2024 2500HD Gasser Doesn't Charge in Park!

[Another JR]

I can see why you might want the VE direct Bluetooth dongle capability for a trailer. The Orion-TR 12/12-30 doesn’t have the greatest Bluetooth range and likely would not be able to be read from the truck cab if it was in a trailer.
 

The OP has a slide in truck camper, as do I. My Orion is on the rear lower corner of my camper and I can communicate with it via Bluetooth from the driver’s seat of my CCLB truck, so he probably doesn’t need the VE direct dongle capability. At 87% efficient it will reject up to 50 watts of heat in bulk charging. It definitely needs to be installed correctly to dissipate that heat. I have never had mine get overly hot in my 2 cubic foot battery compartment (I checked it initially a few times) not have I noticed it cutting back on charge rate. 
 

Edited Sunday at 01:35 AM by Another JR

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

The delay on start-up is for lower capacity alternators, to give a chance for the alternator to do the  initial, high-current recovery of the start battery, letting the recovery current die down a bit before applying the load of the charger. If you have an optional oversize alternator this really isn’t needed, but I have mine set that way anyway just because I can. It’s probably a good idea to use a two minute or more delay if you have the base alternator. 

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

Deleted

Edited Sunday at 01:59 AM by Another JR
Accidental repost

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

Deleted

Edited Sunday at 01:58 AM by Another JR
Accidental reposr

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

Deleted 

Edited Sunday at 01:57 AM by Another JR
Accidental repost

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

Accidental repost due to “wait 6 seconds” message repeatedly appearing.

Edited Sunday at 01:56 AM by Another JR

[Another JR]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

The good news for me is that I don't need anything fancy, and 30 amps is more than sufficient.  And significantly cheaper.  I am thinking of mounting it on the outside camper side between that and truck bed.  Pretty well protected from the weather and very airy.

 

I do see that I might need to experiment with some of the parameters to try to keep it charging at least most of the time while driving.  I'm not sure I understood their description of some of the settings (like a 2 minute delay after startup?).  Well, I will experiment and learn as I go.

Accidental repost due to “wait 6 seconds” message repeatedly appearing. 

Edited Sunday at 01:55 AM by Another JR

[bruceb58]

15 hours ago, Another JR said:

I can see why you might want the VE direct Bluetooth dongle capability for a trailer. The Orion-TR 12/12-30 doesn’t have the greatest Bluetooth range and likely would not be able to be read from the truck cab if it was in a trailer.
 

The OP has a slide in truck camper, as do I. My Orion is on the rear lower corner of my camper and I can communicate with it via Bluetooth from the driver’s seat of my CCLB truck, so he probably doesn’t need the VE direct dongle capability. At 87% efficient it will reject up to 50 watts of heat in bulk charging. It definitely needs to be installed correctly to dissipate that heat. I have never had mine get overly hot in my 2 cubic foot battery compartment (I checked it initially a few times) not have I noticed it cutting back on charge rate. 
 

You don't understand the need for VE Direct and VE Networking in communicating with a Victron shunt. This allows you to have remote voltage sensing. This is good to have no matter what type of RV you put it in.

 

And yes, you are right, the Orion XS does have much better Bluetooth range,

 

50W is a LOT of heat to be dissipated by that heat sink. If you are traveling on a hot day and add in that 50W, you will definitely have heat issues and the Orion will throttle down. I got tired of dealing with it. On a new build, it's a no brainer which one to get.

 

BTW...over 30 year career as an EE.

Edited Sunday at 05:20 PM by bruceb58

[Another JR]

I understand the VE direct and networking features. With a lithium battery, my chargers located beside the battery, and all devices communicating to a phone in the truck cab via Bluetooth, the remote parameter sensing, automatic charge parameter adjustment features, and Bluetooth range extension are of no benefit to me. 
 

[bruceb58]

3 hours ago, Another JR said:

I understand the VE direct and networking features. With a lithium battery, my chargers located beside the battery, and all devices communicating to a phone in the truck cab via Bluetooth, the remote parameter sensing, automatic charge parameter adjustment features, and Bluetooth range extension are of no benefit to me. 
 

LOL...that's not what VE Networking does. You are talking about Bluetooth. Ve Networking is the ability of various Victron components talking with each other. If you aren't using a Victron shunt based monitor then you don't need it. If you do, which most people should, then you can take advantage of remote voltage sense which allows the charger to adjust the output voltage for voltage drop.

[brad bill]

9 minutes ago, bruceb58 said:

LOL...that's not what VE Networking does. You are talking about Bluetooth. Ve Networking is the ability of various Victron components talking with each other. If you aren't using a Victron shunt based monitor then you don't need it. If you do, which most people should, then you can take advantage of remote voltage sense which allows the charger to adjust the output voltage for voltage drop.

This guy is clueless on how this is beneficial to you. Nobody would pick the out of date 30A version of this DC to DC converter anymore if they are charging 12V batteries.

 

VE Networking has nothing to do with contact with the phone...it's for devices to network together to share information.

 

My understanding is that Victron is waiting for stock to get depleted on the older 12V Orion products and they will be dropping them off their website....at least for the non isolated versions.

Edited Sunday at 11:34 PM by brad bill

[bruceb58]

5 minutes ago, brad bill said:

My understanding is that Victron is waiting for stock to get depleted on the older 12V Orion products and they will be dropping them off their website....at least for the non isolated versions.

I agree!

Edited Sunday at 11:31 PM by bruceb58