MPPT + Smart shunt on a T6 Beach, newbie questions

[wanzerotto]

Hi, first of all nice to be here with you! I'm learning tons from reading you guys.
We will get our 2019 T6 Cali Beach next week and do a proper presentation in the appropriate section, but in the meanwhile I am preparing (buying) all I will need to install a solar system (Victron MPPT + smart shunt + still uncertain about a BVM 712 - in case, I will modify the seat base to install the screen). Yes, I am the kind of person that tries to prepare everything in advance, and it's definitely stressing. I have three questions that maybe you can help me with:

1) How do I route the cable inside from the rear gutter without interfering with the sealing itself?
2) I want the smart shunt to monitor both the leisure and the starter battery. Given that connection to the leisure battery is easy because it's where I will put the MPPT (under the driver seat), is there in the same spot any direct connection to + and - of the starter battery?
3) Will the started battery be trickle charged by the leisure when the solar tops it up?

Thank you for your help!

 

[dspuk]

1 - Take it in the rear grommet where the tailgate lifts and then down and through the van on the (for you) drivers side. Then just take under the carpet strip.

2 - Yes, via the relay.

3 - Sort of. Most MPPT's will give 1A of charging only when the leisures are full. It's ok, but not great.

 

[wanzerotto]

Thank you for the answers!

Point 2 is clear. So there is a relay. Is it clearly labeled or identifiable?

Regarding 1, I don’t understand if I need to take it down on the inside (therefore entering at the top of the rear tailgate opening) or outside (going inside the gutter to the bottom part of the opening and only then going inside). Moreover is not clear to me how to avoid breaking the gutter seal. I will use a Califaktur panel (panel + MPPT, I will install the shunt separately) and in their instructions they suggest the latter, but unfortunately they provide the attached picture for the Beach. This is a style of installation that I would never, never do so I’d like to understand if that’s the only way or there are better routes.

Finally, about question 3, from my understanding the van already has a trickle charger installed that (with engine off, since with engine running you have the alternator charging both LB and VB) runs only with EHU, correct? So you mean that with solar charging the MPPT tops up the LB which then engages the trickle charger “outside” of the expected use case (which is EHU only)? I just need a confirmation on the logic of the charging. I don’t know if my question is clear enough, sorry for my English!

 

[owen_h]

With the proviso that I have an older T5.1 Beach so things might be different. With regard to 2) the smart shunt I dont think a single shunt can monitor current draw on 2 batteries.
I have installed a Victron Smart shunt under the passenger seat to monitor the leisure battery and the main connection is that all the -ve connections need to pass through the shunt. The vehicle battery -ve connection is via the vehicle body/chassis so the shunt wont be able to monitor that (current draw).

But what you can do with the shunt is measure voltage on a 2nd battery. There is an additional connection point (and supplied length of wire) you run to (I think) the +ve connection of the other (vehicle) battery. Ive not done this with mine but now you have me wondering if I really need to run that wire all the way to the vehicle battery or could find a point under the seat on the vehicle side of the relay.

 

[dspuk]

Thank you for the answers!

Point 2 is clear. So there is a relay. Is it clearly labeled or identifiable?

Not sure on a LHD coast but on our Occean it's under the passenger seat far left hand side. Was obvious to see and test the voltage to be sure you had a feed from the starter. There are images on here if you search.

Regarding 1, I don’t understand if I need to take it down on the inside (therefore entering at the top of the rear tailgate opening) or outside (going inside the gutter to the bottom part of the opening and only then going inside). Moreover is not clear to me how to avoid breaking the gutter seal. I will use a Califaktur panel (panel + MPPT, I will install the shunt separately) and in their instructions they suggest the latter, but unfortunately they provide the attached picture for the Beach. This is a style of installation that I would never, never do so I’d like to understand if that’s the only way or there are better routes.

Again, on our Ocean was no issues but if you look at this video you can see how they do it through the top grommet:

Finally, about question 3, from my understanding the van already has a trickle charger installed that (with engine off, since with engine running you have the alternator charging both LB and VB) runs only with EHU, correct? So you mean that with solar charging the MPPT tops up the LB which then engages the trickle charger “outside” of the expected use case (which is EHU only)? I just need a confirmation on the logic of the charging. I don’t know if my question is clear enough, sorry for my English!

It does, but that trickle is via the EHU and the EHU charger box above the battery. With an MPPT and Solar you are bypassing that so the MPPT handles the trickle based on its internal parameters. You need to make sure your MPPT does starter as well and connect to the starter battery side of the relay.

 

[wanzerotto]

Not sure on a LHD coast but on our Occean it's under the passenger seat far left hand side. Was obvious to see and test the voltage to be sure you had a feed from the starter. There are images on here if you search.


Again, on our Ocean was no issues but if you look at this video you can see how they do it through the top grommet:

It does, but that trickle is via the EHU and the EHU charger box above the battery. With an MPPT and Solar you are bypassing that so the MPPT handles the trickle based on its internal parameters. You need to make sure your MPPT does starter as well and connect to the starter battery side of the relay.

Thank you! The video is VERY helpful. I have it clear now.

Regarding the trickle charging, now I get it. So my other question is: can I put the VB on the load output of the MPPT? What would happen?

 

[dspuk]

Thank you! The video is VERY helpful. I have it clear now.

Regarding the trickle charging, now I get it. So my other question is: can I put the VB on the load output of the MPPT? What would happen?

It would charge the main battery but not your leisures.

Some people have a manual shunt that does this for them and swap the solar between leisures and starter.