Orion 12/30 with 60amp alternator

[The White Whale]

I'm considering connecting my lead acid starter battery (100 ah) to my agm house bank (400 ah) with a Victron Orion tr smart 12/30, charge the starter battery with the alternator (non regulated 60 amp Hitachi) and the house bank indirectly through the orion when engine battery is full.

1) Is this an ok situation for the alternator?
2) I have read that there is an efficiency loss from the orion. Is this bigger than the efficiency gain from having the alternator output regulated for agm batteries?

Thanks!

[Bill O]

Have a Sterling dc-dc charger and similarly you should be able to set it up w/an AGM profile.


fyi, unless you've modified your alternator, it is internally regulated.

[smac999]

30a orion on the 60a alt should be fine. it needs to be setup as a charger and for the battery type. using the smart alt settings is fine even with an int reg.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by The White Whale

I'm considering connecting my lead acid starter battery (100 ah) to my agm house bank (400 ah) with a Victron Orion tr smart 12/30, charge the starter battery with the alternator (non regulated 60 amp Hitachi) and the house bank indirectly through the orion when engine battery is full.

1) Is this an ok situation for the alternator?
2) I have read that there is an efficiency loss from the orion. Is this bigger than the efficiency gain from having the alternator output regulated for agm batteries?

Thanks!

I think you need the Orion Smart non-isolated. You can program it to detect your alternator and start charging as long as the alternator provides the juice.

It works perfectly, I have two of them in parallel doing this (from 12- to 24V lithium, but you can select AGM as well).