diy solar

diy solar

Things that strike me as odd...

Bigbillsd

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Joined
Oct 10, 2019
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197
I am looking for a new remote for my Magnum 2812 inverter. I have the me-rc50, but need the me-arc50 that has the settings for "re-bulk" to charge LiFePo4 batteries. I can buy it for $190 on imarine and $207 on Amazon. When I do a search on Ebay though, I found nothing under $225, and most were $250-350 dollars.) It strikes me as odd that someone would buy them for considerably more money from someone on Ebay instead of Amazon or another online dealer that will also support them if there is an issue. When I have time I need to go out and research if anyone is actually buying them at those higher prices when google'ing it shows much lower pricing available. Maybe they are all offshore and cannot buy them from regular dealers?

Maybe I have too much time on my hands and need to get back to work.. :unsure: -Bill


PS. I guess I will try to sell my me-rc50 on Ebay (used) for more than a new me-arc50... holy cow.. too funny.
 
Do you need the ARC50? I looks like the ME-RC50 will work to charge LIPO's. I am getting a MS2812 with the ME-RC50 from a friend to build my system and I just ordered a set of 4 LIPO cells to create my 12V battery bank. Let me know what I should be using. Thanks much!
 
Do you need the ARC50? I looks like the ME-RC50 will work to charge LIPO's. I am getting a MS2812 with the ME-RC50 from a friend to build my system and I just ordered a set of 4 LIPO cells to create my 12V battery bank. Let me know what I should be using. Thanks much!
The ME-RC50 did not have the settings for LiFePo4 batteries. You can call their tech support, maybe there is a work around you can kludge. The rc80 does not have CV/CC settings for charging, nor the Rebulk setting you need. I'm sure there is a way to charge your batteries, but the batteries were the expensive part of my system and I want them to last. YMMV. -Bill
 
The ME-RC50 did not have the settings for LiFePo4 batteries. You can call their tech support, maybe there is a work around you can kludge. The rc80 does not have CV/CC settings for charging, nor the Rebulk setting you need. I'm sure there is a way to charge your batteries, but the batteries were the expensive part of my system and I want them to last. YMMV. -Bill
Did you end up getting the ARC-50? Were you able to sell your RC-50? That is what I would do if I get this setup. I am trying to find out if the right revision is on the MS2812. I called Magnum Tech support and it needs REV 5 on it. The 2812 I am looking to get is from a person (used very lightly before they upgraded) and was built in 2016. Question for you. Is the MS 2812 worth getting if I have to get the ARC-50 or should I just go with a different charger and buy a 3K watt inverter, solar charger, etc? Wanted to get your thoughts. The 2812 and RC 50 I am getting from friend would be $500. Thanks
 
Did you end up getting the ARC-50? Were you able to sell your RC-50? That is what I would do if I get this setup. I am trying to find out if the right revision is on the MS2812. I called Magnum Tech support and it needs REV 5 on it. The 2812 I am looking to get is from a person (used very lightly before they upgraded) and was built in 2016. Question for you. Is the MS 2812 worth getting if I have to get the ARC-50 or should I just go with a different charger and buy a 3K watt inverter, solar charger, etc? Wanted to get your thoughts. The 2812 and RC 50 I am getting from friend would be $500. Thanks
Yes, I bought one about the same time I purchased the LiFePo batteries. I sold my RC-50 for around $99 on eBay. My MS2812 was built end of 16 early 17. According to Magnum is has the correct firmware needed from the factory. I don't remember it being v5 though. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a Hybrid inverter/charger. I would not buy the 2812. Maybe a Multiplus II 12/3000. No matter what, it would be a hybrid. -Bill
 
The problem with the Magnum IC's is that when the charger initiates, if the voltage is 12.9 or higher, it goes directly to float. Those were designed long before lithium batteries.
To fix it, you need either

ME-RC 50 software rev 2.8 or newer
ME-ARC 50 software rev 4.0 or newer

Those newer remotes have CC/CV settings for lithium. If you are using the old remote, the best workaround is to set equalization at 14.3 or so. Put charger into equalize mode to charge the battery.
 
thanks for the info. So sounds like you are running the ARC 50 and sold the other RC-50? did you ebay the RC-50, etc and what did you get for it? I see amazon has the RC-50 for $200. Do you like your 2812 and ARC50 setup? does it work well? Thanks for the info!
 
thanks for the info. So sounds like you are running the ARC 50 and sold the other RC-50? did you ebay the RC-50, etc and what did you get for it? I see amazon has the RC-50 for $200. Do you like your 2812 and ARC50 setup? does it work well? Thanks for the info!
Yes eBay, and I listed what I sold it for on my previous note. It works well. But like I said in that same note, I would not buy the 2812 again as it is not a hybrid. That is the only way to go now that I have camped in places that only had 30 amps or less service. They hybrid function uses the batteries to boost the power to your outlets when at marginal pedestals. We camped at lots of 15 and 20 amp campgrounds during our Alaska trip and having a hybrid would have removed the juggling act when we wanted to run the micro, toaster and coffee pot in the morning. Our Micro by itself tripped the 15 amp breaker a one campground. Personally I would put that $500 into a hybrid inverter instead.
 
I have the MS2812 inverter and the ME-MR display. The manual shows how to set up lithium, but when selecting battery type there is no lithium option. Do I need the RC or ARC or is there an update for the MR too?

Thanks for letting me hijack!
 
I have the MS2812 inverter and the ME-MR display. The manual shows how to set up lithium, but when selecting battery type there is no lithium option. Do I need the RC or ARC or is there an update for the MR too?

Thanks for letting me hijack!
Yes, you need the ARC version, and its called Constant Voltage/ Constant Current for Lithium batteries. Its litterally what this whole thread is about.
 
I have NOT purchased the MS2812 from a friend...yet....and not sure I will. Per the good info Bill gave above, unless you have the unit (as you noted) I think I may just go another direction. I did talk to Magnum support and they "say" there are work arounds and that if you have the MS2812 with REV5 Code or above and the ME-RC50 on Rev 2.9 or higher they can get it to work with Lithium batteries. With all that "work around" I just am not sure I am going that direction. If you can verify you have those revs (or higher) you should be fine. I found the Magnum support VERY helpful and nice to speak with!
 
Have you guys added any monitoring besides the ME-ARC or coach One Place display for your Lithium?
My Victron Smart Shunt Bluetooth is a bust. The ARC50 looks promising up less detail.
Considering the Victron GX Touch display, but not sure where I’d put it. I can also link the shunt to my MPPT controller using the same ve connection which would eliminate the ability to add th display.

Thanks
 
Have you guys added any monitoring besides the ME-ARC or coach One Place display for your Lithium?
My Victron Smart Shunt Bluetooth is a bust. The ARC50 looks promising up less detail.
Considering the Victron GX Touch display, but not sure where I’d put it. I can also link the shunt to my MPPT controller using the same ve connection which would eliminate the ability to add th display.

Thanks
The ARC isn't monitoring, although you can add the BMK and the ARC would display its info on that little tiny screen. The smart shunt should be close to nirvana for monitoring battery, unless you cannot access it on BlueTooth due to it being mounted in a faraday cage. I bought the regular BMV so the shunt is down in the faraday cage but its twisted pair cabling goes up inside my coach and I can access it from 40' away via phones or tablets The arc50 is just the arc, no difference and its not much to talk about, unless you need the CC/CV setting for Lithium then you need the ARC for the CC/CV settings. The Cerbo GX is the way to go for monitoring, the color control GX (CC) is ancient tech now. Not sure why they still sell it after they came out with the Cerbo GX & its optional touch screen. I added the Cerbo (sans screen) a couple months back after breaking my RPI @ VGX. The Cerbo GX is the cats meow, much cheaper than the CC. I see no need for the touch screen, I just view it via VRM or Web into it from my phone, Tablet or Laptop. The touch is a nice to have, I guess, but I can think of a reason why I would buy it. You can just hook up an old HDMI monitor to it if you like, but you lose the "touch" capability as it doesn't work with others touch screens, but you can hook up a mouse and keyboard if you want to. I see no need for any of that as I always have my phone on me. Mostly if I want to see whats going on from anywhere in the world I just use a web browser on a laptop. Or just use the VRM app from a phone or tablets.

Anyway, my two cents. And that's all its worth. ;)
 
I have NOT purchased the MS2812 from a friend...yet....and not sure I will. Per the good info Bill gave above, unless you have the unit (as you noted) I think I may just go another direction. I did talk to Magnum support and they "say" there are work arounds and that if you have the MS2812 with REV5 Code or above and the ME-RC50 on Rev 2.9 or higher they can get it to work with Lithium batteries. With all that "work around" I just am not sure I am going that direction. If you can verify you have those revs (or higher) you should be fine. I found the Magnum support VERY helpful and nice to speak with!
Magnum support is excellent. If only Victron had tech support which is via a forum or your reseller if you bought it locally.
 
The problem with the Magnum IC's is that when the charger initiates, if the voltage is 12.9 or higher, it goes directly to float. Those were designed long before lithium batteries.
To fix it, you need either

ME-RC 50 software rev 2.8 or newer
ME-ARC 50 software rev 4.0 or newer

Those newer remotes have CC/CV settings for lithium. If you are using the old remote, the best workaround is to set equalization at 14.3 or so. Put charger into equalize mode to charge the battery.
The ME-RC50 rev 2.8 will not work with Lithium. Read the owners manual online. I just received the rev 2.8 and now have to return it.
Gel, Flooded, AGM 1, AGM 2
 
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