Renogy DC-DC Charger UPDATE 2 Test
Update--fixed the problem below--you can skip to 4:06 pm post. Update 2- 28 Feb. My 20 amper is on, it has the green light and no red light. But it is cycling up and down for amps constantly, mak...
Forum Discussion
time2roll wrote:
Had you followed the instructions? Was it not clear what to do? We all want to avoid this issue when we upgrade.
Very glad to hear it is working.
I thought I followed the instructions, but I have so many neg wires all eventually going to the Trimetric's shunt on the neg house battery post, there must be something weird happened.
I swapped around so a more direct route to the input from the 7-pin neg that is also grounded to the camper chassis (but so was the wiring zoo it was on before and it didn't work right). Plus a more direct route from output neg to Trimetric shunt, but that has the battery ground to camper chassis with it too same as the more indirect route it had, so shouldn't matter. Beats me!
I can't say what I did that made it work right.
On my 5er before, the 7-pin started at 10 or so amps but quickly tapered to 5 amps area (in 5 minutes or so after starting the truck) and the same thing happens with the truck camper (same 2003 Chev truck). So this gizmo looks like it will maintain more like 20 amps (minus any 12v load in the camper) to the house batts using the same 7-pin input.
I intend to tidy up the wiring from Renogy to house batts with fatter wire as needed. Have to see if there is a better way to get the 7-pin grounded to the camper chassis as well as being the input to the Renogy.
The way it is now it might never get near 14.7v Vabs as seen at the battery, but I should be able to get pretty close.
This DC-DC idea is a good one if you need "alternator charging" that your solar won't do anyway while driving. Also good for LFP alternator protection if that applies to your set up (been some sceptics about that--not a clue by me). Help keep the fridge on 12v or 120v if you do that while driving I guess.
I want it just for when parked and not enough solar, because we can't carry a generator in the TC set-up, so the truck engine idling and the Renogy can at least get something done in a pinch.
