Carver Owners Forum

Hello! I've got an 85 3227...no genset...2000w inverter...currently six (06) 100ah lead acid deep cycle house bank and two (02) 12v lead acid starting batteries all located between the engines (to the forward bulkhead). Couple of questions: 1. Does anyone have experience with using a Xantrex 468 inverter/charger with lifepo4's? I saw another thread where Xantrex said that using their AGM setting would work fine for Lifepo4's...but I'd like to hear from someone with direct knowledge.

2. Does anyone have the measurement of the area between the engines (length and width)? I'm 3 hours from my boat and won't see her for at least a couple more weeks. I'm looking at installing two (02) 12v 300ah Lifepo4's in place of the current lead acids...will double my capacity while cutting the weight in half-ish...but can't find my bilge measurements.

3. Currently have 2 ACRS...should I go with DC to DC charger instead? Not 100% up on this whole concept...still researching.

4. What's a good voltage regulator for the alternator?

Thanks in advance!!

You might want to take a look here. viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6315&hilit=lifepo4

Thanks...very informative thread. I've got to figure out what I've got exactly as the previous owner had the current setup installed. What I know: six (06) 6v 210ah batteries in series-parallel. Two (02) 12v starting batteries with a 1/2/Both switch. Freedom 458 inverter/charger connected to the house bank. Also have a ProMariner charger just for the 12V starting batteries. There are TWO (02) ACRs for some reason...and TWO (02) battery on/off switches. I have no genset. Seems kind of complicated...not sure why it's set up like this?

mikesparker wrote:Source of the post ... There are TWO (02) ACRs for some reason...and TWO (02) battery on/off switches. I have no genset. Seems kind of complicated...not sure why it's set up like this?

If the OP didn't provide any documentation on the system then you'll really have to trace things out and create a diagram yourself.

The two ACRs could be to tie each start battery to the house bank, OR to tie each engine alternator to the house bank. There are advantages to doing it both ways.

On your "start" battery 1/2/both, you might consider changing that to a Blue Seas "off/on/combine" type switch. On your current config I'd bet that one battery is shared with both engines and you choose that battery with the 1/2/both. If you used the off/on/combine, it dedicates one battery to each engine (separating the electrical systems) but still allows you to combine for emergency starting. But don't make any changes till you've really figured out what you have.

The two battery "on/off" switches (if they hooked to the house bank) could be for 1) the inverter and 2) the rest of the house loads, so that you can shut down the inverter without impacting any of your other house loads.

I'll do some tracing/mapping when I get a chance soon! Thanks!

Ok, so I've got two Vatrer 300ah 12v LifePO4 batteries. On order is a Victron Multiplus 12/3000/120v inverter/charger to replace the Freedom 458. I've read that I'll need to protect the alternators and I'm thinking of going with the Victron Orion XS 50 DC to DC charger. This 'new' system seems less complicated than my current system utilizing 2 ACRs. So if I'm understanding this, the charging part will go from ALT to start batt(s) and ALT to fuse then DC/DC charger. From DC/DC to fuse to LiPo house bank and from DC/DC to fuse to DC circuit breaker panel. Does that sound right?

Here's the mess I want to get rid of..

mikesparker wrote:Source of the post Ok, so I've got two Vatrer 300ah 12v LifePO4 batteries. On order is a Victron Multiplus 12/3000/120v inverter/charger to replace the Freedom 458. I've read that I'll need to protect the alternators and I'm thinking of going with the Victron Orion XS 50 DC to DC charger. This 'new' system seems less complicated than my current system utilizing 2 ACRs. So if I'm understanding this, the charging part will go from ALT to start batt(s) and ALT to fuse then DC/DC charger. From DC/DC to fuse to LiPo house bank and from DC/DC to fuse to DC circuit breaker panel. Does that sound right?

The DC to DC charger is just that. It's just like a shore power charger in many respects except it runs off of 12vdc as opposed to 120vac.

That being said, it is NOT connected to the alternator, rather to a start battery (where it gets it's power) and then to the LifePo4 battery (where it charges to).

Since I have 2 engines, I elected to go with 2 dc to dc chargers, one on each start bank and both connected to my LifePo4 bank. My 2x 30a dc chargers give me a total of 60a combined and I now have a redundancy if one alternator or start bank were to fail all while not taxing each alternator much at all.

You do not want anything capable of connecting your lead acid start banks to your lifePo4 banks.

dumb question deleted...hahahaha

Ok...I've determined that I'm going with (2) Orion XS hooked up separately to each starting battery...then to the house bank. For the class-T fuses, since I've got 2AWG wire, I'm ok using 200amp? One on each positive terminal?