New Caravan power setup

[jx2mad]

I am picking up a new van in 6 weeks time. It is fitted with a Genius power management system. Anything I should be aware of about this system..ie problems, short comings etc. I intend to fit a dc/dc charger to boost voltage to house battery.as I have a smart alternator. Any other suggestions??? Jim

[Homestar]

I could be wrong but I thought they already had a DCDC charger in line from the power inlet from the vehicle. Not sure if there are different models but I'm sure the ones I've looked at regulate all incoming supplies - solar and vehicle, so you shouldn't need anything extra.

[drivesafe]

Hi Jim and that BMS is just a glorified 20 AC battery charger..

It will manage you house battery well, while on AC.

The auxiliary input, from what I can gather, is just a 12v input and not a DC/DC setup.

Next, if you are going to be towing your new van with ANY Land Rover, then you not only do NOT need a DC/DC device, but if you fit DC/DC device, you will take heaps longer, to recharge your house battery while driving, and if you have more than one house battery, a DC/DC device will never fully charge low batteries.

Your Land Rover’s alternator can recharge any number of house batteries in a MUCH shorter time than a DC/DC device can.

Don’t get sucked in by the B/S DC/DC advertising.

[jx2mad]

Thanks. Non Landrover with smart alternator!!!

[Homestar]

Just looked it up - I think I was thinking of a different unit. Drivesafe is correct - no DCDC smarts in this unit, just a 12 volt input from the vehicle, which is all that should be required. This thread will likely tunr into another DCDC debate thread, so I'll not enter into that at all, my thoughts are well known on that subject.

Link to manual on unit - https://teambmpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/023644-GENIUS-II-Owners-Manual-1B.pdf

Looks like a float charger with a 10 fuse panel and connections built in - looks fine.

[jx2mad]

For free camping how would I go slotting my dc/dc charger into the output of my solar panels. Then if the sunlight is a bit low the voltage would be built up to feed the van

[drivesafe]

Hi homestar and yes, I will not go further either.

The problem for me and my products, is that I have to continually correct the deliberate misinformation used to sell DC/DC devices. Their B/S does have an effect on my sales.

Jim as above, I’ll not turn your thread into another debate but if there is anything you think I might be able to help you with, please ask away or PM me.

Regards.

[DiscoMick]

For free camping how would I go slotting my dc/dc charger into the output of my solar panels. Then if the sunlight is a bit low the voltage would be built up to feed the vanIf your solar panels already have a regulator then they probably limit the output to maybe 10 amps, which is fine for charging batteries. No need for a DC-DC.
I have that system and it works fine. I just ran my camper with a single 100 ah battery and a 40 litre Engel fridge off an 80 watt solar panel for a week and the battery was fully charged by mid-morning every day, even when it rained.
Remember that a DC-DC actually limits the output, usually to 20-30 amps, but a vehicle alternator is much more powerful, maybe 80-120 amps depending on the vehicle, so the alternator can pump much more power through than the DC-DC will allow.
I suggest you just trial the existing system for a while before deciding if you need to spend any money.

[jx2mad]

Thanks guys. I will not prolong the debate. It is just that I already have one of those units so I was seeking advice. It came off another setup so I will now try existing hookup and see what happens. Jim

[Homestar]

For free camping how would I go slotting my dc/dc charger into the output of my solar panels. Then if the sunlight is a bit low the voltage would be built up to feed the van

That won't work unfortunately - a rise just in the voltage won't push any power into batteries, there will be no current behind it so nothing will happen and it would just hinder the solar panels performance. Connect the panel into the same input the car feeds into - it's just a straight DC feed through a diode intomthe house batteries so that will work best for free camping.

[jx2mad]

Thanks. Thread closed
. Jim