Van Life build series - DC to DC, Battery to Battery step by step installation PART 2 of 2

Рет қаралды 4,480

2 жыл бұрын

More information at www.thefrugalfactor.com
This video show the step by step installation of a DC to DC Charger. Also commonly called a Battery to Battery Charger.
Products used in this Van Build (Affiliate links):
Fuse Holder - amzn.to/3wXossp
Renogy DC to DC Charger - amzn.to/3PC4Cuo
4 AWG wire and lugs - amzn.to/39L7SmK
Wago Connectors - 3 conductor amzn.to/389T3cX
2 conductor amzn.to/3LE0u9X
5 conductor amzn.to/3wD9847
Lighter Socket amzn.to/3PFYrFp
The full van build parts list is at www.thefrugalfactor.com
Need a place to spend the night? Try Harvest Hosts for a unique experience harvesthosts.refr.cc/frugalfactor
Blue Sea Systems Wire Calculator - circuitwizard.bluesea.com/
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Пікірлер: 36

@dan32one44 Жыл бұрын

Good Stuff 👍 Thanks

@ozmanfidaar6311 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful, subscribed. Thank you, sir.

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

@vounovapor 9 ай бұрын

I bought a renogy dc dc 12 40 Amp like yours and I've seen a lot of videos to research the setup. Your video is the BEST , reasons: 1) Straight to the point and no flashy B.S. 2) Adresses cable thickness 3) addresses to put the charger near the battery, unlike others that let the charger be under the driver's seat. 4) you are the only one that explain why to use de Limit Current option. In my case I will use it -- at least at the beginning -- to avoid alternator damages. also it serves well for an oldish Fiat Ducato. THANKS A LOT.

@FrugalFactor 9 ай бұрын

Wow - really appreciate the positive comment. Thank YOU. My other videos are in categories at TheFrugalFactor.com with additional information. After 2 years the Renogy unit is simple, and just works! I like that ! 😀

@vandaddy-o2732 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent info!

@FrugalFactor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank YOU !

@danli4507 2 жыл бұрын

This is really helpful, Just want to say thank you for sharing

@FrugalFactor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the positive comment. There will be more electrical videos out soon.

@minorchad 3 ай бұрын

Very good videos you are making. Simple and to the point. Thank you!! I would like to see something about how to safely route cables and wires. People often say---"so here's my set up in the front, now let's go to the back and see how we put it all together". ok, did you go under the van? under the floor? exposed conduit? did you go behind the walls? Maybe you've made that video but I can't find it. I'm sure it's build dependent but there must be some general guidelines that people can follow. I've moved all of my electrical and batts to the front and am putting it in a box behind the passenger seat. Mostly because I can't figure out a good way to get the proper dc-dc wires safely to the back. The box also serves as a footrest when the passenger seat is turned around. I have a PM 159 hightop like yours but with a double slider, so running along the driver side wall isn't so easy. I'm also trying to keep everything exposed (but safe) so that I can make changes in the future without having to pull anything apart. Thanks again for making these videos. Very helpful.

@FrugalFactor 3 ай бұрын

Thank YOU for the positive comment. Wire for DC to DC charger goes along the bottom channel of the promaster. You can see it in this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m7h5ZZCDv7XHcY0.html The wiring for the cabinets goes through the channel on top. You can see the top channel in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j9CqmJh13cW7pWQ.html No plumbing or wiring goes under the floor. It important to ensure easy access in case you ever want to make a change, add something, or make a repair. All my videos divided by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

@tedelder703 Жыл бұрын

If I can’t reach the negative post on my battery can I ground to the frame?

@olepickle5366 Жыл бұрын

Its the best video ive ever watch and i wanna copy most builds you did to your rig coz i really love your ideas. I wanna know wether your promaster is a 1500, 2500, or a 3500? That way it might be a 95% applicable as well to my 2019 ram promaster 1500 136WB. Im thinking that if they(1500,2500, 3500) got different alternator sizes/capabilities to provide a power if I choose a renogy 40amp DC to DC battery charger. Im planning to put all my electricals underneath my bed which is located by the rear doors and should be good to run a 10Ft long 4 AWG battery cable from the alternator to starter battery to Battery charger to my lithium house battery that will run my dieselheater, microwave, 42QT fridge, and a water pump for my sink. I wanna do exactly what you did if those materials that you’ve installed to your van if its applicable for my 2019 1500 rampromaster, thanks in advance and see you on your other videos.

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

This build is a Promaster 3500 Extended. Our Electrical is in the back drivers side, easy to reach if needed. Check your wire gauge, length using Blue Sea Systems Circuit Wizard circuitwizard.bluesea.com/# Thank You for watching!

@olepickle5366 Жыл бұрын

@@FrugalFactor hi serms like you forgot to mentioned how many amps of fuse box you used (3:47) where 6AWG and 4AWG joined together. I probably copy some of your wiring set up because the link that you mentioned is just only for electrician as theres a lot of terminologies that only electricians can understand.

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

@@olepickle5366 Check out my other video(s) they may provide the information you are looking for, especially this one kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d8ilhLOhstrRpZs.html

@theshepard22 Жыл бұрын

Is there an easier description in how the two trigger wires can interact together or apart? I have the main 40a trigger wire placed up to a switch and then to a fuse that only activates the switch power with the ignition on. Not sure how I'd bring in the 1/2 amperage line in the best way. Maybe there's like an inline switch that can add that line to the other? It probably doesn't need to have nearly the same length, as long as it gets electricity from the fused spot that's tied into the car's battery right?

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

Providing 12V+ to the D+ Terminal turns on the unit. To limit Current you provide 12V+ to the LC terminal. This is a link to the manual, see bottom of page 12, and 14. www.renogy.com/content/RNG-DCC1212-20-BC/DCC1212-204060-Manual.pdf I placed a switch inline with D+ so I can turn the unit on and off. In the back of the van I placed a Wago connector, ( amzn.to/41dH2bL ) so I can easily adjust 20 or 40 amp charging. You could also use another switch.

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

Hello I want to say great video! I do have a question when connecting your 6 gauge and 4 gauge wire to the fuse block. Am I allow to use the 6 gauge wire as well if I have a 60amp dc to dc charger? Thank you

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

It depends on the length of the 6 gauge wire. I use Blue Sea Systems Wire Calculator - circuitwizard.bluesea.com/ to calculate the proper gauge of wire.

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

Hey hope is well. I wrote a question a couple of days going pertaining to the fuse holder size. So in your video in relation to the fuse size, you end up going down from a 70amp to a 50amp I believe. But in my situation I need to go from the 70amp to a 100amp fuse that’s going to be in that fuse holder, since I do have a 60amp dc to dc charger. So will I be able to do this without causing any damage? I’m just stuck in this situation because I don’t know there answer. Thank you.

@GarryMoses-o7c Ай бұрын

Paul - I just completed installing the same Renogy B2B Charger as you did. I'm undecided as to whether or not to install the wire to limit the charging. Why would I not want to charge at the full 40 amps? Is it harder on the battery or the charger itself? Cause excess wear and tear on components? Just curious as to the reasoning. By the way, we currently do not have solar power but probably will in the future. But thank you for the video, it was very helpful!

@FrugalFactor Ай бұрын

It depends how far I'm driving. At the end of the day. I want to be 80 to 90% charged. Charging at high current causes more heat and more wear on the batteries and reduces their lifespan. But within a 10-year lifespan most people aren't concerned. If I can charge at 20 amps anb be at 80% or more at the end of the day I'll do that. But if I have a short drive, I charge at 40 amps that with the solar panels the charging current is over 50 amps. As you travel you'll find what works best for you. It's not good to fully charge to 100% SOC or discharge below 10% SOC for the lithium batteries. I'll have more videos on that in the future!

@GarryMoses-o7c Ай бұрын

@@FrugalFactor Thanks for the clarification. I had forgotten the recommendation to not go over 80% SOC. We are just starting out so don't have a handle on our electrical usage yet. But even if charging the battery to 100% brings the battery from 5000 cycles down to 2000 that's still 5 1/2 years, and we won't be full time on the road. So as I learn our needs I'll keep the limit wire in mind. Thank you so much for your videos. Your van build has had more influence on ours than anybody else (and I've watched more videos that I want to admit!), so I am grateful for all your efforts. You have a way of building practicality and budget friendly aspects into camper van builds that works well for our needs.

@FrugalFactor Ай бұрын

Thank you. That's probably the most positive comment I've received. If you have any further questions you can email me at the contact email listed on the website. Also at www.thefrugalfactor.com are all the videos listed by category. Thanks for watching 🙂

@gregoryspencerflaggregore1004 Жыл бұрын

Hello. I am setting up a victron 30A dc to dc controller. Around 10 ft to the battery. After watching your videos, which were extremely helpful, thank you,. I am still a bit unsure. Will 6 gauge be good, or should I go to 4 gauge? I should also have some kind of heat protector on the wire nearish the muffler and engine getting to the battery. any sugestions? I have some wire that used to power a wheel chair lift that I used to use for connecting an inverter directly to my battery, about 12 ft long. It's labeled, #2 SAE Copper. Is that what you say to use for connecting the interior battery to the inverter and 12V panel? But that's too big to use from my battery to the dc to dc charger? I'm pretty sure it's fine to have a normal lead battery for the starter battery and a lithium for the interior battery.? Is it ok to have a lithium starter battery and lithium interior battery with the dc to dc charger? Thank you for your videos, and any help you can give me on my questions.

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

For wire size use blue sea systems wire calculator circuitwizard.bluesea.com/ Also this video may help kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d7B3jctnzr2Zc3k.html Having a lead acid battery for the starter, and lithium for the rest is normal. The DC to DC charger should keep the batteries isolated from each other, so no problem there. Heat protector - I kept all of my wiring inside the van, so I did not have any need to protect the wires from the muffler temperature.

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

Hello I also have another question in relation to getting your full amperage from your battery charger. You stated that I can simply unplug 1 wire from my wago connector from the switch that was installed in the cigarette connector. Would I need to remove that panel from the cup holder again to be able to do that?

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

YES, but instead of doing that - what I have done is use a Wago connector in the Garage area, right before the wire enters the charger. When I want 40 Amps I simply open the Wago connector and take out the wire.

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

@@FrugalFactor thank you for this. So what if I don’t want my amperage cut in half? And just want the D+ cable only? Do I just follow your same process but do not connect anything in the LC port? Or will I need to do something else?

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

@@josefandino4090 That's correct!

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

@@FrugalFactor thank you for your help!! Keep producing more helpful videos to the community! Stay safe!

@josefandino4090 Жыл бұрын

@@FrugalFactor when adding the fuse block with the correct anl fuse on it, knowing that I currently will be installing a 60amp dc to dc charger will I be able to run the 6awg wire off of the 70amp fuse from the starter battery and then attach it to the fuse holder that has a 100amp fuse on it? And on the other end of that fuse holder terminal will be my 4AWG from my dc to dc charger input side.

@lucrisdelarosa Жыл бұрын

Hi, may i use the battery while it is charging with that charger?

@FrugalFactor Жыл бұрын

Yes, the battery is in use when being charged by solar and the DC to DC charger.

@FrugalFactor 11 ай бұрын

If your battery is not charging, check that the DIP switches are correct for your type of battery. The information is in the manual. You could also email Renogy.