Victron is Over-priced Eurotrash. Why would anybody buy Victron over an AiO?
- Thread starter sunshine_eggo
- Start date
wattmatters
Solar Wizard
What was this thread about again?
I mean I did later ask if the Civic could power a Victron. We may as well get sillier.
Diesel gets a bad rap, but fuel economy and carbon emissions are lower than for equivalent petrol/gasoline. Particulates however are a different issue. Our cars do most of their miles on the highway and we are in a rural area, which is perfect for diesel. But I think it's time to ditch the Merc and go electric.
If so , I will take two…with blue tooth…
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
But the only time they are fun to drive is when they are in boost.
So how many overpriced victrons would it take to equivalently power my 337? 2L stroked AEP with an AEB built head along with a GT3076 and 870cc injectors.
I bet I have more in ARP than I would in Class T...
I figure in a few more years it will be a great project to convert over to an EV. I bet the cost to get the same power as my mild 23 psi tune would be astronomical, we won't even speculate what it take to equal the power when the waste gate line melts during a 4th gear pull...
Unfortunately here, it seems they waited/missed a whole decade of diesel commuter cars. Outside of the VW option there really wasn’t much at scale. Very cool options imo.
Sounds like a beauty. I once owned a blue lagoon 04.5 gli but only ever had bolt ons.
Hey now that I think about it. Some clear coat flake on a Victron box would match pretty close with that era blue. So you may be onto something, although if I recall 337s only came in silver.
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 23,198
I can't imagine they could sell that engine as new today and meet current standards. Can it power a Victron?
And what about these measured results, from 2012 with 164k miles on the car, aren't good enough for today?
Goose , your correct…and I say that the Victron blue is one of the best marketing strategy’s ever invented… I actually hear people on this forum dissing the blue color as boring ..Haaa, how little they know about product branding…marketing and sales…
does anyone recognize Dewalt yellow, ?
how about husky orange ?
or maybe John Deer green… ?
what about Makiita blue .?
or Poulen pro yellow and black…?
or Jeep Hunter green…?
or milwalkie Red ?
or Ridgid orange…?
or ..or ..or .
there is many companies that spend millions to brand a color…and visual recognition…
Victron has done a suberb job in branding it appearance…
but maybe I’m biased , as they’re stuff just works ….Regardless of color.
everyday- all day - all the time.
What’s the mileage on your odometer? What shape is it in?
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
It was a lot nicer looking before the R32 clone bumper went on to fit the fmic, it definitely doesn't have the sleeper look ?.
That blue lagoon is way better than the victron blue. It started with the bolt ons for me then the addiction evolved quickly just like it did with solar ?
They could probably release a special edition clear coat model with antistatic.
That's correct reflex silver, it's my silver bullet. Someday I'll top out 6th gear, just have to find a runway... Tunnel vision kicks in at the top of 5th.
Trying to keep it somewhat on topic, I do have some 4s JBDs that are supposedly rated to crank an engine when I decide to replace the agm I relocated to the hatch with some 2/0; however I don't think they'll communicate with victron.
wattmatters
Solar Wizard
I don't know, would have thought the standards for new vehicles would be far tougher to pass today. But then when I look at the monstrosities for sale now, I have to wonder.
Keeping your good old fuel efficient car running well is a better overall emissions prospect than buying some big shiny new electric truck. Well done you.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 25,451
cs1234
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Messages
- 3,555
I don't know if they have different test parameters for older vehicles or not. If they don't, the tests have to still allow a wide enough ratio for all the cars on the road to pass or people would riot. I think they are mainly only concerned with whether or not the originally installed emissions equipment is still "functioning".
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 23,198
Each car model has particular figures allowed for it. later models might have more stringent limits, but my point was a good running 23 year old car is already pretty close to zero, don't think innovation has reduced emissions much beyond that. Except hybrid, and shutting off while stopped but only for drivers stopped in traffic.
They do care most about equipment, not pollution. Also paperwork. One dealer who brought non-California cars into the state and installed emissions equipment so they passed tailpipe test was heavily fined. The cars didn't pollute, but state had not authorized those models.
When cars fail, owners may be given a grace period to keep using them, an income-based subsidy to repair, cash to retire. Often replacement equipment is needed, sometimes an overhaul.
The smog check I posted shows at 25 mph on dyno, hydrocarbons must be under 49 ppm to pass, average for my models tests 7 ppm, my car tested 2 ppm. Civic at the time it was 12 years old, 165k miles.
Sometimes I've had high emissions, corrected by replacing ignition wires or vacuum hoses. One time the Sable ECU gave error low efficiency of catalytic converter. It watches cycles of O2, loads up the cat with extra O2 to do its job. I replaced Cat and O2 sensors and it ran clean. (Previous overheating damaged fuel injectors, and bad mixture resulted in premature cat failure.)
California has ceased tailpipe tests for 2000 model and newer cars, just checks equipment (including exact model number of catalytic converter, ask me how I know), and reads ECU for codes indicating fault. The ECU checks O2 levels which relate to Cat (with O2 sensors after as well as before, it can see cat performance which relates to hydrocarbons). But it can't actually measure those, nor CO or NOx.
The old cars are allowed to continue being operated. A large fleet that will gradually be retired. Commercial trucks and construction equipment, older models are made illegal unless engines replaced. Yard equipment, there are noise ordinances and future sales of ICE models will be banned.
No need for riots, but money changes hands and smog certificates get issued. Stings are run to catch those shops.
They do care most about equipment, not pollution. Also paperwork. One dealer who brought non-California cars into the state and installed emissions equipment so they passed tailpipe test was heavily fined. The cars didn't pollute, but state had not authorized those models.
When cars fail, owners may be given a grace period to keep using them, an income-based subsidy to repair, cash to retire. Often replacement equipment is needed, sometimes an overhaul.
The smog check I posted shows at 25 mph on dyno, hydrocarbons must be under 49 ppm to pass, average for my models tests 7 ppm, my car tested 2 ppm. Civic at the time it was 12 years old, 165k miles.
Sometimes I've had high emissions, corrected by replacing ignition wires or vacuum hoses. One time the Sable ECU gave error low efficiency of catalytic converter. It watches cycles of O2, loads up the cat with extra O2 to do its job. I replaced Cat and O2 sensors and it ran clean. (Previous overheating damaged fuel injectors, and bad mixture resulted in premature cat failure.)
California has ceased tailpipe tests for 2000 model and newer cars, just checks equipment (including exact model number of catalytic converter, ask me how I know), and reads ECU for codes indicating fault. The ECU checks O2 levels which relate to Cat (with O2 sensors after as well as before, it can see cat performance which relates to hydrocarbons). But it can't actually measure those, nor CO or NOx.
The old cars are allowed to continue being operated. A large fleet that will gradually be retired. Commercial trucks and construction equipment, older models are made illegal unless engines replaced. Yard equipment, there are noise ordinances and future sales of ICE models will be banned.
No need for riots, but money changes hands and smog certificates get issued. Stings are run to catch those shops.
Samsonite801
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2020
- Messages
- 2,998
I purchased one of these 'illegal' commercial box trucks from Riverside, CA, drove it to Utah and licensed it here, it's been a fabulous truck, low miles. CA wouldn't allow the previous owner to register it to operate for more than 3000 miles use per year, so they couldn't sell it in CA for commercial use, nobody would buy it there. Makes for great deals on these CA used trucks for other states, I got a great price on mine.
I don't really use it all that often anyways, mainly for running longer heavier loads of construction supplies out here to the property from town. Love that it is a mechanical diesel though, simple, not expensive to fix nor too complicated to troubleshoot, runs super perfect, just purrs and never misses a beat.
Last edited:
Mirlen
New Member
I won't lie, I sorta liked Victron because it matches my Dillon reloading press...
wattmatters
Solar Wizard
The extent of my Victron set up:
Clean install!! Lol
Solar Steve
New Member
I wonder why there are very few mentions in this thread about the difficulty of getting Victron equipment to support NEC requirements? I’m very happy with Victron reliability and the VRM ecosystem but all-in-ones ones like SolArk or EG4 have built in support for GFP and AFP; this seems almost impossible to get as an add on for modern, high voltage strings. Anyone on here attempt to get permitted with a Victron setup?
cs1234
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Messages
- 3,555
That's the worst part about Victron. They seem to give a rats butt about American customers. They'll sell to us, but they have little to no concern for whether we can do a permitted legal install with their kit. Granted, many of the NEC / UL permitting requirements are excessive, and I don't like many of them because they put a stranglehold on adoption through excessive cost.. but it would be nice if Victron followed along anyway.
Do you live in a non rust belt? Any rust prevention measures?
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 25,451
Victron's base customer is boat, RV, and off grid.
NEC is not their concern.
NEC is not their concern.
Q-Dog
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Exactly. I guess that's how I ended up with Victron gear. I approached my setup as though I were installing in an RV or boat. My fallback plan was if it didn't work out in the house I could install in all into my RV.
I think Victron is beginning to test the potential of the US residential market.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 25,451
Rust belt adjacent.
It sits outside, not in a garage.
Which is why the paint could use a refresh.
I really don't know what makes it amazing. It has never needed anything other than routine maintenance.
I purchased it used (2 years old), from a little old lady. Who only drove it to church on Sunday.
I never met her, maybe she used a magic spell on it. lol
With flexibility comes complication. Yes, Linux allows you more control, and flexibility, but yes, you may have to put in the time to learn it.
For example, The Cerbo GX is Linux on a Raspberry Pi, and you can download (for free!) the OS yourself, VenusOS, and run it on your own Raspberry Pi. Yes, more complicated, but with maximum flexibility.
It is up to the individual if such as system is worth the effort.
Linux's legacy is Unix, and as such has been around since 1969.
Last edited:
Similar threads
