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Hi,
In general, yes, you can connect multiple DC charging sources together on a single Bus Bar.
This is one of the main functions of the Lynx Bus Bar product, which will allow you to connect multiple battery strings, then have a battery shunt, and then connect multiple charging sources and multiple loads on the other side of the shunt.
This diagram shows you how, and also shows the fusing, with LifePo. System Schematic 3 Charging Sources
My setup, all connected together on the bus bar:
1 x MPPT Charge Controller
1 x Orion TR Smart DCDC Charger (from vehicle Alternator)
1 x AC to DC Mains Charger (Its not a Victron one yet, will buy Victron when this one dies)
Enjoy.
Alex
@alex_rhys-hurn your setup sounds exactly what I am doing in my camper trailer. Any words of wisdom before i start? For your solar and DC input did you fuse them on the leg to the battery bank?
Iḿ commenting here as I do not seem to have specifically replied to your post. Anyway, see my replies above.
Alex
Hi,
I managed to finish my install. Words of wisdom? Haha...
I guess, take your time and use the correct cables, accessories and tools for the wiring, e.g. Heatshrink, crimped terminals where appropriate (remember dont crimp cable ends when inserting cable to the Victron products), terminals, slotted ducting etc..
For the fusing, do read the Victron Wiring Unlimited book available for free on their website.
In my case the cable FROM PV Panels TO MPPT are NOT fused. This is probably wrong. My PV panels are disconnectable and fold away when not in use.
FROM the MPPT to the busbar and onwards TO battery is fused, and again the battery is fused FROM battery TO bus bar.
I made a busbar combiner box, contains the shunt, BMV battery monitor fuses and bus bars and battery isolator. See pic below. Fuses are on the left of Pic, from Top to bottom fuses are 20A from MPPT, 40A to DC Distribution, 60A from DCDC Charger, 40A to Inverter.
Then the battery has a 100A fuse.
Hope this helps.
Alex
Picture of my home made busbar system (combiner box) here:
Picture of the overall finished system:
Picture of the battery box and fuse:
Picture of DC distribution fuseblock and AC MCB Breaker:
Picture of Anderson plug from vehicle to trailer for DCDC charger. This is fused in the engine bay:
Inverter Wiring, showing the remote off signal cable, this is connected to the LOAD output of the MPPT. I use the MPPT as batter protect. It disconnects DC loads and also turns off the inverter by the remot off signal. Otherwise the Inverter is connected directly to busbars.
Pic below shows my solar panels (2 x 80w) in home made suitcase and home made folding, wired in series.
Picture below is a test rig (load bank), I use 100W old fashioned incandescent lightbulbs to provide a constant load to test the battery runtime etc from the inverter.
Pic below shows how the Engel fridge slides in alongside the victron kit:
Below battery disconnect switch and BMV, easy to reach from RHS door.
I based my design on this (link below) reference design from Victron. Mine is MUCH simplified, without all the Lithium stuff (my battery is AGM), battery protect (I use MPPT for that, and only 1 set of solar and MPPTs.
Nice work ! Looks very professionnal and clean ! Thanks for the pictures.
Michel.
This helps heaps mate the pictures really help!. I like the little distro/isolation box you built. Yeah I dont have an inverter yet and went the dc/dc 30 when i should have gone the 18 like you due to size and also lower input voltage on the 18.
