Newbie advice needed (Car camping setup, DC-DC, MPPT)

@inquisistent Also to @HRTKD

With the BMS you have chosen you may or may not need a DC to DC charger. If you have a simple alternator that outputs 14.4 to 14.5V all the time then you do not need a DC to DC. The BMS limits the charge current to a maximum value set by the fuse and output voltage to the 14.2V required by the Victron batteries. Note, the voltage of the alternator HAS to be circa 14.4, ideally 14.5V to compensate for the voltage drop in the BMS.

The BMS does not have any voltage boost circuitry so if you have an alternator that delivers say 14.2V then this BMS is not suitable because with the voltage drop, you will not achieve high charge current. The first port of call here is seeing if you can get a new higher voltage regulator for the alternator. If you can not get a new regulator then a DC to DC is recommended. There are many examples of this and there is a post in the sticky DIY FAQs topic at the top of DIY section.

Finally, if you have a very modern vehicle with a smart alternator that can back right down to float voltage of 13.2V controlled by the ECU then this BMS is definitely not suitable, you must have a DC to DC charger. You can not add a new regulator easily in this case.

DIY FAQS

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