I have a question about the remote on/off functionality of the Victron Orion TR DC/DC non-isolated charger.
So far I’ve been enabling the unit by simply shorting the two remote pins together using a switch. However, I read that there’s an alternative method where Victron states: “connect the right-hand terminal of the green connector to the 12 V supply with a switch (this could for example be an engine run/stop switch).” I’m a bit confused about this.
My question is: does this strictly require exactly 12 V, or is there a voltage range for this pin? The unit is installed in a secondary battery charging system in a car, and I’d like to use the ignition-switched 12 V line (which can realistically vary between ~10.5 V when cranking and up to ~14.4 V when the alternator is charging) to automatically enable the Charger whenever the engine is running.
Would connecting the remote pin directly to ignition-switched power be a viable and safe approach?
The manual you sent is for the Orion Smart TR DC/DC, i don’t have the Smart variant, just TR DC/DC. Is it the same then?
The manual of the “dumb” Version ist only 2 Pages long and every language only has about 10 sentences to it. Can I use the manual for the smart TR devices? Those have way more information about the device
The non-Smart Orions are not chargers and should not be used to charge batteries. They are just converters.
Since you mention non-isolated non-smart and “right hand terminal” i guess we are speaking about this manual
Ive never used an Orion of this older style myself, and indeed both manual and datasheet are sparse when it comes to remote on/off. I would just assume that since the option is there to feed switched battery voltage to the remote input that the same input voltage range applies to that as well
It is indeed this model. I have now rebuild my control panel and it seems to be working this way.
I have to disagree about the ability to charge batteries. Victron explicitly states about this model: “All models with adjustable output can also be used as a battery charger”. Since I can change the output according to my desired battery level, those converters can be used
Can and should are two different things. Yes you can charge a battery using a fixed voltage, but the multi stage charging of modern chargers is better. Lead acid ok, weve had hundreds of lead acid starter batteries on generators being float charged constantly at 13.3V, it works, but after 3-5 years the batteries are done
