Iota conversion to blue sea ARC

[Vic Harder]

I’m trying to get this picture to upload in the proper direction

I see a problem, potentially caused by the dual connection on the ACR terminals That can and probably has, confused you.

If i read this right, the left connector on the ACR goes to the +ve buss bar and from there to the 12V fuse box. AND to the +ve terminal of the camper battery via a 60A breaker. That's fine as is, but it would be cleaner if the wire from the 60A breaker went to the +ve buss bar so that there is just the one wire coming to the ACR from the camper side.

Then, on the right side of the ACR you go to the Truck battery via a 60A breaker, AND ALSO directly to the +ve terminal on the camper battery. That last connection is the problem = it totally bypasses your ACR as it directly links the two +ve terminals of the ACR.

 

[pvstoy]

Here are some suggestions. See drawing.

I noticed you have drawn a battery monitor? What brand? Does it have a shunt? This will change all the negatives to the shunt before reaching the negative post on the camper battery.

I would home run the ACR and MPPT outputs straight to the camper battery.

The Iota wires are bi directional that carry voltage to the camper battery and back to the camper use. Install a kill switch.

 

[RAB]

I’ve eliminated the bus bars, and went directly to the battery post for better connections. Check out the new picture

 

[Vic Harder]

Almost there.

Since you are using a shunt, you need to have the negative bus bar taking all the grounds (not the PV panel -ve though) and aggregating them. Then go from that -ve bus bar to the load end of the shunt, and attach the "battery only" end of the shunt to the -ve post of your camper battery.

 

[RAB]

Hi guys. This is the third version now. I’m hanging in there. What do you think?
Aili Battery Monitor

 

[pvstoy]

Another suggestion. See diagram.

 

[RAB]

Ok. I'm so close. MPPT negative to negative buss bar. The inverter has an external switch. Do I still need a kill switch? The original FWC kill switch , still works off the camper battery connection.

 

[Vic Harder]

Ok. I'm so close. MPPT negative to negative buss bar. The inverter has an external switch. Do I still need a kill switch? The original FWC kill switch , still works off the camper battery connection.

No, you don't need a separate kill switch if there is a switch already for the inverter.

Yes, good idea to take the MPPT -ve directly to the buss bar.

I'm not sure why Patrick wants that wire going from the inverter to the 12v fuse box. I wouldn't do that.

 

[RAB]

Sounds great , yippee.i will send pictures when completed. Thanks Vic and Patrick for my education, I couldn't have done it without you.
Rich

 

[pvstoy]

I can only see what is drawn. If you have a kill switch...great.

"I'm not sure why Patrick wants that wire going from the inverter to the 12v fuse box. I wouldn't do that."

This is standard for FWC to feed off the Iota to the fuse block and provide camper power. His drawing does not show how the fuse block is getting power.

 

[Vic Harder]

I can only see what is drawn. If you have a kill switch...great.

"I'm not sure why Patrick wants that wire going from the inverter to the 12v fuse box. I wouldn't do that."

This is standard for FWC to feed off the Iota to the fuse block and provide camper power. His drawing does not show how the fuse block is getting power.

Ah. His drawing has a line that snakes along the bottom and right hand side from the camper battery +ve to the fuse block.

 

[RAB]

That's exactly right Vic. Thanks again. Thank you Patrick.
Rich

 

[RAB]

Hi Guys. My solar system is complete now. I have an ALI Battery monitor. It's kind of basic compared to the Victron unit. I've set perimeters for 220 AH, 100% charge, assuming I have fully charged batteries. How do I actually know if there fully charged? ..... My Victron MPPT Smart controller App under battery setting doesn't have a max. voltage, or min. voltage, deepest discharge , setting. Where can I find it? Is there a relay setting for conversion of 6 volt batteries to 12 volt. Everything seems to be working, just don't want to under or over charge my batteries. Thanks for all the help.
Rich

 

[RAB]

For new question on this Build , go to page 4 ,Thanks

 

[ckent323]

Best to go online and download or read online the manual for the Victron connect app. It should answer all your questions

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/victronconnect:start

 

[RAB]

Thanks , I'll check it out.

 

[Vic Harder]

Hi Guys. My solar system is complete now. I have an ALI Battery monitor. It's kind of basic compared to the Victron unit. I've set perimeters for 220 AH, 100% charge, assuming I have fully charged batteries. How do I actually know if there fully charged? ..... My Victron MPPT Smart controller App under battery setting doesn't have a max. voltage, or min. voltage, deepest discharge , setting. Where can I find it? Is there a relay setting for conversion of 6 volt batteries to 12 volt. Everything seems to be working, just don't want to under or over charge my batteries. Thanks for all the help.
Rich

220AH of AGM? Do you have the model number of your battery? Google that and get the manufacturer's specs on how to charge the battery. You will want those to setup the charge controller correctly.

As to your question about how to tell if the battery is at 100%, you could disconnect all loads, and hook up a good AC charger like the NOCO brands, and let it charge for a few days. Then, before reconnecting a load, use the "Syncronize" option in the BMV... not sure if your ALI monitor has that function?

 

[RAB]

I'll call lifeline on Monday. There website says a 3 STAGE CHARGING is suggested. But my MPPT shows only a aborbtion and float specs. The bulk rate and absorbtion are the same 14.4 volts, maybe that WHY the bulk rate doesn't show on the MPPT.Thanks for the help Vic.
Rich

 

[ckent323]

I have Lifeline 6v batteries, a Victron BlueSolar MPPT Solar controller and a Victron BVM-702 Battery monitor. The charging is definitely 3 stage. Bulk, Absorption and Float and the Victron connect App facilitated putting in the specific details for my batteries as found on the manufacturers specification sheet for the batteries.

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/victronconnect:mppt-solarchargers

 

[RAB]

Thanks Ckent for your info. The AGM battery is a three stage charge. After watching a blog, video, I learned that the Victron Smart Controller app, under History shows a Graph with a 3 stage charging profile,indicated by the 3 different color tones on the Graph. I believe the white tone is bulk. The gray is absorbsion, which is always small. The blue is float. So I've got my 3 stage charging, but the Victron app under setting, Battery, only shows a aborbtion voltage and a float voltage. The bulk and absorption voltages are the same as per battery manufacturer. So the MPPT does separate the 3 stages of charge, it just doesn't allow you to change easy.Here is a link from Victron that I tried, but don't understand.The bulk rate is changed in the battery section in settings by changing the "Max Charge Current" setting which is in Amps. The "Offset" or when it goes into bulk charge is changed by turning on expert mode after you select "user defined" for battery preset. This value in Volts determines how far the voltage will drop from the float voltage value starting the bulk charge state. Anyway, I'm happy with the system the way it works now. I hope this helps someone.
Rich