chargers and VSRs

[lustyd]

I think I'm having a wine fueled moment so need some input as I don't feel able to fully think this one through. I currently have a charger on board which is a Cristec Nemo 25. Nothing wrong with this but I'd quite like a Victron to go with the other kit I have, looking at the Phoenix IP43 1+1. The Victron would have multiple outputs to charge the house bank separately to the engine start with a trickle. There's a VSR so presumably most of the time this would connect the banks? If so would it even be worth wiring up the second connection for trickle charge, or would you just wire in using existing wires on the main battery terminals of the new charger? Is there anything I haven't thought of?

 

[[70521]]

Can't comment on the Victron as I have a VSR supplied by KDD, @halcyon of this parish, I have rigged it so it is connected to the house side of the VSR. When the voltage is greater than 13.80 volts the VSR opens and the starter battery gets charged. That way the instrumentation shows the amps going in.

I could hook up a second input to the battery bank but would have no idea of the charging rate.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I think I'm having a wine fueled moment so need some input as I don't feel able to fully think this one through. I currently have a charger on board which is a Cristec Nemo 25. Nothing wrong with this but I'd quite like a Victron to go with the other kit I have, looking at the Phoenix IP43 1+1. The Victron would have multiple outputs to charge the house bank separately to the engine start with a trickle. There's a VSR so presumably most of the time this would connect the banks? If so would it even be worth wiring up the second connection for trickle charge, or would you just wire in using existing wires on the main battery terminals of the new charger? Is there anything I haven't thought of?

The VSR makes the engine trickle charge pointless, as anytime the charger is on, the VSR will be closed.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks both, that makes sense. I’ll probably still update the charger for the various other benefits (one being smaller size!) but I’ll just hook it up the same way the old one is connected.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks both, that makes sense. I’ll probably still update the charger for the various other benefits (one being smaller size!) but I’ll just hook it up the same way the old one is connected.

The Phoenix is expensive and i'm not sure what advantages you'll get with one connected to a single bank and using a VSR. I'd consider one of these:

Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12V 30A 1 Output - BPC123047022

You can configure and monitor it via Bluetooth, so no need to buy the Victron remote that you'd really want with the Phoenix. It will also use the "new" VE Smart networking, which will share data with other Bluetooth devices, such as a Smartshunt, MPPT controller etc.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Paul. The VSR may well get removed at some point in future upgrades, I've not fully decided what I'm doing with the batteries yet so the flexibility might be useful to have. I like that the cable isn't permanently wired in at the charger end which would make it slightly less faff to install. I also like that there's a VE.Direct port and remote switch on the Phoenix as I have the RPi Venus connecting all the other kit so would be useful for monitoring as well as potentially remote on/off over the wifi.

The Blue Smart is smaller though so ticks some other boxes nicely, I hadn't really considered that one so thanks for pointing it out.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks Paul. The VSR may well get removed at some point in future upgrades, I've not fully decided what I'm doing with the batteries yet so the flexibility might be useful to have. I like that the cable isn't permanently wired in at the charger end which would make it slightly less faff to install. I also like that there's a VE.Direct port and remote switch on the Phoenix as I have the RPi Venus connecting all the other kit so would be useful for monitoring as well as potentially remote on/off over the wifi.

The Blue Smart is smaller though so ticks some other boxes nicely, I hadn't really considered that one so thanks for pointing it out.

In that case, probably better off with the Phoenix.

 

[Daverw]

Thanks Paul. The VSR may well get removed at some point in future upgrades, I've not fully decided what I'm doing with the batteries yet so the flexibility might be useful to have. I like that the cable isn't permanently wired in at the charger end which would make it slightly less faff to install. I also like that there's a VE.Direct port and remote switch on the Phoenix as I have the RPi Venus connecting all the other kit so would be useful for monitoring as well as potentially remote on/off over the wifi.

The Blue Smart is smaller though so ticks some other boxes nicely, I hadn't really considered that one so thanks for pointing it out.

I’ve got our RPi Venus generator output from the RPi GPIO pins wired to relay which switches charger supply, works well as remote switch either via VRM or auto settings in Venus, did this as we were looking at upgrading to Phoenix to get VE port but currently staying with Blue smart