Dual Battery & Power Station

[Wrenglejr]

Hello all. I have a 2024 Grenadier FM and it came with the dual battery. I think I understand what the dual battery does (or not does). My question is more about adding an Ecoflow Delta 3 and the 800W alternator charger to this and if I am able to connect to the aux. battery or will have to run from the starter battery? I do believe that the aux. battery to charge via the alternator which is why I thought this may work. It would also make install MUCH easier if I wasn't running the cable to the engine bay.

Apologies if this was covered, but I did search first and wasn't able to find.

Thanks in advance!

 

[anand]

You wouldn't connect it direct to the alternator in any case; and seeing as it is only charging while the truck is on, you would want to connect to the primary battery. Connecting to the aux battery would work also, but you're just adding more steps before the charge current gets to the EcoFlow

 

[Wrenglejr]

You wouldn't connect it direct to the alternator in any case; and seeing as it is only charging while the truck is on, you would want to connect to the primary battery. Connecting to the aux battery would work also, but you're just adding more steps before the charge current gets to the EcoFlow

Appreciate the quick response anand!
Understood on the more steps, but could mount the 800w charger under the rear seat and tap the aux. battery right there versus running through the car and into the engine bay…

 

[anand]

Appreciate the quick response anand!
Understood on the more steps, but could mount the 800w charger under the rear seat and tap the aux. battery right there versus running through the car and into the engine bay…

Yes absolutely

 

[Phobiac]

Hello all. I have a 2024 Grenadier FM and it came with the dual battery. I think I understand what the dual battery does (or not does). My question is more about adding an Ecoflow Delta 3 and the 800W alternator charger to this and if I am able to connect to the aux. battery or will have to run from the starter battery? I do believe that the aux. battery to charge via the alternator which is why I thought this may work. It would also make install MUCH easier if I wasn't running the cable to the engine bay.

Apologies if this was covered, but I did search first and wasn't able to find.

Thanks in advance!

@Wrenglejr I did this with a DJI 1000 and DJI 1000W Super Fast Car Charger as I wanted the 2200W pure since wave inverter (4400W peak) and 10A/120W DC output

I added a DC-to-DC charger to the CTEK Smartpass 120S (I think this is the flow if I remember correctly)

1. Alternator → Starter Battery
2. Starter Battery → CTEK SmartPass 120S
3. CTEK SmartPass 120S → CTEK D250SE (used GPFactor Mounting Plate Kit)
4. Solar Panel Input → CTEK D250SE (Solar Input) (max 23V 20A) (Thales 120W Solar Blanket...thinking about LenSun Hood Solar or something mounted to roof rack (e.g., XPLOR - BLOX by Sunflare)
5. CTEK D250SE (Output) → Auxiliary Battery
6. Starter Battery → DJI 1kW Car Charger → DJI Power 1000

My understanding was that since the Grenadier uses a smart alternator that a DC-DC charger boosts or regulates this voltage to ensure your auxiliary battery is fully charged, provides multi-stage, temperature-compensated charging that’s safer and prolongs battery life, the D250SE (especially when paired with SmartPass 120S) isolates the starter and auxiliary batteries automatically, The D250SE has a dedicated MPPT solar input, allowing you to directly charge the auxiliary battery from solar panels (bonus), It regulates voltage under load. I know other prefer Redarc or Victron but since the 120S is already there....

 

[Wrenglejr]

@Wrenglejr I did this with a DJI 1000 and DJI 1000W Super Fast Car Charger as I wanted the 2200W pure since wave inverter (4400W peak) and 10A/120W DC output

I added a DC-to-DC charger to the CTEK Smartpass 120S (I think this is the flow if I remember correctly)

1. Alternator → Starter Battery
2. Starter Battery → CTEK SmartPass 120S
3. CTEK SmartPass 120S → CTEK D250SE (used GPFactor Mounting Plate Kit)
4. Solar Panel Input → CTEK D250SE (Solar Input) (max 23V 20A) (Thales 120W Solar Blanket...thinking about LenSun Hood Solar or something mounted to roof rack (e.g., XPLOR - BLOX by Sunflare)
5. CTEK D250SE (Output) → Auxiliary Battery
6. Starter Battery → DJI 1kW Car Charger → DJI Power 1000

My understanding was that since the Grenadier uses a smart alternator that a DC-DC charger boosts or regulates this voltage to ensure your auxiliary battery is fully charged, provides multi-stage, temperature-compensated charging that’s safer and prolongs battery life, the D250SE (especially when paired with SmartPass 120S) isolates the starter and auxiliary batteries automatically, The D250SE has a dedicated MPPT solar input, allowing you to directly charge the auxiliary battery from solar panels (bonus), It regulates voltage under load. I know other prefer Redarc or Victron but since the 120S is already there....

@Phobiac Thank you for that info!

 

[Ragman]

@Wrenglejr I did this with a DJI 1000 and DJI 1000W Super Fast Car Charger as I wanted the 2200W pure since wave inverter (4400W peak) and 10A/120W DC output

I added a DC-to-DC charger to the CTEK Smartpass 120S (I think this is the flow if I remember correctly)

1. Alternator → Starter Battery
2. Starter Battery → CTEK SmartPass 120S
3. CTEK SmartPass 120S → CTEK D250SE (used GPFactor Mounting Plate Kit)
4. Solar Panel Input → CTEK D250SE (Solar Input) (max 23V 20A) (Thales 120W Solar Blanket...thinking about LenSun Hood Solar or something mounted to roof rack (e.g., XPLOR - BLOX by Sunflare)
5. CTEK D250SE (Output) → Auxiliary Battery
6. Starter Battery → DJI 1kW Car Charger → DJI Power 1000

My understanding was that since the Grenadier uses a smart alternator that a DC-DC charger boosts or regulates this voltage to ensure your auxiliary battery is fully charged, provides multi-stage, temperature-compensated charging that’s safer and prolongs battery life, the D250SE (especially when paired with SmartPass 120S) isolates the starter and auxiliary batteries automatically, The D250SE has a dedicated MPPT solar input, allowing you to directly charge the auxiliary battery from solar panels (bonus), It regulates voltage under load. I know other prefer Redarc or Victron but since the 120S is already there....

If you are interested in a portable solar panel that will work with the 250SE (i.e. come in below the max open voltage) the one I have found is the EcoFlow 220W bifacial and it is on sale (sadly through today) on their website and slightly cheaper on Amazon $379-$399.

 

[CountyV8]

I am also puzzled as to why the vehicles inverter won't charge my Ecoflow I am at a loss it should supply voltage to it but just clicks away although I can charge camera batteries etc from the inverter on a drive.

 

[anand]

I am also puzzled as to why the vehicles inverter won't charge my Ecoflow I am at a loss it should supply voltage to it but just clicks away although I can charge camera batteries etc from the inverter on a drive.

Is your ecoflow charger attempting to draw >400 watts?

 

[CountyV8]

Is your ecoflow charger attempting to draw >400 watts?

``````````no I restricted it to a lower setting for test 100W

 

[anand]

``````````no I restricted it to a lower setting for test 100W

That's the end of my range of ideas

 

[CountyV8]

Mine too

 

[255/85]

I am also puzzled as to why the vehicles inverter won't charge my Ecoflow I am at a loss it should supply voltage to it but just clicks away although I can charge camera batteries etc from the inverter on a drive.

Tinkerer's Adventure (youtube) has a couple of videos dealing with charging an Ecoflow Delta 2. There may be helpful info in one of them. Smart kid.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHL9gbwNV-k

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-9vj-hF1M

 

[Jeroendecker]

Hi all! I have the same set up and it works amazingly well. BUT I found it is VERY important to stop the alternator from charging through the app if you turn off the engine (and leave the car idle for a while). The alternator will keep trying to charge the ecoflow which drains the car battery real fast.