Just getting into this and have a limited knowledge base so I'm looking for some guidance on a future upgrade. Just ordered two of the marine grade 206Ah SOK batteries that will be installed on my sailboat as the house bank. Planning to keep one of my lead acid as a start battery. Have also ordered a Victron Multiplus 12V 3000 watt inverter/charger, the Victron Digital Multi control, the Victron 500A SmartShunt, the Victron VE. Bus smart dongle and a Sterling 12v Alternator protection device.
Hoping to add two 180 watt rigid solar panels, one 100 watt flexible panel and one 50-ish watt flexible or rigid panel.
My questions are: Any benefit to keeping the start battery completely separate by using a battery to battery charger and charging only from the alternator? Or easiest to connect to the inverter/charger and use the trickle charge feature. I have a relatively small 18 hp diesel engine with a stock alternator. Not sure what size it is.
Regarding the solar, can I use one MPPT charge controller for all of the panels or would it be better to split the panels between separate controllers. Any size suggestions. I have a single Victron MPPT 100V/50A controller in my shopping cart at the moment.
Lastly, is it helpful or necessary to have one of the battery monitors like the BMV700/712 or can I get by using BT and my phone or tablet for monitoring?
Please don't hesitate to comment or make suggestions if I'm completely overlooking something. As I mentioned, I'm pretty green at al of this. Thanks in advance!
Matt
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Hoping to add two 180 watt rigid solar panels, one 100 watt flexible panel and one 50-ish watt flexible or rigid panel.
My questions are: Any benefit to keeping the start battery completely separate by using a battery to battery charger and charging only from the alternator? Or easiest to connect to the inverter/charger and use the trickle charge feature. I have a relatively small 18 hp diesel engine with a stock alternator. Not sure what size it is.
Regarding the solar, can I use one MPPT charge controller for all of the panels or would it be better to split the panels between separate controllers. Any size suggestions. I have a single Victron MPPT 100V/50A controller in my shopping cart at the moment.
Lastly, is it helpful or necessary to have one of the battery monitors like the BMV700/712 or can I get by using BT and my phone or tablet for monitoring?
Please don't hesitate to comment or make suggestions if I'm completely overlooking something. As I mentioned, I'm pretty green at al of this. Thanks in advance!
Matt
4 Comments
Like
Comment