Victron Orion 12 - 12 /30

[Lightwave395]

After pouring over multiple threads and lots of guidance from a Mr Rainbow I finally decided what to use to implement a Lithium upgrade (well, I hope it's an upgrade to my boat...) and am assembling the parts.

I've just received my new 200aH battery with Bluetooth BMS and on arrival it's sitting at 51% SOC. Since I'm in Cowes and the boat is in France I'd really like to test out the pieces I have to install but my Sterling PCU1260 mains battery charger is onboard

To respond to any cries of "what, only 200aH !" I would point out that we meander up and down the Atlantic coast of France spending rarely more than a couple of nights at anchor before scurrying into a marina and we have just the usual assortment of 12v equipment and no plan or any need for an invertor, so, I'm staying with my existing 100aH SLA engine battery, 55A alternator and 70aH windlass/bow thruster SLA battery, adding a 200aH Lithium house battery, a 12v Victron 30A DC-DC charger, 2 X 100W solar panels with MPPT controller, a BMV712 monitor and my existing Sterling PCU1260 mains charger, liberally sprinkled with isolators and fuses following Mr Rainbow's advice as best I can.

Having read and re-read all the documentation I have, I can't think why it would be cause problems but my question is am I OK to connect either one of two healthy SLA batteries I have sitting around to the Orion thence to the Lithium battery so I can watch the bluetooth and see if it's working OK ?? Or even my non-Lithium LA battery charger ?

I could also connect up my BMV712 into the test too I guess

 

[Poecheng]

Waiting for others (experts) to arrive but I see no reason why you cannot have:
old charger to SLA to Orion (lithium settings, but perhaps changed in the long run as I understand Victron's lithium settings can be improved) to Lithium.
THat is the plan on the boat so cannot see reason why different on land.
Add an inverter and you can make a cup of tea and watch it all happen

 

[PaulRainbow]

After pouring over multiple threads and lots of guidance from a Mr Rainbow I finally decided what to use to implement a Lithium upgrade (well, I hope it's an upgrade to my boat...) and am assembling the parts.

I've just received my new 200aH battery with Bluetooth BMS and on arrival it's sitting at 51% SOC. Since I'm in Cowes and the boat is in France I'd really like to test out the pieces I have to install but my Sterling PCU1260 mains battery charger is onboard

To respond to any cries of "what, only 200aH !" I would point out that we meander up and down the Atlantic coast of France spending rarely more than a couple of nights at anchor before scurrying into a marina and we have just the usual assortment of 12v equipment and no plan or any need for an invertor, so, I'm staying with my existing 100aH SLA engine battery, 55A alternator and 70aH windlass/bow thruster SLA battery, adding a 200aH Lithium house battery, a 12v Victron 30A DC-DC charger, 2 X 100W solar panels with MPPT controller, a BMV712 monitor and my existing Sterling PCU1260 mains charger, liberally sprinkled with isolators and fuses following Mr Rainbow's advice as best I can.

Having read and re-read all the documentation I have, I can't think why it would be cause problems but my question is am I OK to connect either one of two healthy SLA batteries I have sitting around to the Orion thence to the Lithium battery so I can watch the bluetooth and see if it's working OK ?? Or even my non-Lithium LA battery charger ?

I could also connect up my BMV712 into the test too I guess

You can connect the Orion to a SLA battery and the Lithium battery, that's what it's for. But you will need to have the SLA on charge. You will also wire the Orion up properly, with the correct size wire and fit the fuses close to each battery. If you have a mains charger there you can just connect that directly to the Lithium for this, as long as the charger has a suitable bulk/absorption voltage. What charger do you have at home ?

 

[Lightwave395]

You can connect the Orion to a SLA battery and the Lithium battery, that's what it's for. But you will need to have the SLA on charge. You will also wire the Orion up properly, with the correct size wire and fit the fuses close to each battery. If you have a mains charger there you can just connect that directly to the Lithium for this, as long as the charger has a suitable bulk/absorption voltage. What charger do you have at home ?

Thanks Paul, my home charger is just a cheapish 'Maypole' job from Halford, 20A on boost setting, I also have 'Ring' charger but that's only 8 A but it does do bulk / absorption/ float, just not much of it. Might be better going through the Photonic Universe Gel battery with the charger attached. I've got an assortment of oceanflex cables

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks Paul, my home charger is just a cheapish 'Maypole' job from Halford, 20A on boost setting, I also have 'Ring' charger but that's only 8 A but it does do bulk / absorption/ float, just not much of it. Might be better going through the Photonic Universe Gel battery with the charger attached. I've got an assortment of oceanflex cables

I'd be reluctant to connect either of those to the DC-DC charger