Networking electrical system with Victron

[Zanshin]

I've just upgraded my electrical system and finally networked the Victron devices together, and the result is "the bee's knees" to use a British colloquialism. I used to have just a Victron Quattro inverter/charger and a Skylla charger and used a Xantrex LinkPro for battery monitoring. In the past I've programmed Arduinos to read the Xantrex protocol and then present the charge and consumption data using local PC tools.

Now my electrical system consists of:

14x 105Ah Carbon AGMs
Victron Quattro 5000W 24VDC/230VAC
Skylla-i Charger
2 Victron 175W solar panels in series with a SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT controller
2 Renogy 175W flat panels in series with a SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT controller
2 Solbian 125W flat panels (end-of-life, they are almost dead) in series with a SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT controller
Victron Cerbo GX computer
Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor

Everything is connected with VEBus, CAN-Bus, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and goes out to the Victron website using a Starlink connection. The resulting data can be viewed in real-time online at Victron VRM Portal for Zanshin.

It is pretty cool technology. Today, after work in my home-office, I'm going ashore and getting the final bit of hardware, an adapter from Raymarine SeaTalkNG to Ethernet, then I'll plug the Victron system into my chartplotter as well!

[Charlie-Bravo]

That’s impressive, the uploaded live view is nice, shows you need to cut back on consumption 1200 - 1400 hrs !

Great when the tech all comes together and plays nicely, well done.

CB

[bereboot]

It's almost like a nuclear facility!

[barryl]

14 AGM Batteries???

When are you going to lithium?

Barry

[Zanshin]

barry - I thought about it when I had to replace the batteries. I program BMS systems for a hobby, so understand the complexities of lithium batteries. I did the math this time around and opted to continue with AGM (trying lead-carbon) because I'd have to do a lot of other changes to the electrical system that would up the cost for the transition to lithium. But by the time I need to replace the house bank again I'll go down the lithium rabbit-hole...

[loredo]

I did the transition to lithium during the winter months 2021-22.  48 EVE 280AH grade A cells were installed in the stock battery locations.  That's good for 1680 AH @ 24V. Yikes.... Cost overall was roughly 14K euros.  It was a bear of a project but after having them for over a year on board, worth the time and money spent.  At first, of course, I was a bit nervous about this new tecnology in the boat and kept checking voltages, connections, amps in & out... Then I realised what's the best thing about lithium, forget to have batteries! Today the cost for the lithium batteries has gone down by at least 50% from when I bought them.  AH for AH lithium today costs less than AGM!  

[Zanshin]

Mar 27, 2024 8:30:48 GMT loredo said:

...AH for AH lithium today costs less than AGM!  

I beg to differ, I have never seen a lithium battery (that I would trust) that is cheaper by the AH than an AGM. Even factoring in the deeper discharge of lithium vs. lead which almost doubles the available power per battery it remains more expensive, without factoring in the additional hardware that lithium demands

[loredo]

Agreed on the additional hardware, no doubt.

See here: eu.nkon.nl/rechargeable/lifepo4/prismatisch/eve-lf280-prismatic-280ah-280a-lifepo4.html

At 84 european bucks for a 280AH grade A cell, to make 12V battery four are needed = 336 bucks for a 280AH @ 12V battery.

Last time I looked into quality AGM's they'd cost more than that. Again, I agree on the additional costs for everything needed with the lithium chemistry.  Yet, that's a one time and then forget (the pain) thing.

[Zanshin]

Thos prices for EVE cells are really good, the cost per kWh at 1€ is a lot less than the usual 2-3 (or more) currently offered for 12V complete lithium systems.