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Post Info TOPIC: Lithium battery bank with victron blue solar controller and victron blue charger


Veteran Member

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Date:
Lithium battery bank with victron blue solar controller and victron blue charger


Hi,

Recently installed lithium batteries in our van using a victron 100/30 blue solar controller and victron blue battery charger.

Reason for using Victron, other than their good reputation, was the blue tooth facilities available with my iphone.

So far. so good, both systems are working OK. however I do get some conflicting information.

The solar controller shows the batteries are fully charged, and on float. Switching on the battery charger at that point, the charger says it is charging "bulk" at 30 amps. Eventually getting to absorption which took some time.

My question is, why the apparent discrepancy between the two. I would have thought that with fully charged batteries, the charger would detect this and reduce amp input accordingly.

My only concern is the possibility of overcharging the batteries.

Other than that I am stoked at switching to lithium. Increase of 50% battery capacity and reduction of 50 kgs in weight. Free camped for 8 days to check things out and for first time I had no problems with running out of power. Will take some time to get over the cost but the peace of mind is worth it.



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Guru

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Posts: 1933
Date:

Hi Tailor,
I have no direct answers for you, but suggest you check the settings on the two items to see that they are correct. That can be a bit challenging as the permutations are wide ! If in doubt read your manuals and the battery manual to see any conflicts.
Jaahn

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Guru

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Posts: 4706
Date:

I also recently purchased a Victron 100/30 BT MPPT controller and am using it with AGMs - it's charging profile appears acceptable to me although I have tweaked the default voltage settings.

Have you configured the controller for lithium batteries? That controller defaults to lead acid and it is important you set it to lithium.



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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"

Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland



Veteran Member

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Posts: 52
Date:

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the answers.
Yes, I've altered both charging profiles to lithium and am happy with that I think things have settled down after the initial start up of the charger.
Van is using about 5 a/h and the charger is inputting 5.6 amps, so all seems well.
Cheers

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