Hi all,
I'm in the UK. I purchased a VW Crafter van and intend to convert it into a campervan. I'm currently stripping it of the original racking and equipment fitted by the previous company. One piece of equipment the previous company fitted was a generation system with a secondary alternator on the engine connected to an inverter that can supply 110v, 24v, 12v or DC for welding. The system can supply up to 150 amps, is large, and weighs 26kg. I'm considering my options on what to do with this. I think I can use this system to charge the leisure batteries. However, I expect that it can't charge Lithium iron phosphate batteries. I can't use the 110v, 24v and DC welding outputs. I believe my options are:
1) Use the system to charge the leisure batteries. This is the cheapest and easiest option, but it takes up a lot of space, and I may be unable to use LiFePo batteries.
2) Remove and replace the charger with a B2B battery charger while retaining the secondary alternator and wiring. The new B2B will take power from the secondary alternator and charge the leisure batteries. However, I don't know if the B2B charger can cope with being connected directly to the alternator, if it can take the current from the alternator, or if I can use an A2B charger. The advantage is that I don't have to do much re-wiring, the B2B charger is significantly smaller, and I can use LiFePo batteries. However, it will cost money.
3) Rip everything out, including the wiring, except for the secondary alternator, leave it free-spinning, and use the B2B charger connected to the starter battery as designed. It is the safest option but costs the most in terms of time and money.
This page shows the power system I've got installed in the van - AutoMate - Onboard Power Systems - Motor On Services - https://www.motoronservices.co.uk/services/automate-onboard-power-systems & page 6 of their brochure - https://www.motoronservices.co.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All Files/Motoron services brochure.pdf
This page shows an example B2B charger - Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC battery charger - https://www.simplysplitcharge.co.uk/products/victron-orion-xs-12-12-50a-dc-dc-battery-charger
I would appreciate any advice you could give. Thank you. Best regards.
I'm in the UK. I purchased a VW Crafter van and intend to convert it into a campervan. I'm currently stripping it of the original racking and equipment fitted by the previous company. One piece of equipment the previous company fitted was a generation system with a secondary alternator on the engine connected to an inverter that can supply 110v, 24v, 12v or DC for welding. The system can supply up to 150 amps, is large, and weighs 26kg. I'm considering my options on what to do with this. I think I can use this system to charge the leisure batteries. However, I expect that it can't charge Lithium iron phosphate batteries. I can't use the 110v, 24v and DC welding outputs. I believe my options are:
1) Use the system to charge the leisure batteries. This is the cheapest and easiest option, but it takes up a lot of space, and I may be unable to use LiFePo batteries.
2) Remove and replace the charger with a B2B battery charger while retaining the secondary alternator and wiring. The new B2B will take power from the secondary alternator and charge the leisure batteries. However, I don't know if the B2B charger can cope with being connected directly to the alternator, if it can take the current from the alternator, or if I can use an A2B charger. The advantage is that I don't have to do much re-wiring, the B2B charger is significantly smaller, and I can use LiFePo batteries. However, it will cost money.
3) Rip everything out, including the wiring, except for the secondary alternator, leave it free-spinning, and use the B2B charger connected to the starter battery as designed. It is the safest option but costs the most in terms of time and money.
This page shows the power system I've got installed in the van - AutoMate - Onboard Power Systems - Motor On Services - https://www.motoronservices.co.uk/services/automate-onboard-power-systems & page 6 of their brochure - https://www.motoronservices.co.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All Files/Motoron services brochure.pdf
This page shows an example B2B charger - Victron Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC battery charger - https://www.simplysplitcharge.co.uk/products/victron-orion-xs-12-12-50a-dc-dc-battery-charger
I would appreciate any advice you could give. Thank you. Best regards.
