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  1. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Getting ready to spend some money on this next month and will need some new wiring. The main battery wiring is AWG 2/0 and other wiring looks to be AWG 6. Not sure if I'll need any of the 2/0 since I'll be surplussing some in reducing the number of batteries.
  2. tpenfield

    2024 Super Bowl !!

    I'm good with either team winning, especially the 49ers. :D
  3. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    One area of the design that has me thinking/re-thinking is when the engines are running the voltage on the output side of the FET Isolator will probably be higher than the input side as per the schematic below . . . Approximate voltages shown at the FET Isolator. . . I'm not sure the FET...
  4. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    I have decided to go with the approach of charging the LFP batteries, then let the LFP's the charge the AGM's. Since the LFP's 'rest' at about 0.5-0.8 volt higher than the AGM's, it might be a more effective approach . . . electrons going 'down hill' to my way of thinking. The features of the...
  5. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    @bruceb58 . . . I may wait it out for the Orion XS, as I believe they have solved the heat/cooling problem and have more output control than the Orion Smart series.
  6. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Thanks for the offer . . . just a reminder, buy/sell dialog should be conducted in PM's rather than the forum. :)
  7. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Here is my other approach . . . It might be a coin toss. . . I'm not getting any usable advice from the DIY Solar forum, but I think I'm in the ballpark with either of these approaches.
  8. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Here are my latest design diagram & schematic, including the shore power. I am going to let the ProNautic charge just the AGM's and the Xantrex charge the LiFePO4's, since the Xantrex has an 80 amp charge capacity. . . . I've been back & forth on LiTime and ExpertPower battery brands. Both...
  9. tpenfield

    well....dreaded boat damage victim...need expertise answers

    Perhaps more of a notification than a claim to your insurance company. It would be best to do that knowing the name of the marina's insurance company.
  10. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    The folks over at the DIY Solar forum are arguing among themselves. So, I'll let that go. Meanwhile, I have been contemplating a couple of approaches . . . Charge the AGM's and let the AGM's charge the LFP's Charge the LFP's and let the LFP's charge the AGM's I've been back & forth on this...
  11. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    I believe the Mercathodes are on the engine batteries. The battery switches (4 of them) are in the engine bay and if you shut the house battery off, then you cannot close the engine bay/hatch. So, shutting things off is not very practical (unlike my previous boat). . . . nor would you want to...
  12. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    I like the dual charge controller approach. It seems like product evolution is trying to keep up with various system design challenges. Looks like most 'chargers' have boost capabilities. I'm not liking the Renogy DC-DC charger specs as the spec for idle current is pretty high.
  13. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    OK . . . DC-DC converter steps up the voltage via a "Boost Converter Circuit" not sure about DC 'chargers' vs. 'converters' :unsure:
  14. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    A few things that I need to be mindful of is that the boat uses power when sitting at the mooring (or in the driveway for that matter). All small amounts of power, but they can add up over time. . . Xantrex, Stereo, Mercathodes. I also need to be mindful about the Mercruiser Smartcraft...
  15. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Just going by what I read in the Renogy manual . . . Here are the key features that they list: "The Renogy Dual Input DC-DC On Board Battery Charger w/ MPPT is designed to charge your service battery to 100% from two inputs: solar and alternator. Featuring multi-battery...
  16. tpenfield

    Weight distribution for 14ft modified vhull

    Yes, limited advise, . . but I've always thought having the fuel tank at/near the center of balance is a good practice, since the amount of fuel will have little effect on the balance of the boat.
  17. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    Just reading up on the Renogy Dual Input DC-DC w/ MPPT unit . . . it favors the Service battery (LiFePO4 in this case) until it is charged, then will trickle charge the starter battery when on just solar (engine not running). That may suffice to keep the starter batteries charged while the boat...
  18. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    I also put the design question out on a DIY Solar forum to see what I get for comments.
  19. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    I have the 10 amp Voyager solar controller, but not sure if it should be connected to the solar panel in parallel to the DC/MPPT converter. I think the Voyager is low tech (PWM). (I wonder if it is the source of the 30% power loss that I am seeing with the existing system?)
  20. tpenfield

    LiFePO Batteries ???

    OK after some research, here is what I am thinking (hoping) will work . . . The solar panel charges the LiFePO4s The LiFePO4s charge the AGMs (when engines are not running and solar power is creating enough voltage) Alternators charge AGMs and LiFePO4s via the dual input charger when the...
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