ScrodusGargleRotten
Solar Wizard
Grok AI says there is 5.2kWh in a gallon of gas. This is with an AC generator and converted to charge voltage of 48v.
Does this match your analysis?
EG4 ChargeVerter Availability
- Thread starter fwunder
- Start date
Does this match your analysis?
fwunder
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Hmmm. I’ll figure out the math tomorrow but considering I normally use about 9kWh/24 hr we’re prolly not too far off.
fwunder
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Ya know, I just thought. A big difference would be the stored energy in the hybrid battery. Gonna skew the number considerably.
Drunk Engineer
New Member
Great..but why use the Chargeverter at all? The Multiplus can also charge.
Yes, there is reported issue with ground loop tripping GFCI on the Ford. I would think the GNB relay in the MP can be configured to treat the Ford as shore power. Or did you try that and run into problems?
fwunder
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Good question. My first design was 2 x Quattro and use AC 2 in. I did have an issue when I first got my truck hooking it up to my old transfer switch and tripping truck's GFCI. I got around it making a pigtail adapter sans ground. That lead me to search for any info related to same issue with Victron transfer switch/gnd relay and came across a couple of anecdotal stories of same issue without resolution. Conversely, I came across a couple of videos of folks using Chargeverter with Ford's Pro Power without issue. Additionally, I have two other older generator options that I can plug into. The Chargeverter ( pre price increase ) seemed like an easy and bullet proof solution.
fwunder
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OK, bunch of data points. Nothing real surprising. Interesting though.
I'm still offgrid - since Monday @ 18:00. I've decided to run charging times around dinner time as that's our heaviest use of power.
The first two charging cycles with the chargeverter have been as advertised and uneventful. It is a bit noisy when running @ full power from cooling fans. I measured temps with/infrared gun. Hottest I saw was 125 degrees @ the positive cable. I have the chargeverter set for 100 A output and measured 96 A with clamp meter on positive cable.
Using the truck's 7.2 kW generator I think I can safely say it takes ~2 hours to recover our ~8.5 kWh daily usage during dinner time - our heaviest power usage. Running the Pro Power system in "eco" mode ( 1000 RPM ) and supplying a constant ~5.5 kW it looks like we'll be using ~1.2 gal/hr. This is pretty consistent with other tests I have done and Ford's advertised rated of ~0.2 gal/kWh. Without actually measuring ( manually via pump or can ) how much gas is being consumed, it's hard to get a precise measurement.
Tonight, I will take the truck out of eco mode just to see if there is any difference. I suspect it may speed up charging time a bit as the ice speed will increase to 1500 RPM and feed the chargeverter a bit more juice during heavy dinner time loads. I don't expect the total fuel consumption to change. I think when I'm finishing playing with my truck I will roll out my old and noisy 8 kW Generac and see how it does with the chargeverter. Might even hook up my little Honda 2200i just to see if it can do it.
Here's a bunch of screen grabs for your viewing pleasure.
I'm still offgrid - since Monday @ 18:00. I've decided to run charging times around dinner time as that's our heaviest use of power.
The first two charging cycles with the chargeverter have been as advertised and uneventful. It is a bit noisy when running @ full power from cooling fans. I measured temps with/infrared gun. Hottest I saw was 125 degrees @ the positive cable. I have the chargeverter set for 100 A output and measured 96 A with clamp meter on positive cable.
Using the truck's 7.2 kW generator I think I can safely say it takes ~2 hours to recover our ~8.5 kWh daily usage during dinner time - our heaviest power usage. Running the Pro Power system in "eco" mode ( 1000 RPM ) and supplying a constant ~5.5 kW it looks like we'll be using ~1.2 gal/hr. This is pretty consistent with other tests I have done and Ford's advertised rated of ~0.2 gal/kWh. Without actually measuring ( manually via pump or can ) how much gas is being consumed, it's hard to get a precise measurement.
Tonight, I will take the truck out of eco mode just to see if there is any difference. I suspect it may speed up charging time a bit as the ice speed will increase to 1500 RPM and feed the chargeverter a bit more juice during heavy dinner time loads. I don't expect the total fuel consumption to change. I think when I'm finishing playing with my truck I will roll out my old and noisy 8 kW Generac and see how it does with the chargeverter. Might even hook up my little Honda 2200i just to see if it can do it.
Here's a bunch of screen grabs for your viewing pleasure.
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Offthewall
Solar Enthusiast
At $.60/kw to run the generator($3 gallon gas), wouldn’t adding more panels/batteries make more sense?
fwunder
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Absolutely would...if I had any panels. That will be next investment. Had to start somewhere.
Offthewall
Solar Enthusiast
Got ya. If your looking for panels might want to check out the online deals section. I just picked up a pallet of 390w bifacial for a little over $2k shipped. I bought the same brand and size except they were not bifacial 3 years ago and paid over $6k!
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Why wouldn’t it? Just turn the output current up till the generator starts to stall out or glitch and then back off 10%.
fwunder
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Need to add temp sensor to Chargeverter and figure out what's going on with Mopeka sensor on Kitchen LPG ( 100# tank ). Jeez, I guess I need to start looking at Home Assistant so I don't have to jump back and forth from all my Homekit/Homebridge stuff. The operator manual for wife is getting pretty thick!! 
Daddy Tanuki
Emperor Of Solar
you have an operator manual for a wife?The operator manual for wife is getting pretty thick!!
OMG the holiest of grails has been unlocked!
Edit: OK now that i have gotten a few giggles from everyone, I often time think about what will happen when I pass on IRT the system at the retirement cabin. and I honestly think it is just two much for anybody who is not invested in it to deal with unless they have prior training.
currently it has run uninterrupted other than me tinkering for the sake of tinkering for almost two years.
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Brucey
Velcro Man
Will the LBFM be available as a bundle deal? Asking for a friendyou have an operator manual for a wife?
OMG the holiest of grails has been unlocked!
Edit: OK now that i have gotten a few giggles from everyone, I often time think about what will happen when I pass on IRT the system at the retirement cabin. and I honestly think it is just two much for anybody who is not invested in it to deal with unless they have prior training.
currently it has run uninterrupted other than me tinkering for the sake of tinkering for almost two years.
I saw some post where someone from current connected said to email them about the chargeverter even though it shows sold out on their website. I sent them an email last week asking about this they replied saying yes I can order it, and when I sent back an email saying that I'm interested I got an email the next day saying that never mind you can't buy them anymore. that sucks
HighTechLab
AKA Dexter - CTO of Current Connected, LLC
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If you don't mind, I'd like to get this cleared up with the appropriate team member. If you could please shoot me a DM with your email address, we will get this sorted out for you.
To be clear, the stance is still the same, we can sell them without mounting brackets, as we indicate on our product page: https://www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-chargeverter-v2-48v-100a-battery-charger/
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