10.04.2024 Live Stream Questions with Timestamps 9:18 - chipper7711 In your first van, your PV array was mounted above the fan, AC unit, etc. Aside from aesthetics, any downsides? 10:17 - Matt Cross - I’m charging my Epoch 460Ah battery off-grid in the Yukon. My Multiplus 3000 is not taking more than 10 amps from a 30 amp generator. The input is set to 30 amps. Currently ‘ Accept Wide input frequency range’ is selected, should I also enable ‘weak AC input’? He just enabled ‘weak AC input” and it had no effect, still only taking 4 amps from generator now. 13:13 - Dennis Lynton - What brand 50 Amp surge guard do you recommend? Martin Carew - Related to the last question - would a 50 amp built in surge guard cause any issues with the Victron Multiplus? 14:43 - Noah Lastner - When you use a lynx smart BMS do you also add a blue sea main battery on/off switch, or do you just use the switch built into the BMS? 15:35 - Brent Broaddus - When will the next chapter in the academy be released? I’m loving it! 16:57 - PEDeLoreanOn your Ford Transit, you installed an external solar port, so you could plug in extra solar panels. I think they went into a separate Victron controller. Is that correct? 17:50 - Sandy The Skoolie - Even though two different brands of solar charge controllers can't communicate, can you still run them to a lynx distributor from two different strings? 18:55 - Spencer Crump - We have 2 mppts that are showing 0W output and 13V on VC. When we used our voltmeter it was showing 16V output. What can cause this? 20:44 - Calvin Cox - What are you using to sync/update your Transit's location with Victron VRM's website? 22:06 - PEDeLorean - I'm thinking of getting an e-Transit, would you recommend a setup for about a 3kw panels setup so I can charge it remotely? :) 24:44 - Rees - I'm curious why lithiums have two "100% charge" voltages - a 14.4 "charging" voltage and a 13.6 "resting" voltage. Why not just one 100% charged voltage? 25:44 - New York New York - I’m planning to upgrade my inverter going from a 2000 w to 3000 w multiplus2 and 6 battelborn batteries. I want to know how I can have every outlet in the van inverted. 27:10 - Pat WeidmannI want to prewire for a Dometic 12v AC unit for a later install. What wire size should I run? 28:11 - Tim Corona - Would my ground line be okay going from my solar charge controller,, to my solar breaker box, to my 48V 5k Victron multiplus, to the lynx power in, then finally to the chassis? Or is that too much daisy chain? 31:00 - Irish Skipper - Could a 600ah lithium bank with 600 continuous output capability be used as a start bank for a generator? *Ira answered in the chat: continuous output would more than likely be enough to start a geny, but you would need to look at the generator user manual to find the start-up current 32:20 - Marlon Miller - I purchased a 30amp full setup for my towable from you (A+service, by the way), and need to store it for 2 months. Should I leave the multiplus on or shut down everything and what to do with the batteries? 33:55 - Matthew Schallus - Y’all are the best (FYI). Curious what’s the correct order of components on a positive battery terminal when I have: parallel run to rear battery, terminal fuse, battery heater switch. TY! 34:55 - Irish Skipper - If I use a Dc-Dc charger to go from start battery to house bank, can I also use the trickle charge connection on the inverter/charger to charge the start battery when the engine is not running? 37:10 - GeoHi - I am looking for a cost-effective and reliable 48 VDC to 120/240 VAC 60 hz charger/inverter. 6000 or more watts. Any suggestions? 42:40 - The Roadless Traveler - Thanks for the Orion XS 12-12-50 non-isolated I bought from you all earlier this summer to replace my Orion Tr 12-12-30 isolated. Is it possible to wire both models together in parallel? 44:10 - Bill Karver - Following your 24v 50a 5th wheel conversion. Using Orion 24 to 12v to charge original batteries. Hadn't "commissioned" the system yet. And the orion was back feeding 11v to cerbo and others. Is that Normal? 45:18 - Jeremy Frett - I have 30A travel trailer with 280Ah, Multiplus 3k, wired as per your 30A TT wiring diagram. Everything works great except I can't turn the AC on without being on shore power/gen. What am I missing? 46:21 - New York New York - What size wire gauge would you recommend for the victron mppt charger? 47:30 - Patrick Meyer Current: 30A Class A RV 400Ah batteries Multiplus 3000 Lynx Distributor BMV-712 Issue: Multiplus AC Out to AC Panel •Should be 6/3 wire? •Video has 10/3 wire? Diagram has 6/3 wire? •6/3 wire too big for Multiplus and AC panel connection? 49:53 - Copart5 - I have the Explorist Light. I'm looking at a 12v undermount AC unit, but I'm afraid the power consumption of 1100W @ 100% running power or 750W @ lowest is too much consumption. What do I need to upgrade? 52:10 - Robyn R - I purchased a full 30 Amp travel trailer setup with 24V DC System from you. I have 3 questions about the location of components. 1. I’ve heard the Multiplus II can be loud while charging the batteries. I’m thinking of locating it in a tongue tool box taking the place of existing batteries with a pair of Lithium batteries inside the coach under the bed. I would install temp triggered quiet fans in both locations. 2. 54:17 - Thinking of putting a 12-24 DC Charger from the truck in the truck with a 3 way switch to allow charging portable battery or trailer or nothing. Is this okay? 3.55:36 - Planning to locate the touchscreen pretty far from the Cerbo GX using HDMI and USB extensions. Will that work in your experience? 56:41 - Lulu’s World - How do you incorporate both a lynx shunt 1000 (that’s attached to the lynx distributor) and a smart shunt. Where would the smart shunt be located in the system? 57:43 -S Beaven - Is it ok to stack lugs, say for 2 24V fuse panels (one for each side of the van), on a single Lynx Distributor spot?
For the question of trickle charging the starting battery from the multi plus, if the DC DC chargers are wired to engine run signal then it would work because even an elevated starting battery voltage would not make the DC to DC chargers turn on. Run 12 V engine run signal to the terminal.
1:00:10 - Pat Weidmann - Can you explain to me when I would want my Multiplus on vs charge only. 1:05:09 - RETURN FROM BREAK 1:07:23 - MTMikey- What's the smallest physical size multiplus for 30 amp rv? 1:09:23 - Jim Karg - Orion XS 12/24 when??? 1:10:13 - Wayne Markle - Last month I asked a question about connecting house batteries and starting batteries to solar and your answer was no. I get it. How about JUST for winter and only winter storage? 1:11:35 - Gerry Waite - I'm switching from 24v to 48v solar for my 30ft travel trailer. I have a Victron 48v to 12v reducer but the output amps seem low. Any Suggestions. Can I put two of these together? 1:13:10 - Irish Skipper - If I use a Victron Smart BMS 200 and connect the alternator to it, can I still leave my battery combiner (in the current AGM setup) in that circuit? 1:14:44 - Marlon Miller - Can I install multiple 3K 12v dc pc fans 0.22Amps to a cerbo to cool the cabinet that everything is in? 1:15:58 -The Roadless Traveler - How do 2 Orion XS 12-12-50's connected in parallel "talk" to each other? And how do you avoid the issue where XS & Tr wired together "fight" one another? Do 2 XS's require connection to other Victron equipment? 1:16:30 -charles shilling - I plan to wire my victron 50 amp b to b charger with 4 gauge wire - do you have an octagonal ferrule crimping tool recommendation? 1:17:00 Michael Herrera - Is there a way to have both Lead Acid & Li on the same Battery-Bank system? 1:17:23 - Tyler - With wiring kit for 150/35 MPPT why do you use #6 AWG and not #8, is it because of the available fuse size ? Thanks ! 1:19:09 - John Smith - I have a welded box for my batteries under my vehicle. Any idea how I can heat my batteries in winter without causing a fire? 1:19:58 - S Beaven - Can you do a video on tapping into the ignition signal to use as a trigger? I've never messed with the vehicle system, so I have no idea on the best way to do this. 1:21:28 - Patrick Meyer - For my system to work, I need the factory installed converter ON and originally installed RV battery shut off to OFF. What might cause this? I have a Multiplus 3k, BMV712 & Lynx 1:23:10 - Chris M - My alternator is 180 a, can I use 2 converters (12to24 v) rated at 15 a each? So, I think this would be 60 amps pulled from the alternator. Is this too much to pull from the alternator? 1:23:34 - Improv Agility - If you have two Solar arrays, each connected to a separate MPPT Controller (150/30), how does networking the controllers together via Victron app improve efficiency-how does it work? 1:2(?):15 - CHECK - Gerry Waite - I'm USING THE ORION TR 48|12 30 Isolated Converter for my new 48v System. Can 2 be wired together to get 60 amps? 1:26:24 - Jim Klentschy - I keep getting high dc voltage alarms. Everything is tight. This only happens when the solar is on. 1:27:29 - Sandy The Skoolie - Could you connect a dc to DC charger from a lithium battery to an AGM battery to power a separate circuit? that way I could expand my systems AH when I can afford it. 1:28:38 - Randy Green - I have a small 1.5amp solar charger that I had before I put my system in my motorhome. When storing, can I have the small solar charger connected to the battery bank to maintain the batteries? 1:29:14 - Charles shilling - How do you calculate wire gauge size / distance for a circuit serving several devices located at different distances? Do you use the distance to the furthest device? 1:31:05 - Marlon Miller - do you recommend using the beta app on the cerbo gx? 1:32:15 - Irish Skipper - If I use a DC-DC charger to charge a lithium house bank from an alternator, how do you recommend keeping the start battery charged (topped off) when the engine is off? 1:33:38 - Dem Fraz - Hi folks. I just ordered the tow behind kit for 30amp with multiplus. I’ve purchased 3x LiTime 12V 230AH batteries, are they similar enough to use battleborn default programming? 1:34:22 - John Smith - Is there some way to hook up an EV charger to charge my battery bank? 1:35:06 - The Roadless Traveler - I just opened Victron's VE.SmartNetworking guide & noticed the introduction on pg1 specifically states "Orion XS DC-DC battery charger does not support synchronized charging". Is that outdated info? 1:35:56 - Jerry de Baca - I'm wanting to power a 12,000lb winch off a dual battery system in my overlanding rig. Can I add a lithium house battery to my lead acid starter battery for long winch pulls with a battery isolator? *ira answered 1:37:08 - Improv Agility - I’m using a Sterling 12V - 48V DC to DC charger for alternator charging, how would this work with the two 150/35 MPPT Chargers? Should solar charging be turned off when alternator charging? Also, do you have a brand recommendation for 51.2V server rack batteries? Michael Skeels - When using your inverter splice kit, What is the correct color to color for the splice extension to shore power romex? 1:38:22 - New York New York - After I upgraded my phone I’m not able to connect to the smart shunt via the Victron app, any suggestions?
I have a Class A motor home with 2 ac systems on the roof but the motorhome is wire only for a 35 amp plug in. I have 2- 320 watt panels on my roof and putting together a Victron system. My confusion comes with the Multiplus. What is the disadvantage of going with the 12/2000 OR what is the advantage of going with the 12/3000?
I just had a solar system installed on my every I have 6 250 watt solar panels they only average 3.9 to 4.0 kilowatts per day is that right it seems low to me
Hey, I dont know if this was answered in the live chat after I asked, but need to know if you have any vids/blogs on when/if someone should upgrade their vehicle alternator. Also, any info on setting up a wind turbine. For context: I have a 2000 F250 Triton V10. I just bought bought an Adventurer 80SK slide in camper that I plan to love in full time. I already have a DIY 100hr Lifepo4 bank, but plan to get go bigger, up to 300 maybe. I also have Victron 1200 Phoenix inverter, Orion 12/12 18amp charger (Id like to go up to the 30, or the new 50, hence my question), Victron smart shunt. None of this is hooked up yet, as I pulled it out of my old weekender adventure van. Thanks!
Amazing as usual. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Thank you! Cheers!
10.04.2024 Live Stream Questions with Timestamps
9:18 - chipper7711 In your first van, your PV array was mounted above the fan, AC unit, etc. Aside from aesthetics, any downsides?
10:17 - Matt Cross - I’m charging my Epoch 460Ah battery off-grid in the Yukon. My Multiplus 3000 is not taking more than 10 amps from a 30 amp generator. The input is set to 30 amps. Currently ‘ Accept Wide input frequency range’ is selected, should I also enable ‘weak AC input’?
He just enabled ‘weak AC input” and it had no effect, still only taking 4 amps from generator now.
13:13 - Dennis Lynton - What brand 50 Amp surge guard do you recommend?
Martin Carew - Related to the last question - would a 50 amp built in surge guard cause any issues with the Victron Multiplus?
14:43 - Noah Lastner - When you use a lynx smart BMS do you also add a blue sea main battery on/off switch, or do you just use the switch built into the BMS?
15:35 - Brent Broaddus - When will the next chapter in the academy be released? I’m loving it!
16:57 - PEDeLoreanOn your Ford Transit, you installed an external solar port, so you could plug in extra solar panels. I think they went into a separate Victron controller. Is that correct?
17:50 - Sandy The Skoolie - Even though two different brands of solar charge controllers can't communicate, can you still run them to a lynx distributor from two different strings?
18:55 - Spencer Crump - We have 2 mppts that are showing 0W output and 13V on VC. When we used our voltmeter it was showing 16V output. What can cause this?
20:44 - Calvin Cox - What are you using to sync/update your Transit's location with Victron VRM's website?
22:06 - PEDeLorean - I'm thinking of getting an e-Transit, would you recommend a setup for about a 3kw panels setup so I can charge it remotely? :)
24:44 - Rees - I'm curious why lithiums have two "100% charge" voltages - a 14.4 "charging" voltage and a 13.6 "resting" voltage. Why not just one 100% charged voltage?
25:44 - New York New York - I’m planning to upgrade my inverter going from a 2000 w to 3000 w multiplus2 and 6 battelborn batteries. I want to know how I can have every outlet in the van inverted.
27:10 - Pat WeidmannI want to prewire for a Dometic 12v AC unit for a later install. What wire size should I run?
28:11 - Tim Corona - Would my ground line be okay going from my solar charge controller,, to my solar breaker box, to my 48V 5k Victron multiplus, to the lynx power in, then finally to the chassis? Or is that too much daisy chain?
31:00 - Irish Skipper - Could a 600ah lithium bank with 600 continuous output capability be used as a start bank for a generator?
*Ira answered in the chat: continuous output would more than likely be enough to start a geny, but you would need to look at the generator user manual to find the start-up current
32:20 - Marlon Miller - I purchased a 30amp full setup for my towable from you (A+service, by the way), and need to store it for 2 months. Should I leave the multiplus on or shut down everything and what to do with the batteries?
33:55 - Matthew Schallus - Y’all are the best (FYI). Curious what’s the correct order of components on a positive battery terminal when I have: parallel run to rear battery, terminal fuse, battery heater switch. TY!
34:55 - Irish Skipper - If I use a Dc-Dc charger to go from start battery to house bank, can I also use the trickle charge connection on the inverter/charger to charge the start battery when the engine is not running?
37:10 - GeoHi - I am looking for a cost-effective and reliable 48 VDC to 120/240 VAC 60 hz charger/inverter. 6000 or more watts. Any suggestions?
42:40 - The Roadless Traveler - Thanks for the Orion XS 12-12-50 non-isolated I bought from you all earlier this summer to replace my Orion Tr 12-12-30 isolated. Is it possible to wire both models together in parallel?
44:10 - Bill Karver - Following your 24v 50a 5th wheel conversion. Using Orion 24 to 12v to charge original batteries. Hadn't "commissioned" the system yet. And the orion was back feeding 11v to cerbo and others. Is that Normal?
45:18 - Jeremy Frett - I have 30A travel trailer with 280Ah, Multiplus 3k, wired as per your 30A TT wiring diagram. Everything works great except I can't turn the AC on without being on shore power/gen. What am I missing?
46:21 - New York New York - What size wire gauge would you recommend for the victron mppt charger?
47:30 - Patrick Meyer
Current: 30A Class A RV 400Ah batteries Multiplus 3000 Lynx Distributor BMV-712
Issue: Multiplus AC Out to AC Panel
•Should be 6/3 wire?
•Video has 10/3 wire?
Diagram has 6/3 wire?
•6/3 wire too big for Multiplus and AC panel connection?
49:53 - Copart5 - I have the Explorist Light. I'm looking at a 12v undermount AC unit, but I'm afraid the power consumption of 1100W @ 100% running power or 750W @ lowest is too much consumption. What do I need to upgrade?
52:10 - Robyn R - I purchased a full 30 Amp travel trailer setup with 24V DC System from you. I have 3 questions about the location of components.
1. I’ve heard the Multiplus II can be loud while charging the batteries. I’m thinking of locating it in a tongue tool box taking the place of existing batteries with a pair of Lithium batteries inside the coach under the bed. I would install temp triggered quiet fans in both locations.
2. 54:17 - Thinking of putting a 12-24 DC Charger from the truck in the truck with a 3 way switch to allow charging portable battery or trailer or nothing. Is this okay?
3.55:36 - Planning to locate the touchscreen pretty far from the Cerbo GX using HDMI and USB extensions. Will that work in your experience?
56:41 - Lulu’s World - How do you incorporate both a lynx shunt 1000 (that’s attached to the lynx distributor) and a smart shunt. Where would the smart shunt be located in the system?
57:43 -S Beaven - Is it ok to stack lugs, say for 2 24V fuse panels (one for each side of the van), on a single Lynx Distributor spot?
For the question of trickle charging the starting battery from the multi plus, if the DC DC chargers are wired to engine run signal then it would work because even an elevated starting battery voltage would not make the DC to DC chargers turn on. Run 12 V engine run signal to the terminal.
What software r u using to do the wire diagrams?
1:00:10 - Pat Weidmann - Can you explain to me when I would want my Multiplus on vs charge only.
1:05:09 - RETURN FROM BREAK
1:07:23 - MTMikey- What's the smallest physical size multiplus for 30 amp rv?
1:09:23 - Jim Karg - Orion XS 12/24 when???
1:10:13 - Wayne Markle - Last month I asked a question about connecting house batteries and starting batteries to solar and your answer was no. I get it. How about JUST for winter and only winter storage?
1:11:35 - Gerry Waite - I'm switching from 24v to 48v solar for my 30ft travel trailer. I have a Victron 48v to 12v reducer but the output amps seem low. Any Suggestions. Can I put two of these together?
1:13:10 - Irish Skipper - If I use a Victron Smart BMS 200 and connect the alternator to it, can I still leave my battery combiner (in the current AGM setup) in that circuit?
1:14:44 - Marlon Miller - Can I install multiple 3K 12v dc pc fans 0.22Amps to a cerbo to cool the cabinet that everything is in?
1:15:58 -The Roadless Traveler - How do 2 Orion XS 12-12-50's connected in parallel "talk" to each other? And how do you avoid the issue where XS & Tr wired together "fight" one another? Do 2 XS's require connection to other Victron equipment?
1:16:30 -charles shilling - I plan to wire my victron 50 amp b to b charger with 4 gauge wire - do you have an octagonal ferrule crimping tool recommendation?
1:17:00 Michael Herrera - Is there a way to have both Lead Acid & Li on the same Battery-Bank system?
1:17:23 - Tyler - With wiring kit for 150/35 MPPT why do you use #6 AWG and not #8, is it because of the available fuse size ? Thanks !
1:19:09 - John Smith - I have a welded box for my batteries under my vehicle. Any idea how I can heat my batteries in winter without causing a fire?
1:19:58 - S Beaven - Can you do a video on tapping into the ignition signal to use as a trigger? I've never messed with the vehicle system, so I have no idea on the best way to do this.
1:21:28 - Patrick Meyer - For my system to work, I need the factory installed converter ON and originally installed RV battery shut off to OFF. What might cause this? I have a Multiplus 3k, BMV712 & Lynx
1:23:10 - Chris M - My alternator is 180 a, can I use 2 converters (12to24 v) rated at 15 a each? So, I think this would be 60 amps pulled from the alternator. Is this too much to pull from the alternator?
1:23:34 - Improv Agility - If you have two Solar arrays, each connected to a separate MPPT Controller (150/30), how does networking the controllers together via Victron app improve efficiency-how does it work?
1:2(?):15 - CHECK - Gerry Waite - I'm USING THE ORION TR 48|12 30 Isolated Converter for my new 48v System. Can 2 be wired together to get 60 amps?
1:26:24 - Jim Klentschy - I keep getting high dc voltage alarms. Everything is tight. This only happens when the solar is on.
1:27:29 - Sandy The Skoolie - Could you connect a dc to DC charger from a lithium battery to an AGM battery to power a separate circuit? that way I could expand my systems AH when I can afford it.
1:28:38 - Randy Green - I have a small 1.5amp solar charger that I had before I put my system in my motorhome. When storing, can I have the small solar charger connected to the battery bank to maintain the batteries?
1:29:14 - Charles shilling - How do you calculate wire gauge size / distance for a circuit serving several devices located at different distances? Do you use the distance to the furthest device?
1:31:05 - Marlon Miller - do you recommend using the beta app on the cerbo gx?
1:32:15 - Irish Skipper - If I use a DC-DC charger to charge a lithium house bank from an alternator, how do you recommend keeping the start battery charged (topped off) when the engine is off?
1:33:38 - Dem Fraz - Hi folks. I just ordered the tow behind kit for 30amp with multiplus. I’ve purchased 3x LiTime 12V 230AH batteries, are they similar enough to use battleborn default programming?
1:34:22 - John Smith - Is there some way to hook up an EV charger to charge my battery bank?
1:35:06 - The Roadless Traveler - I just opened Victron's VE.SmartNetworking guide & noticed the introduction on pg1 specifically states "Orion XS DC-DC battery charger does not support synchronized charging". Is that outdated info?
1:35:56 - Jerry de Baca - I'm wanting to power a 12,000lb winch off a dual battery system in my overlanding rig. Can I add a lithium house battery to my lead acid starter battery for long winch pulls with a battery isolator? *ira answered
1:37:08 - Improv Agility - I’m using a Sterling 12V - 48V DC to DC charger for alternator charging, how would this work with the two 150/35 MPPT Chargers? Should solar charging be turned off when alternator charging?
Also, do you have a brand recommendation for 51.2V server rack batteries?
Michael Skeels - When using your inverter splice kit, What is the correct color to color for the splice extension to shore power romex?
1:38:22 - New York New York - After I upgraded my phone I’m not able to connect to the smart shunt via the Victron app, any suggestions?
are you ABYC certified for Marine Electrical?
So, ultimately, could you convert a mixed input (gas and generator) o full electricity 🤔
I have a Class A motor home with 2 ac systems on the roof but the motorhome is wire only for a 35 amp plug in. I have 2- 320 watt panels on my roof and putting together a Victron system. My confusion comes with the Multiplus. What is the disadvantage of going with the 12/2000 OR what is the advantage of going with the 12/3000?
I just had a solar system installed on my every I have 6 250 watt solar panels they only average 3.9 to 4.0 kilowatts per day is that right it seems low to me
Hey, I dont know if this was answered in the live chat after I asked, but need to know if you have any vids/blogs on when/if someone should upgrade their vehicle alternator. Also, any info on setting up a wind turbine. For context: I have a 2000 F250 Triton V10. I just bought bought an Adventurer 80SK slide in camper that I plan to love in full time. I already have a DIY 100hr Lifepo4 bank, but plan to get go bigger, up to 300 maybe. I also have Victron 1200 Phoenix inverter, Orion 12/12 18amp charger (Id like to go up to the 30, or the new 50, hence my question), Victron smart shunt. None of this is hooked up yet, as I pulled it out of my old weekender adventure van. Thanks!
I also have no solar set up yet. My main source of charging will be from my truck, and shore power, for now.
Definitely epoch not epic.