Victron Orion TR Smart DC-DC Charger

[Issywa]

Just installed this and use it to charge my start battery off my house bank. Planning for future migration from FLA to LFP.

I have noticed that it charges fine when under power or on shore power. However, at anchor it draws down the start battery.

I have the engine detection mode enabled. And have input voltage set at 12.6.

Thoughts?

[Cheyne]

I have a simple on/off switch on the L/H plug and I leave it off unless I need the charger.

Cheyne

[Capt.Don]

I never got the engine detect and shutdown logic to work with solar, alternator and shore power. I ended up connecting the L pin to the start battery isolation switch +12vdc. You can also connect to the key switch for when only running the engine.

My start battery (Optima AGM) can sit disconnected for several months w/out charging. The Orion DC-DC will charge the start battery when: (1) engine running/alternator (automatic) and (2) if I manually close the start battery isolation switch for charging from the solar/house battery.

Note, after starting the engine, the 30A DC-DC cycles through Bulk/Absorption/Float in just a few minutes. It doesn't take too many amps to start the boat

Don

[Issywa]

Cheyne - do you have the same issue if you don’t use a switch?

[Cheyne]

Yep, it is why I put the switches on.

I have my cut out set to 12.5v and restart at 12.8v.

Cheyne

[Issywa]

So a flaw I our wiring or the Orion?

I find it frustrating to say the least that we need to implement a work around.

Which by the way, I do by removing the fuse to stop the power drain.

I think that’s BS at best ….

[Cheyne]

I'm in the middle of swapping out both of my 30 amp DCDC's for the new Orion XS 50 amp units. I did a test today and removed the switch, I put it in because it was there with the 30 amp, and let it sit for the past 24 hours. It didn't not bleed down my starter battery. Now the new unit has VE.Direct and is controlled by my Cerbo now. I believe this is why it didn't use any of the starter battery.

Cheyne

[smac999]

then you have your settings wrong. or the unit is broken. I have seen 2 bad orions that read the voltage wrong. (voltage in app is way different then what you measure at the posts, and it uses wrong measurement for turning on and off) both were 12-24v units though.

in battery menu set up battery specs for the battery being charged

in engine shut down detection I use smart alt for any setup. it's just better settings then reg alt. use default settings

on main menu. input voltage lock out set to 12.0v . this allows the orion to stay on durring surge start ups isntead of cycling. it will not drain a battery to 12.0. it will shut off at the 13.1v setting in the engine shutdown, shutdown votlage setting.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by Cheyne

I'm in the middle of swapping out both of my 30 amp DCDC's for the new Orion XS 50 amp units. I did a test today and removed the switch, I put it in because it was there with the 30 amp, and let it sit for the past 24 hours. It didn't not bleed down my starter battery. Now the new unit has VE.Direct and is controlled by my Cerbo now. I believe this is why it didn't use any of the starter battery.

Cheyne

the settings options in the 30a and 50a are the same and they both work in the same way. (other then the 50a allowing reduced amps) the ve direct just allows the cerbo to show data. the cerbo can't control it at all. becasue there is no way the cerbo knows what batteries the orion is charging. they should have made the oron input and output assignable to a shunt so DVCC could work. but you can't. the orion could be going from engine to house, or house to engine. or engine to bow thruster. the cerbo has no idea. therefore has no way to controll it.