question

Hi Paulio; thats great to hear that you prefer Victron! :-)

We’re working hard on battery to battery chargers; but expect to have them in stock later this year only I’m afraid.

It wont upset the mppt.

Integration; yes (probably). But limited: no current and power reporting; for example.

Sorry to be vague; but thats what I know by heart.

I have used the REDARC BCDC in-vehicle chargers for years for this purpose in parallel with either limited solar PV or none at all. I also use a remote switch on the dashboard to switch it in/out otherwise your alternator will always be charging (OK in some circumstances)

I would also be interested in this - any more clarification on timescales?

The key feature that would differentiate it from the competition would be a decent capacity solar input. Most existing products have solar inputs but they only cope with max 32v or so which rules out the larger solar panels people tend to use on vans and motorhomes.

This is most interesting, I will be in the market for a Battery to Battery Charger with solar capabilities this year but will be waiting to see the Victron offering. I am most impressed with the products I have so far.

Check out this product. https://www.donrowe.com/KISAE-DMT1250-Abso-50A-DC-DC-Battery-Charger-p/dmt1250.htm

If you are going to replace the battery then seriously look at a Lithium Phosphate battery.

yes they may cost some more but they will last and last,

The L/P will cost about 50% more if you compare usable to usable Capacity and compare to good quality deap cycle L/A batteries, NOTE:- you dont need the same number of batteries, to get the same usable power.

some reasons to change as a example only and exact figures are not quoted ruff only OK but it gives you the idea

basically 2 x n200 lead acid batteryies 400A/H of which you can use MAX 200a/h at 50% Usable

Then a LP say 1 x 200 A/H will replace both the above and give you a MAX 180A/H usable

1/4 the size 1/4 the weight.

plus a L/A battery takes a long time to charge from 80 to 100% so you basically only use 50 to 80% a lot of the time

L/P goes full charge rate all the way to 95% and the last 5% max 1 hr

L/A take out 100 amps then you have to add back 120 amps

L/P take out 100 amps then add back 105

Well worth the extra investment

I'm interested in a Victron battery to battery charger as well.

I have used a Victron DC/DC converter to charge my main batteries from my old bank and vice versa for many years. The last couple of years I have used a Orion-Tr DC/DC. I have set the output voltage of the DC/DC to the temperature compensated absorption voltage of the batteries . I can turn on the DC/DC as well as the direction of charging remotely via the two relays on the Venus GX.

See below for a couple of pictures. To the left is my old bank and to the right my main battery bank. Both 24V nominal. Also a close up of the DC/DC showing the relays that switch direction.

Please note that these DC/DC only works in bulk mode.

And least: sorry for the mess in wiring!

Can't the smartsolar controllers which are really just DC to DC converters be used as battery to battery chargers? Setting the bulk/absorption and float voltages then give you controls over the charging process.

Presumably it could be used in a setup where an alternator charges a starter battery which is then connected to a 50a or 100a Smartsolar controller, which then charges a LiFePO4 bank.

I'm probably totally wrong but it's just something that popped into my head.

Any update on the future solution?

New to this thread. Very interested in the B2B charger and EasySolar for my van. What year are these posts - is the last from Victron staff Jan 2019? Anything new?

Absent a solution in the next 2 months, I'm looking at a Sterling BB1260 for my 220a alternator. If I'm reading comments here correctly, this should work fine in line with an EasySolar to my LifePO4 house batteries?

Thanks!

Is the Orion-TR Smart the solution that's coming out at the end of the video here?

https://youtu.be/jgoIocPgOug