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25th April 2017, 11:30 AM
#71
Patrol God
Is bluetooth really required Im old school and find it hard to
figure out how it can be helpfull. Been charging my battery
now for over 25 years without it ???
04 ST 3lt auto, not enough Mods to keep me happy, but getting there
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25th April 2017 11:30 AM
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Circuit advertisement
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25th April 2017, 07:03 PM
#72
Legendary
Technology can be great but where do you draw the line , I do like the concept of it but really I suppose it's just another gadget .
And yeah are you going to be on the phone all day checking or do what we normally do , it won't move the panels for you to chase the sun and if you don't know you should be I'm not sure you would be smart enough to use the app or understand it.
My volt and amp gauges give me a good idea what's going and half the time I can't find my phone .
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25th April 2017, 07:06 PM
#73
Patrol Guru
Originally Posted by
threedogs
Is bluetooth really required Im old school and find it hard to
figure out how it can be helpfull. Been charging my battery
now for over 25 years without it ???
I have my regulator hidden away from sight. I use the app inside the house to check the battery status while the patrol is sitting idle from time to time.
Probably wouldn't use it while out camping so much.
Just had the option for it so figured pretty nifty. You can also change all the regulator settings using the phone app on the fly and read any errors (nil recorded so far).
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26th April 2017, 10:09 PM
#74
Travelling Podologist
And it's cheaper than a battery monitor. IMO it is not essential but is good to have. Above all the best way to look after your batteries is familiarity with what is normal for your system. The app (or a battery monitor, a volt meter or even a regularly used multimeter) are all helpful tools to monitor & become familiar. Then when something happens outside of the 'norm' you have prior warning whilst you still have choices to make, rather than discovering things are awry once your battery has karked it. I reckon that app looked like a nice neat way to do things. If you get up for a leak early each morning, before the sun comes up have a quick look at the app then, & same in the evening before bed. Familiarity is the key.
Last edited by Cuppa; 29th April 2017 at 11:16 PM.
2006 4.2TDi ex-Telstra Remote area Camper. 425w roof mounted solar, 360Ah Aux batts, BCDC1240, Onboard hot & cold pressurised & filtered water, (25 litre hot water calorifier), ARB fridge, ARB freezer, Built in kitchen, heaps of easy access storage, 240v, 3” Genie exhaust + dynotune, 2” lift, 3900kg GVM upgrade, second glovebox, ROH Blaktrak steel wheels, Bridgestone D697's (now Toyo RT's), Redarc gauges/pillarpod, Hema HX-1, Icom 450 CB, dual rear view cameras, Onboard 30amp Victron mains charger, second glovebox, dual seat conversion, TPMS, Boss PX7 onboard air with 9 litre tank, 350w inverter, Steel bullbar, Harrop Eaton diff lock (front), Warn winch, Snorkel, Dual spares , 160 litre water tank, 180 litre fuel in two tanks (approx 1200km range) 2010 Tvan Tanami. (incl another 70 litre water tank) with matching wheels/tyres (& 3rd spare)
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26th April 2017, 10:32 PM
#75
Legendary
Basically what I do with the meters and gauges then double check with the multimeter , I do like this MPPT setup from Victron but can't justify the expense just yet , it will be on the shopping list for the future though .
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29th April 2017, 11:43 AM
#76
Patrol God
So a 200W pannel, 70 15 blue charger and pannel mounts will be on order today..
Great way to drop $350!!
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11th May 2017, 07:03 AM
#77
Patrol God
So the VE controller arrived.
First thoughts..
Solid as.
Small compact.
Teminals only just fit 6mm cable into it..
My only dislike atm is the small screws to tighten terminals use a flat blade screw driver.
So its a bit difficult to get tight..
But shes jump into gear.
I didnt go the wifi dongle as its $65 thats not critical atm so its just doing its thing..
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11th May 2017, 08:56 AM
#78
Legendary
Originally Posted by
bigguwesty
So the VE controller arrived.
First thoughts..
Solid as.
Small compact.
Teminals only just fit 6mm cable into it..
My only dislike atm is the small screws to tighten terminals use a flat blade screw driver.
So its a bit difficult to get tight..
But shes jump into gear.
I didnt go the wifi dongle as its $65 thats not critical atm so its just doing its thing..
One less thing to break Westy.
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11th May 2017, 09:25 AM
#79
Patrol God
Originally Posted by
GQtdauto
One less thing to break Westy.
Thats true but i do like to track input and output.
If its an over cast day and output is overtaking then i can top it up with second pannel
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11th May 2017, 11:54 AM
#80
I am he, fear me
Originally Posted by
bigguwesty
So the VE controller arrived.
First thoughts..
Solid as.
Small compact.
Teminals only just fit 6mm cable into it..
My only dislike atm is the small screws to tighten terminals use a flat blade screw driver.
So its a bit difficult to get tight..
But shes jump into gear.
I didnt go the wifi dongle as its $65 thats not critical atm so its just doing its thing..
Hiya cobber...
I have about 10 of the Victron 75/15s deployed at various sites.
Great bit of kit (but I do try and use the Aussie made Intervolts where I can but they are bulky).
Only bit I don't like is the jumper that sets the low voltage cutoff sticks out a tad more than it should IMHO.
FWIW the best way for novices to look at MPPT versus PWM regs is as follows (all other things being equal etc);
PWM is a current limiter and the max output is the supplied current IE it discards the 'extra' volts produced by the panel (12 volt panels are capable of running at up too 17 to 20)
EG 18 volts and 5 amps in (100 watt panel) gives you 12 volts and 5 amps out or approx 60 watts (max)
MPPT are like DC/DC charger except rather than compensate for voltage losses like Redarcs etc they make up for efficiency losses and step up the current output IE they use the full voltage output and produce more current (at less volts) than Panel supplies.
EG 18 volts and 5 amps (100 Watt panel) in gives you 12 volts and 7.5 amps out or approx 90 watts (max)
Obviously you don't get that out of either scenario in real life as i just used the numbers to demo the principle
That means you can use any sort of panel for your Victron, 12 volt, 24 volt or even a house jobbie
Last edited by the evil twin; 11th May 2017 at 02:21 PM.
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