I want to use a Victron Orion 24/12‑40A DC‑DC converter in a racing application to power an Aeromotive 5.0 brushless fuel pump. I have two 16 V XS Power batteries and a Powermaster alternator that charges at about 17.6 V, so the bus is typically 17.6 V running and 16–17 V when the engine is off. The pump draws about 33 A at my required operating pressure and must be limited to roughly 13.5 V max at its input, so I need a reliable buck converter to step the vehicle bus down to about 13–13.5 V at 35–40 A continuous.
The datasheet lists the Orion’s input range as 18–35 V. Will it start and operate correctly with a real‑world input slightly below 18 V (about 17.6 V while charging, and as low as 16 V with the engine off), or is 18 V an absolute minimum where the unit may not start, may drop out, or may not deliver rated current? Thank you!
Not sure. You might need to look at paralleling the Tr Converter. Get the isolated one for safety. You can do 2x20A or 2x30A, the start voltage is 16V. Maybe someone else has a similar experience, but Victron gear usually does not operate outside the parameters.
You can put the XS in power supply mode. The unit will throttle if it gets too hot, so you might struggle with 40A continuous. The Tr models will supply power better at maximum current, especially if you parallel 2x30A models that will get you 60A. The 1400XS is also non-isolated, so if it fails internally, the higher voltage could be seen on the output. So if you want consistent, reliable power and isolation, go for the Tr model. If you dont need isolation and possible throttling is not a problem, go for the XS.