Hi,
I currently have 2 battery packs, one 24v and a more recent 48v LiFePO4, perfectly functional but independent, each has its own inverter, in off-grid house.
I am currently using only the 48V, while the 24v is in stand-by.
I would like to make them work together to obtain more capacity, for example by sending the current from the 24v to the 48v battery
I bought an Orion tr 24/48-6A, is it possible to use it for this purpose? Or could I use a normal 230V battery charger from the inverter to the battery? Other suggestions?
Thank you
Paolo
Hi @paolo
You can charge with that Orion, but it can only charge to a flat Voltage, so you’ll need to set it’s target V with a tiny screwdriver (into a V meter). It doesn’t communicate, so can’t show how much it’s charging either.
It’s Remote port can be very useful to switch it on/off, either manually, or if you have other Victron kit like a GX device with a relay, or a Multiplus, you could devise some logic to keep your batteries balanced to your preference.
Sure you could also use an AC charger, but 48V units are a bit thin in the market.
Hi John, thanks for your kind reply.
The plan is to run Orion with dry contact, so the 24v battery can’t get too low.
The problem instead is how to manage the 48v charge, since I don’t know how Orion works with current.
If I set it to a float voltage, when the battery is fully charged, can it stay on or should I manually stop it?
The Orion will charge up to it’s capacity until it reaches Target V. On the flat charge curve of LFP, setting that Float V might need a bit of trial’n’error, but you should be able to leave it there if you have protection for the 24V bank.
What is the procedure to set the voltage exactly using the potentiometer? Should I set it with the 48V battery disconnected and measure the voltage with a tester?
Yeh, that’s a good place to start. Try to get a feel for what the effect of turning the pot has. The last thing you want is to overcharge the Li’s, so take your time. I’ve found once set, the Orion holds a stable V. You just have to decide what that is for what you want to do.