Switching Orion XS 1400 between 12v and 24v

[Ramlanta]

I may be complicating my setup with this concept. That being said, let's focus on whether it can or cannot be done, rather than what my alternative solutions could/should be.

The new Victron Orion XS 1400 DC to DC charger can input and output at 12v or 24v. In primary use, I would use it to charge the LiFePo4 battery bank in my truck when driving. My house system is 24v based. Most of my DC draws are 24v, though my CPAP machine takes 12v and AC via my household adapter. The draw on 12v is a good deal less, both from the losses due to the AC adapter and leaving the inverter on for 8+ hours at night when camping, so I'd prefer to use DC.

Here's where the Orion comes in. When driving, I'd like to have the Orion charge the battery bank from the alternator (12v --> 24v). When stationary, I'd like to switch it to be a power source drawing from the battery bank (24v --> 12v). The Orion is technically capable of handling these two scenarios. I'm trying to think through what would be the best way to wire this up and I'm open to ideas on how to do so. This would avoid the need for a fixed 24v->12v DC converter in addition to the Orion.

To summarize:

• Driving Mode - open 12v flow from starter battery/alternator to Orion to 24v LiFePo4 when driving, close flow to 12v fuse block
• Camp Mode - open 24v flow from house battery to Orion to 12v fuse block when at camp, close flow to/from start battery

Questions:

• Would some combination of switches between the Orion and the starter battery, house battery, and 12v fuse block work?
• What about putting Victron Smart BatteryProtects between the Orion and those three items? (advantage here is controlling them remotely)
• Would relays of some kind work where the connections to each are opened or closed? (I have a Cerbo GX that could perhaps help here)
• Other ideas?

Thanks for any ideas you all have. Either way, the Orion has already been ordered and will be used for DC to DC charging. I'd just love to get double duty out of it.

 

[justinm001]

I just got the Etaker F2000 to do something very similar as I have 24V alternator but 12V and 48V house batteries. It has 3 inputs/outputs and supports reverse charging.

I don't think the orion XS 1400 can do reverse charging and thats what you're needing. You're wanting the 12v input to become the output. To do this you'd likely need to make a switch to reverse the input/output then reprogram the orion everytime.

Your life would be much easier if you just got a simple buck power adapter like this https://a.co/d/dpFbkUI Not only would it convert 24V to 12V but it'll give you stable 12V power and not risk blowing the CPAP if some voltage issue.

Also I can't imagine the draw of a 120V to 12V adapter being that inefficient. They're typically 98% efficient.

If I were you I'd get some form of USB-C PD adapter like this https://a.co/d/eOc6aoh Then get a large PD phone charger bank like this https://a.co/d/1wG3KeT and just charge everyday, or leave plugged in to charge. You can also get 12V/24V to PD USB-C adapters like this https://a.co/d/h8yuaTJ then you have a standard USB-C ports to charge battery banks, laptops, phones and everything else.

 

[Ramlanta]

When these were first announced a few months ago, I was under the impression that they would have bi-directional/reverse charging. I can't find any of it now. There is some information on the Victron Community site that they are potentially working on a software update to provide that capability.

To do this you'd likely need to make a switch to reverse the input/output then reprogram the orion everytime.

Yes, that's what I was thinking I would need to do. Just looking for advice on how to best make that happen.

 

[justinm001]

When these were first announced a few months ago, I was under the impression that they would have bi-directional/reverse charging. I can't find any of it now. There is some information on the Victron Community site that they are potentially working on a software update to provide that capability.


Yes, that's what I was thinking I would need to do. Just looking for advice on how to best make that happen.

I think you assumed because it allows both 12 and 24 v for either the in or out, not bidirectional.

You'd have to wire rotation dial type switch to physically reverse the input/output then reprogram. Seems pointless when a $20 24/12 buckboost will fix

 

[CrapshootIdeas]

I just got the Etaker F2000 to do something very similar as I have 24V alternator but 12V and 48V house batteries. It has 3 inputs/outputs and supports reverse charging.

I don't think the orion XS 1400 can do reverse charging and thats what you're needing. You're wanting the 12v input to become the output. To do this you'd likely need to make a switch to reverse the input/output then reprogram the orion everytime.

Your life would be much easier if you just got a simple buck power adapter like this https://a.co/d/dpFbkUI Not only would it convert 24V to 12V but it'll give you stable 12V power and not risk blowing the CPAP if some voltage issue.

Also I can't imagine the draw of a 120V to 12V adapter being that inefficient. They're typically 98% efficient.

If I were you I'd get some form of USB-C PD adapter like this https://a.co/d/eOc6aoh Then get a large PD phone charger bank like this https://a.co/d/1wG3KeT and just charge everyday, or leave plugged in to charge. You can also get 12V/24V to PD USB-C adapters like this https://a.co/d/h8yuaTJ then you have a standard USB-C ports to charge battery banks, laptops, phones and everything else.

It looks like for reverse charging to work, the couch/aux battery needs to be a 24-48V system, and the starting battery needs to be a 12V system. Is that how you read the datasheet/manual?

How do you like the system so far? I love that it has a 1000W MPPT charger, because that alone makes this a great value. Unfortunately, I plan to have a dual 12V system so, I don't think this will work for my reverse charging needs, but I'm still considering it to replace two MPPT charge controllers for 1,000 watts of panels into my 12V system. Have you had any issues? Do you know if it can support 1,000W into a 12V system or does that require 24V?

I'm hoping to get 40A+ continuous, preferably 50 from this thing, but I notice it says max output amps is 40, so I might not get what I'm looking for. I was looking at the Victron Orion XS 1400 against the Renogy or Etaker options. I like that the 1400 is 12/24V flexible, and 70A, but it lacks the MPPT function that would save me a lot of money, where the Renogy and Etaker both offer MPPT.

 

[justinm001]

It looks like for reverse charging to work, the couch/aux battery needs to be a 24-48V system, and the starting battery needs to be a 12V system. Is that how you read the datasheet/manual?

How do you like the system so far? I love that it has a 1000W MPPT charger, because that alone makes this a great value. Unfortunately, I plan to have a dual 12V system so, I don't think this will work for my reverse charging needs, but I'm still considering it to replace two MPPT charge controllers for 1,000 watts of panels into my 12V system. Have you had any issues? Do you know if it can support 1,000W into a 12V system or does that require 24V?

I'm hoping to get 40A+ continuous, preferably 50 from this thing, but I notice it says max output amps is 40, so I might not get what I'm looking for. I was looking at the Victron Orion XS 1400 against the Renogy or Etaker options. I like that the 1400 is 12/24V flexible, and 70A, but it lacks the MPPT function that would save me a lot of money, where the Renogy and Etaker both offer MPPT.

I bought 2 and fried them both so returned them to amazon. Lost all trust in them. I was using the solar as DC out setting but apparently if there's a battery or anything providing voltage it'll fry the device. Doesn't make sense. Also the app wasn't the greatest and just didn't seem to be thought out.