Victron Orion Tr 48/12-30 Is Dumb. Can I control It From Cerbo GX?

[HRTKD]

I'll have a Victron Orion Tr 48/12-30 in my new system. This device is rather dumb. No communications in/out. Not much to configure.

I would like to shut the device down when the system voltage goes below a certain amount, say 50 volts. It supports a remote hardware on/off switch. Can I manipulate that remote on/off switch using the relay on the Cerbo GX?

The alternative is to use a Victron Smart Battery Protect 48v - 100 amp between the Victron Lynx Distributor and the Victron Orion Tr 48/12-30. That would be an expensive relay ($137).

I've got more things to run with the relays on the Cerbo GX than I have relays available. There are also relays available on the Quattro and Lynx Shunt, but those cannot be programmed/controlled using the Cerbo GX.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

@Adam De Lay

 

[Adam De Lay]

I don’t have the Orion, but you might have better luck using one of the relays on the inverter to program in a start and stop voltage.

The relays on the Cerbo don’t allow for that kind of control unless you use the generator function of relay number one. Unfortunately, relay number one is the only one that you can utilize for generator control. Relay number two is strictly “manual control” or I believe “alarm control”?

The other thing to make sure is that the Orion remote switch doesn’t have voltage or current that exceeds the relay terminal on whichever device you decide to use.

 

[HRTKD]

In my 12 volt system I'm using both Cerbo GX relays to control fans (on/off) based off of temperature sensors connected to the Cerbo GX.

The other thing to make sure is that the Orion remote switch doesn’t have voltage or current that exceeds the relay terminal on whichever device you decide to use.

From the manual:

3. Optional remote on/off: replace the wire bridge on the green connector by a switch (switched current is less than 100 mA), or remove the wire bridge and connect the right-hand terminal of the green connector to the battery plus with a switch (this could for example be the engine run/stop switch).

The entire manual for the Orion-Tr DC-DC converter is about five times longer than the above quote.

 

[Adam De Lay]

I can’t seem to find the article right now about the relay specs but I’m pretty sure 100mA is well under each relays limits.

 

[cdsolar]

You could use NodeRed to trip a relay open or closed based on SoC. I am playing with NodeRed and it is quite powerful.

 

[WorldwideDave]

I haven't fully understood how the relays work. Sounds like you can set a threshold (example, in a 12V system, set alarm for undervoltage of 11V) and then using the relay function, turn off an inverter to kill power to loads (if the inverter supports being told to shut off by a relay). Is that example correct?
Another example might be that in a 12V system, if the battery voltage is over 14.4 volts to shut off the MPPTs to protect overcharge disconnect on the battery. If the MPPT supported being told to do that by a relay. Is that example correct?

 

[rhino]

@HRTKD What did you end up doing? I assume this is for charging your 48V battery system in your trailer from your tow vehicle?

 

[WorldwideDave]

@HRTKD What did you end up doing? I assume this is for charging your 48V battery system in your trailer from your tow vehicle?

Hey Rhino - are you asking to find out if and how he solved having more things he needed to control with relays than the cerbo GX could provide, or ?

 

[rhino]

Hey Rhino - are you asking to find out if and how he solved having more things he needed to control with relays than the cerbo GX could provide, or ?

I suppose my question was only tangentially related. I am thinking of doing similar setup with 48V system in trailer and charging it from 12V from tow vehicle. I wasn't clear why the relay was necessary for the Orion Tr.

As side note I was told Victron will have a 48V version of the Orion XS next year sometime which would replace the Orion Tr in this situation.

 

[HRTKD]

Sorry for the delay, I'm on vacation, attending a Northwood Mfg rally in Oregon. Sadly, Northwood does NOT use Victron equipment.

I haven't done anything to change how the Orion Tr 48-12/30 functions. Note that I use it to power the 12 volt system in the camper. I do not have any 12-48 charging taking place.

The Orion Tr generates a LOT of heat. Probably more than the two MPPT 150/35 combined. It hasn't missed a beat, but the heat is something I'm planning to deal with.

I've also heard through the grapevine that there will be new XS models. I'll ditch the Tr as soon as that happens. Another tidbit I heard is that there will be a new product that integrates with the Cerbo GX and allows for more relays. It's either available now or will be soon.