I’ve had issues with the start battery in my 2022 Airstream Interstate 19 RV on a Mercedes 2500 Sprinter chassis. They have trouble staying above 12 volts and when it drops below 12 volts, electric sliding door and other things don’t work.
I replaced the AGM start battery with an Antigravity LifePO4 Start battery which is made specifically for use as a start battery. I replaced the solar controller and battery charger with LifePO4 compatible ones.
Start battery works great but having charging issues with the two LifePO4 house batteries.
I replaced the RV factory installed DC to DC 50 amp Victron buck booster with a Victron Orion XS 12/12/50. Online the fact you can make adjustments via Bluetooth.
My friends as well as other RV forum contributors all think that the RV factory wiring diagram is not a good way to do things. But cannot think how to fix it. It looks like the solar controller and/or 12 volt charger supplied power will confuse the Victron Orion XS since they feed power to the input of the Orion XS
CAN some kind person look at the attached wiring diagram and let me know how to rewire the system to work correctly. And if more Victron components are needed please advise and indicate how to wire them up.
I love my RV and I have some physical disabilities. I’m very good at reading and following schematics. Any assistance will be GREATLY appreciated
What does that mean? They’re connected to the starter battery, the fuse size for the solar and minder say they don’t have much authority.
What charging issues are you having? It looks like the coach batteries will only charge when the engine is running, assuming the Orion XS is wired & set up properly.
Thanks for your reply. According to the wiring diagram the positive lines from the solar controller, battery charger and the start battery connect together at the INPUT of the Orion XS. With the vehicle off, the solar controller will still supply power to the Orion XS as will the battery charger if the RV is connected to shore power. The power then goes through the Orion XS to the two house batteries. See wring diagram.
My concern is two fold:
As wired, will thus cause issues with the Orion XS?
The house batteries do not hold charge when off grid and engine is off.
I have Parkinson’s and writing and communicating via typing is very difficult.
Do you see any issues with how my batteries are wired up? I’m told by other RVers that the wiring is wrong but they offer no solutions. I was hoping this forum would be helpful since it is read by knowledgeable persons in the field of battery storage and charging.
All of this is assuming that with the engine is off, the Orion is configured to be disabled. Any current on the input from solar or the charger will always charge the starter battery. The Orion is always connected to the starter battery by a 50A fuse and will always see starter battery voltage on the input. Any change on the input should be ignored my the Orion.
I believe there is an engine shutdown detect option on the Orion, but I suspect the jumper has priority. The Orion manual has details on the operation.
Your house batteries probably have a small load that drains them over time. My diesel coach has that issue too. It’s mostly the propane alarm, router, and several USB ports I’ve installed. I don’t see a house battery disconnect on this schematic portion, or a way to keep the house batteries charged when plugged in, without the engine running.
Adding a disconnect would stop any draw, and a single output IP22 charger would keep them maintained.
As stated above, you can get the Orion to start 2 ways, switched from the ignition so it is only on when ignition is on or from input voltage, engine shutdown detection. In this case it starts when there is a charging voltage detected on the input from the alternator. This then allows the Orion to start charging if there is solar on the input.
See Section 4 of the manual.
You may need to alter the ignition wiring on the remote terminal and then reprogram with Bluetooth, I do not know if both systems to turn on charging can coexist.
