MrSuperman
New Member
zzz
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zzz
- Thread starter MrSuperman
- Start date
Q-Dog
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Let's see some numbers please.
To come to a conclusion, yes we need numbers but scale is an important issue when dealing with efficiency or savings. A 10% saving on fuel for our most used vehicle is about €220 per year but with so many variables & no calibrated test equipment its difficult to know what’s happening. You could of course calculate everything but then factors like temperature, wind & other driving conditions are not in the equation.
MrSuperman
New Member
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Q-Dog
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I believe Santa is real, he just skipped over our house the past 50 years because I was a very bad boy.
MrSuperman
New Member
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Boomerweps
New Member
My question is why every dc to dc LiFePO4 charger is pretty expensive for what it does? Even the lesser advertised brands.
MrSuperman
New Member
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HarryN
Solar Wizard
It is a common method. I prefer to use a second inverter to pull power from the van system, because 24 volt is such a handy voltage for van use.
The nominal losses do not matter when you are driving.
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
fuzzmunky415
Solar Enthusiast
Unless I'm entirely mistaken, your new favorite brand, of course!
12V 20A 40A DC to DC Charger On-Board MPPT Solar Panel Battery Charger for RV | eBay
【99% Efficiency MPPT】. With IP65 level waterproof. Provides proper charging for AGM/GEL, Lead acid, Lithium and Calcium batteries. Solar Panel Kit. Solar Battery System. The addition of stater battery and leisure battery isolation achieves greater safety performance.
www.ebay.com
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BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
That does look good. I was tempted to do the 12V inverter to charger idea because of what I already had. Lets see if anybody has tried that unit or now.Unless I'm entirely mistaken, your new favorite brand, of course!
$102 shipped.12V 20A 40A DC to DC Charger On-Board MPPT Solar Panel Battery Charger for RV | eBay
【99% Efficiency MPPT】. With IP65 level waterproof. Provides proper charging for AGM/GEL, Lead acid, Lithium and Calcium batteries. Solar Panel Kit. Solar Battery System. The addition of stater battery and leisure battery isolation achieves greater safety performance.www.ebay.com
I love my EG4 3K units. But the LifePower4 V1 still leaves a bad memories. E-W is definably expanding their product line and has offered better support. Thank you for the E-W product referral
fuzzmunky415
Solar Enthusiast
Cheers! See my ninja edit...40A for BOTH inputs, otherwise 20A.
MrSuperman
New Member
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Vigo
Solar Wizard
I have done the AC charger off 12v inverter into lifepo4 bank while driving thing. I have no real issue with it. To me it is far more user controllable both in terms of selection of what to buy, and modes of operation, than your typical lower-end DC-DC. Having said that, i still bought a cheap DC-DC and do not plan to AC charge off inverter in the future so that i can eliminate high current 'bank switching' devices into my single inverter. It's definitely just down to user preference.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355287915574?_skw=dc+to+dc+charger&itmmeta=01JHGE8ZYHC1MHBH06H85MS4H0&hash=item52b8cf5c36:g:FE0AAOSwQU9mQsqC&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKkPWgQxkVlcy6FPaq3jucViYN/EF/hVHeMpeLSGpdOLdotToW4/+tcHJ1KCWNsvPudkbHV1g+8U9W8DlXb8wezyoQSq+Ubqcg19uYOaZ++qUvbwq7yBZP9k9v9MEXBAX0aMLAK6e8uh9iw81E0OvIKgUHC2i/+qiAcsvKTqxnEEVF6q3ZW2QCiep1MP+7g5puAgBEyvNcNc8d+hqkJ45R2u7kw2RhJBojkog6cN/HDJx+fdHkUjm4P81jw7HgOnQhgl/W1flUiKDDc9OJEiyRNSaFHNbmhhN47ziAIvxMTpPw==|tkp:Bk9SR7z_o46MZQ
It's not a complicated search,,,ebay-Dc to Dc converter. Li-time, Eco worthy, Power Queen is border line on $$$
lexio
feel the balance 3.65
14.6 lifpo4 that is 3.65 a cell pffff
what if you don't have an inverter? and when I checked last a 20amp dc to dc and a 20 amp LiFePO4 charger were about the same price for me.
My dc to dc I can leave my upfitter switch on and as soon as I start the truck it starts charging, or I can turn the upfitter switch off and it won't charge.
It sounds like you prefer the system you've set up which is terrific. Every user has different requirements and priorities and should tailor their system to their preferences.
As for your stated advantages:
1 - Simplicity? The system you describe is more complicated in that it requires user action to switch on the inverter. A DC-DC runs itself w/out any user engagement which is simpler.
2 - Cost efficient? Inverters are optional and many vans run entirely on 12 volts so in those cases the inverter is an added and unnecessary cost .
3 - Even ignoring the lack of evidence you're not describing an advantage, you're describing a similarity ("same", "same", etc.).
4 - Again, this applies to DC-DC chargers the same as AC-DC chargers so this is not an advantage, it's a similarity.
Your 2nd inverter seems like it would cancel any savings gained in buying a DC-DC charger and add needless complexity to the system unless redundancy is a requirement that justifies the cost.
Again, it's great that you have a system you prefer, which should be everyone's objective, but the stated advantages/disadvantages are questionable and may not be compelling to a specific user.
MrSuperman
New Member
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RV8R
Solar Addict
I started building out Promaster Vans in 2018. Back then I went to wanting a 100% fully electric van at start of the build to settling on “Propane” & a very efficient 12vdc system. Van Electrical Systems have become a hobby for me now ,,, & I kinda feel like Gary (12v Van Electrical is My Jam);
If you are “saving money” why not just “direct charge” ,,, no inverter & no DC2DC equipment ?
2018 Van - Direct Charged House Batteries from Alternator
2021 Van - Direct Charged House Batteries from Alternator ,,, about a year ago I added a Kisae 1250 DC2DC (Dual - Alternator & Solar Charger)
I might of missed it in your posts, but the BIG Advantage of what you are doing (the Orton Method), is with DC “Distance Matters” ,,, With AC “Distance”
Meh - Don’t Care !!I can assure you, my DC2DC charging system is way way better with my Kisae than direct charging.
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my understanding...
whether you use DC-DC or a inverter + charger you are pulling X amount of watts from the truck's power system
if you charge your HOUSE with a 40amp current
you are pulling about 500w which ever method you use, BUT different methods will have different overheads
It may be a bit cheaper to use inverter because of wiring...
but for heaven sake don't disconnect the 120v while standing in the rain/puddle
the whole reason to do so is to control how much strain is on the chassis electrical
check your alternator FIRST ... it may already be built good enough to handle a deeply discharged lifepo4
if you don't get caught in a lot of traffic airflow may just be all you need
add a manual on/off switch on the existing BIM...
only turn on alternator charging when YOU decide it is good to do so ...
no traffic, cool weather, no big chassis loads (such as a/c+ lights + wipers).... turn the switch to allow BIM to connect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 pin trailers ... just use a digital voltage sensing relay and better wiring
add a manual on/off switch as well
$50.00
--------------------------------------------------------------
and since we on a solar forum
put a 1000w of solar on the roof
I got 740w ( 2 x 370w) on a travel trailer .................. never worry about converter/shorepower or alternator
whether you use DC-DC or a inverter + charger you are pulling X amount of watts from the truck's power system
if you charge your HOUSE with a 40amp current
you are pulling about 500w which ever method you use, BUT different methods will have different overheads
It may be a bit cheaper to use inverter because of wiring...
but for heaven sake don't disconnect the 120v while standing in the rain/puddle
the whole reason to do so is to control how much strain is on the chassis electrical
check your alternator FIRST ... it may already be built good enough to handle a deeply discharged lifepo4
if you don't get caught in a lot of traffic airflow may just be all you need
add a manual on/off switch on the existing BIM...
only turn on alternator charging when YOU decide it is good to do so ...
no traffic, cool weather, no big chassis loads (such as a/c+ lights + wipers).... turn the switch to allow BIM to connect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 pin trailers ... just use a digital voltage sensing relay and better wiring
add a manual on/off switch as well
$50.00
--------------------------------------------------------------
and since we on a solar forum
put a 1000w of solar on the roof
I got 740w ( 2 x 370w) on a travel trailer .................. never worry about converter/shorepower or alternator
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
I can see this application in the future. Trickle/float charge it while driving and use an existing 48V LPF Battery and a EG4 3K in a box trailer. Trying not to use a generator for light but long pull loads. Lights, fans, TV, and little cooking
Voltage Converter Regulator DC/DC DC 12V Step-up to DC 48V 10A 480W Truck Power Boost Transformer
HarryN
Solar Wizard
A voltage converter is not a charger in case it helps.
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