Hello Hello!
My name is Kim and i'm from Berlin, Germany! I build a 2018 VW Crafter with two batteries from the factory into a Camper-Van. I used a Lifepo4 Amperetime Battery with 200ah (as a third battery mostly for the complete camper stuff), which I want to charge during driving via alternator with a 12/12-30 Orions Smart or via shore power with the Victron Blue Smart 12/30. I'm monitoring it via the Victron BMV 700.
I'm having several problems with the settings so first of all, the BMV 700 shows pretty much complete wrong settings. For example the fridge runs with 50w and the BMV only shows a maximum of -21w. If it Charges via the Blue Smart there are around 400w outgoing into the Blue Smart and the BMV 700 only shows +160w. I tried to figure out what the correct settings are for the LifePO4 and i tried to set it up, but its never getting better. Plus when im not charging at all, it always shows around +2w. The battery never discharges, im always between 100-90% last time all my power went off when i should have still been via bmv 700 at 90%. I tried to type in the settings from the battery manufacturer but it's not getting better.
Then probably my biggest problem, the VW Crafter has an Intelligent Alternator, when im driving in normal speeds its constantly changing the voltage. When im not using a lot like, heated seats, ac on full power it sometimes falls down to 11.6v. Now I monitored it during my last drive it should be ok, when I set it up for the engine shut down to around 12.5v. But what i*m thinking is, if I set it to 12.5v it will drown my factory batteries, because they have when the engine is shut off around 12.8-13v. Maybe my Orion is broken, I thought the exact reason why you buy such a Orion DC-DC charger is so the smart alternator still powers up the voltage so the Orion can charge my lifepo4?
Maybe somebody is out there who had a similar experience with a smart alternator, ampertime battery and victron stuff! Would be great to get some help!
Thank you in advance!
