Moving to LifePO4 - best Cerbo-S GX option for monitoring?

Q&A and troubleshooting
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Hi Guys,

Thanks for having me here :slight_smile:

I am in the process of converting my house battery to LifePO4.
Current setup ( sailboat ) as attached. I also have a Cerbo-S GX device (Large image with SK and Node-red ). The MPPT and Smartshunt is connected to ve.direct ports on the Cerbo to get readout from those devices. The charger is a dumb Victron IP22. The generator can deliver 80 Amps.

I need advice on what components I need to get a “simple” lifepo4 solution for the house battery. Looking at approx 150Ah solutions. No inverter, bow thrusters, or any other high loads.

First of all, I guess I should remove the DVSR and keep the emergency parallel switch ( only to be used en REAL emergencies ).

Possible options I can think of :

  1. A “Smart BMS 12/200” or “Smart CL 12/100” and a Victron Lithium Smart 12v battery
  2. Victron Lithium NG solution
  3. An Orion DC-DC converter and a Victron Battery or 3. party battery

Any suggestions on with route to choose ? Of course, price is a factor - but also important is the ability to get integration with my Cerbo GX system. Should I keep the smartshunt to get readouts of voltage/current and SoC - or can I get that data from another source ?

I do not expect to expand the capacity in the future, but I would like to keep my options open and possibly support 3. party batteries.

Thanks a lot !

BR Torben

batteri-Simplified.drawio
batteri-Simplified.drawio1249×1034 122 KB

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The simplest solution for charging from the generator (engine alternator) is to replace the DVSR with a 50A Orion XS DC to DC charger, which can connect to your Cerbo by VE Direct for monitoring. 50A will limit the generator current so it does not overheat. As the DVSR is gone, you could connect the MPPT and IP22 to the starter battery to keep that charged and the Orion XS would pass that charge current to the house battery.

The next question is what batteries to use. Victron NG are great because of their integration, but will need a separate Small BMS NG and Battery Protect devices. I am not considering the Lynx NG or VE Bus NG BMSs for a small system. This is extra cost and wiring. The simplest solution is 3rd party battery with Bluetooth and you would keep your SmartShunt. Some batteries have comms so you could connect to the Cerbo.

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see Battery Compatibility [Victron Energy] for Victron compatible battery types.

2 Likes
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Thanks for your input, @pwfarnell !
So - the IP22 should only charge the starter battery then ?
Will the Orion XS pass “charger” information to the Cerbo correctly ? What kind of data can I expect from the Orion ?

I guess that setup will also work for none-lifepo4 house batteries ( using AGM for start and GEL for house ) ?

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If you have an IP22 with multiple outputs you csn connect it to both batteries.

Putting the chargers onto the starter battery with Orion to charge the house is a common way of making sure both are charged. You could put them both on the domestic battery and hope the starter does not self discharge (tjat would be better for the Cerbo monitoring) or add a trickle charger, but thst could confuse the Orion.

The Orion reports both battery voltages and currents.

yes it will work for any combination of battery type. However, if they have similar charge requirements then a voltage sending relay (VSR) wpuld be cheaper.