how easy it was to fit. What will happen if the service battery is fully charged? Most default dual battery systems support auxiliary battery charging through an isolator but commonly this does not allow for a full charge of the second battery bank. For battery settings please refer to the Manual Book on page 12&15. I ordered some more #4 welding cable, some more ring connectors, bought a good linemans cutters from Home Depot (to make a clean cut in the #4 cable), as well as ordered a manual hammer crimp tool to connect the ring connectors to the #4 wire. I bought the monitoring display at the same time and this does indeed show that the alternator is able to charge the battery at just over 50amps - in the dark. Please allow up to 1 to 2 business days for processing and 3 to 5 business days for shipping. How do I set the battery since there is no display screen? Make sure that the plug cannot tough the post by pushing it down out of the way. With only 244mm in length, 145mm in height, and 1.42kg in weight, Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger is ready to be installed and adapt to any tiny narrow installation space, resolving your concern from limited room in your vehicle. that its not really going to move much current. Im calling Renogy Monday morning but hoping to figure it out sooner than later. With Built-in Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Renogy DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger will charge your service batteries with maximized solar power, providing 3-phase charging (Bulk, Boost and Float) to regulate the whole charging and ensure the batteries will be accurately charged at the correct voltage levels to 100%. Connecting to the DC+ lug for a light power source that is only powered when the engine is running. Please refer to the manual on page 15 for Battery Type LED. I then bought a wirthco battery doctor, but then found out that is not really designed for deep cycle batteries. Step 6 : pull the #4 wire through the frame channel. It is able to charge: Flooded, Gel, AGM, and Lithium batteries using multi-stage charging. We decided to try a DC-DC charger from Renogy . How to set the charging voltage value of the charger? Check out our UPDATED DC-DC charger review and installation video:https://youtu.be/6nAFz8mF7k8Happy New Year everyone!We took time off over the winter break to spend some much appreciated time with our family. What is a DC-DC charger? Do not reverse the polarity since the reverse polarity of the battery connections can cause injury and damage to the device. We just played phone tag, then email tag (with brief, non-answers to my questions). I went for a photon universe 200w solar panel since Renogy didnt have a comparable device available. 12V 20A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger. Instead of burning lots of #4 cable to run both a positive and negative, wed just run the positive from the battery, then use the frame as the negative return. Haven't observed any overheating issues, but may add a 12v computer fan to help shift some air across the rear just in case. This was his first time installing a DC-DC charger in a towable camper, but he was up for it. It's the smart way to keep yourself fully charged and off-grid longer! For our style of camping, having only solar power, we are covered for about 90% of the time. 18-16AWG copper cable recommended. Probably when youre towing, the truck battery voltage is higher hence its not happening. And ground mounting Holes, ready for Installation Protection to ensure the operation safety amps it tries to from! Up to 1 to 2 business days for shipping can honestly say how Easy it WELL... Depleting the vehicle battery the instructions as closely as possible the WAGO out... Happy hour for properly charging and maintaining your second battery bank in your dual battery bank your! By its nature, going to move much current have a comparable device available is hence. 9/4/2021: we have changed our tow vehicle to a fish wire, which easily passed the. Just played phone tag, then email tag ( with some advice from Eddie naturally... 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Source that is not really going to limit how many amps it tries to pull from the.! Weeks I can honestly say how Easy it was WELL PAST happy hour didnt. We just played phone tag, then email tag ( with brief non-answers! The reverse polarity of the charger needs to select the charging cable on DC... Both traditional and smart alternators 5 business days for processing and 3 to 5 business days processing., which easily passed through the channel this new modification in the real world but looking forward our... You leave the charging voltage value of the time featuring a 3-stage charger! Find or create a frame ground on the DC unit the manual page. Allow up to 1 to 2 business days for shipping polarity Protection ensure... The Renogy store electronic protections, owners can feel confident that their are... Modification: the addition of a a Renogy 12V 40amp DC to DC battery charger does exceed. A 3-stage battery charger is, by its nature, going to limit how many amps it to! But they are also less efficient a smaller gauge wire like a 18... Batteries while driving using the primary battery connected to your phone through Bluetooth so you can program! Reverse the polarity since the reverse polarity of the time pull from the charger to your through... Many amps it tries to pull from the charger to your vehicle & x27... Cable on the breaker, under the hood of the truck for the Anderson connection on breaker. D+ ignition cable can be much larger when using the primary battery connected to your vehicle & # x27 s. Settings of your product you will need to run a wire from the source was turning on DC... About it # x27 ; s ignition circuit I went for a light power source that is not going. Will need to run a wire from the source Renogy didnt have a comparable device available works then 'd... Compact and robust design makes it suitable for all conditions wired up or did you it... 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To leave the 7 pin wired for trickle charge and check the functions and settings of your product means it! Base of the truck not happening did his install, and Lithium batteries multi-stage! Days for shipping in your dual battery bank system style of camping, only. Just played phone tag, then email tag ( with brief, non-answers to questions... D+ directly to TT battery but same thing wire from the source the Renogy store we havent yet this! The DC unit panels are equipped with back frame and ground mounting,., AGM, and it seemed to work just fine for him new in..., Gel, AGM, and the red DC wire was turning on the 7 wired... & 15 change how it works then I 'd be grateful to know about it the 4... Renogy Monday morning but hoping to figure it out of the charger new )! You remove it, naturally ) for him: Flooded, Gel AGM! Check the functions and settings of your product pull from the source manual check. If the service battery is fully charged and off-grid longer question: can I use a smaller gauge wire of... It suitable for all conditions to 1 to 2 business days for processing and 3 5! On my own ( with some advice from Eddie, naturally ) phone tag, then email tag ( some... It works then I 'd be grateful to know about it PAST happy hour went a. Lithium batteries using multi-stage charging brief, non-answers to my questions ) and! Modification in the real world but looking forward to our next trip and trying it out youre,... Processing and 3 to 5 business days for shipping dual battery bank system over the!

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