Field test: PV Modules

A real world comparison between Mono, Poly, PERC and Dual PV Modules.

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Romania
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Installation date: 09-03-2020
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Irradiance

* This is a field test and the results are specific for this installation on this location please research which is the best solution for your own situation as the results can be different based on environmental influences.

Total solar yield as of 27/03/2023 when the results were reset:
Mono: 9158 kWh
Split-cell: 9511 kWh
Poly: 9113 kWh
Perc: 9471 kWh
Perc-east: 1970 kWh
Perc-west: 1730 kWh

Truck

On the road again.
As comfortable as possible.

When you just can't wait to get on the road again,
seeing things that you may never see again,
you need life on board to be as comfortable as possible.

Who can resist a fresh coffee break or a warm meal served right from your cabin? No wonder there's increased demand of power electronics on board that can power complete ‘kitchen' extensions. Once you are back on the road again, you'll want it all without the hassle. This is why our wide range of user-friendly products are built for the road with professional quality that is driven by 45 years of innovation and problem solving.

So, who can't wait to get on the road, again?

Designed to provide hassle free power.

Built for the road.

Whatever makes your life onboard more comfortable. From charging your laptop to powering a complete mobile kitchen, Victron Energy modular system components allow you to build a complete system, exactly to your specifications and budget. For now, let's assume we're designing a comfortable life on the road, with an onboard microwave (900W) a coffee machine (1000W) laptop charger (80W) and 24V 40W drawer refrigerator.

Daily energy consumption AC

890Wh

Daily energy consumption DC

480Wh

AC peak power requirement

1200W

In this example

The daily energy consumption is calculated by adding up the sum of all consumers X how much time they will be used in a day. Add all the Watts of the simultaneously used consumers to calculate the required peak power.

Obvious choices

System Design

Considerations

Find below some of the main design considerations explained, click on the questions for our engineers' recommendations.

  • 01

    Which inverter (size) is a cost-effective solution?

    Developed for professional duty, the Phoenix range of inverters are a perfect cost-effective solution for systems where shore power charging isn't essential. The Pure Sine Wave technology safely powers sensitive electronics such as computers, the high peak power rating allows high start-up currents from heavy duty tools, so you can power any load, problem free. The wide range of Phoenix inverters consists of many models, making it easy to efficiently match the right inverter to the (peak) power requirements of your system.
    Inverters convert 24V DC power into 230V AC power. Inverters should be sized to handle the average AC load continuously and should match the expected peak power current of the simultaneous AC loads. See all our inverter/chargers

    The professionals' choice

    Phoenix 24/1200 VE.Direct inverter: the expected 900W continuous power need of the microwave is no match for the 1200VA rated continuous power of the inverter, enough to power a laptop and the coffee machine at the same time (the microwave and coffee machine are not to be used at the same time in this case, to save money on bigger models). This model is large enough to compensate the inverters temperature derating at higher (cabin) temperatures in the summer. The trucks electronics are based on 24V, it is recommended to keep the service battery and inverter at 24V too.
    1. With the optional VE.Direct to Bluetooth Smart dongle, the Phoenix VE.Direct inverter can be configured and monitored with the free VictronConnect App.
    2. Systems with a significantly higher daily energy consumption, or that rely on less ‘engine time' may not be able to rely completely on charging by the engines alternator and may therefore require (overnight) shore power charging, especially when using lead-acid service batteries, where a full charge takes more time than using lithium batteries. This is where the Multiplus Inverter/Charger combination can be a better choice.
  • 02

    Can you use the starter battery for AC power or what service battery do you need?

    The daily power profile of this truck cannot be taken from the starter battery without the risk of running it empty, this is why an additional service battery is required. Victron Energy offers multiple options for the service battery, but the main choice is between lead-acid and lithium which mainly depends on the expectations of the performance, cost-per-cycle and physical aspects (size/weight). The choice in battery technology also leads to different consequences for the other system components that are directly attached to (or manage) the batteries.

    In general, use lithium when the daily power demand is extremely intense, when superfast charging is essential or when there are weight or space limitations. Lithium also has a lower cost per cycle. Lead-acid has a lower up-front cost and is perfect for regular, less demanding power profiles and when weight and space are not an issue. The above probably cuts 45 years of battery development know-how a bit short, for more info check our deep dive.

    Victron Energy offers exceptional quality batteries with high performance characteristics that are thoroughly tested. Our datasheets offer a fair picture of the performance and expected life cycles, meaning no investment surprises along the way. Our wide range of batteries
    Choices, choices... Lithium or lead-acid?

    The professionals' choice

    2x 12 Volt Deep Cycle AGM 165Ah. As there are no space or weight restrictions aboard this truck and the loads aren't extremely demanding or used the whole day, day to day, two in series connected 12 Volt Deep Cycle AGM 165Ah batteries can weigh in to power the loads with ease. Lithium would be a better alternative when there are also demanding consumers that are intensely used, but with the higher upfront costs of the battery and the related components, this is not the cheapest option.

    As a rule of thumb for sizing the batteries, we calculate with 2x the daily energy consumption for lead-acid batteries because of their 50% safe discharge capacity and keep roughly 20% in reserve for Lithium batteries. Select the nearest model from our range and round up the amps to be sure.
  • 03

    Safely combining service batteries with (smart) alternators and starter batteries

    Master all the challenges that come your way by combining (smart) alternators, starter and service batteries (lithium or lead-acid) with our wide range of DC-DC chargers, battery combiners or Smart BMS products. Our solutions are specially designed for vehicles and make sure both lead-acid and lithium service batteries can be properly charged, without damaging the smart alternator or the batteries.
    The right solution primarily depends on the combination of your alternator(s) (smart or conventional) and service battery type (lead-acid or lithium), amongst other factors.

    The professionals' choice

    Cyrix-ct 12/24-230. This truck doesn't have a variable voltage (smart) alternator so the Cyrix is a perfect option. This heavy duty relay intelligent battery combiner will prioritize starter battery charging and when it's full, it's relay will allow the 24V service battery to be charged with the charge current that is naturally drawn from the battery bank, up to a max of 230A, which is more than enough. The Cyrix is sized to be larger than the alternators’ maximum output.
    When the truck does have a (variable voltage) smart alternator, a DC-DC charger or in case of Lithium a (Smart) BMS device might be the right option, see datasheets for more info.
  • 04

    Do you need shore power to charge the service battery?

    Although it is unlikely that this particular setup needs shore power, due to the number of daily driving hours of the truck, it's better to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, like being able to charge the starter battery in an emergency.

    The professionals' choice

    Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12/30 (3). A built in Blue Smart IP22 Charger provides a 30 Amps charge current per hour, charging a completely empty battery overnight. The second charge output will also take good care of the starter battery.

Professional challenges?
Ask your local Victron Energy Professional.

The number of options for each component are quite extensive. This is why we train Victron Energy Professionals to perfectly translate your exact needs into robust solutions. They feel a great responsibility to always advise the right solution (even when this may sometimes go against what clients have in mind initially). Everything to keep you satisfied and your investments secure for years to come.
Always feel free to ask your local Victron Energy Professional
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System diagram

for a lead-acid battery based system

How do the system design considerations translate into a robust system?

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AC devices (single phase)

Every ‘household’ appliance or ‘heavy duty tool’ you would expect at home or at work can also be found in independent energy systems. All these devices need an Alternating Current (230V or 110V) to run.

Some of these devices such as computers can be sensitive to the quality of the inverted power (bad shore- or generator AC-input power can influence this quality negatively). Motor driven or heat generating equipment may require a high start-up current. All our inverters produce a pure sine wave, even when the AC input quality is less good, ensuring that sensitive loads can be powered and enjoy a peak-power of generally 2x of the inverters rated capacity to power even the heaviest of loads, or basically any load, problem free.

Examples of AC-devices:

  • Heavy duty tools such as a drilling machine or a jigsaw
  • Computers
  • Phone chargers
  • Fridge and freezer
  • Lights
  • Coffee machine
  • Microwave
  • or basically any AC powered device you can think of.

Alternators

Vehicles and boats are equipped with engine(s) that generate the power to move, but also generate electrical energy through alternators. Alternators generate electrical energy with a direct current (DC) from mechanical energy, which is used to store the energy in the battery bank or power DC-equipment directly.

Small engines usually have small alternators, larger engines usually have larger alternators, sometimes they are even equipped with (extra) high-output alternators to increase the output. Vehicles, especially with Euro 4/5 engines, may come with smart (variable voltage) alternators, controlling the output based on vehicle operating conditions. This renders it unsuccessful at charging a secondary battery system to a usable level. Lithium service batteries may put a heavy load on the engine’s alternator, which probably needs to be protected from overheating or early wear.

Whatever your engine’s alternator, or service battery type, Victron Energy offers a wide range of solutions to safely connect any alternator to any battery bank, without damaging the smart alternator or batteries. Please check our datasheets for more information. Also, check your manufacturer's documentation to see what output your alternator can provide. With Lithium service banks and conventional or smart alternators we recommend to calculate with 50% the alternator output spec, to not overload the alternator.

See all our DC-DC chargers See all our Battery Combiners See all our (Smart) BMS options

Battery Combiners

Battery Combiners are used to safely connect the starter battery and service battery in parallel.
The Battery Combiner will allow the service battery to be charged when the engine is running (at a pre-set voltage). The service battery will be disconnected from the starter battery when the voltage decreases below a float level, preventing it from being drained by loads running off the service battery. Victron Energy offers multiple models and sizes of Battery Combiners, it depends on your type of system which is best to select.

Emergency start: in case of start battery failure, some battery combiners allow the engine to be started from the service battery, see datasheets for more info. Project-Id-Version: Victron Energy website Language: en-gb MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Generator: POEditor.com

As an alternative to using Battery Combiners, other options may include more control and configuration options, especially to protect non-regulated alternators from overheating and Lithium batteries from excessive (dis)charging. For combining lead-acid batteries, DC-DC chargers can be considered. For Lithium service batteries options include DC-DC chargers, special Lithium Battery Combiners (which can be connected to a BMS) or all-in-one Smart BMS products.

See all our Battery Combiners See our DC-DC chargers See our (smart) BMS options

BatteryProtect

The BatteryProtect disconnects the battery from non-essential loads before it is below a pre-set level (a complete discharge would damage the battery) or before it has insufficient power left to crank an engine.

There is more to a Victron Energy BatteryProtect. Built-in shutdown delays ensure vital electronics aren’t disconnected in error, i.e. when starting an engine causes a short drop in voltage. It will also automatically reconnect everything when the battery is sufficiently recharged.
The BatteryProtect has a remote switch, so it can be turned on/off via a BMS or switch. The smart version is programmable via the VictronConnect app.

See our range of BatteryProtect models

VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle

The VE.Direct to Bluetooth Smart dongle allows you to monitor compatible devices through the free VictronConnect app through a local Bluetooth connection, with information such as battery status, solar panel power and more.

The dongle is able to read data from all products with a VE.Direct port, such as the BMV-70x series battery monitors, Phoenix Inverters with VE.Direct port, MPPT Solar Charge Controllers.

Chargers

Battery chargers recharge batteries (DC) when plugged into shore power (AC).
At the same time the Victron Energy battery chargers can also power devices directly.

All Victron Energy battery chargers are developed for professional duty. Our advanced multi step charging algorithms get the best out of your battery, giving the battery the power it needs, maintaining its health, ensuring better performance... and a longer life.

Smart models work with VictronConnect, so you can check the status and configure all settings of your battery charger remotely via Bluetooth. Chargers with different waterproof ratings (IP rating) are also available. Our wide range of models makes it easy to select the right charger, saving you the cost of having to buy a larger one.

See all our chargers

DC Electronics

DC-equipment is designed to work directly with the power coming out of the battery bank (Direct Current). Especially vehicles and boats can have (a lot of) DC equipment on board (such as control panels, lights, navigation equipment, auto pilot, depth sounders, etc).

Some smaller off-grid systems can solely run on DC, with 12V lights, TV’s or fridges. Larger systems may combine AC and DC consumers.

In any case, it is important to protect the battery against excessive discharge, for this Victron offers the ‘BatteryProtect’.

Inverters

Inverters convert DC power from the batteries to AC power, safely powering any kind of appliance or heavy duty tools with 230V (or 110V in other markets).

All Victron Energy inverters are developed for professional duty and enjoy a reputation of extreme resilience, even in the most demanding conditions. The built-in Pure Sine Wave technology safely powers sensitive electronics such as computers, their high peak power rating allows high start-up currents from heavy duty tools, so you can power any load, problem free. Their high efficiency and ultra low self consumption ensure the stored energy can be used to efficiently power the consumers, instead of having to calculate with wide margins to compensate for energy losses.

Larger models can power industrial appliances and virtually unlimited power can be provided by Parallel or 3-phase operation. Other models come with built-in chargers (Inverter/chargers) which can be used when charging from shore- or generator AC sources is essential. Whatever you need, our wide range makes it easy to select the right inverter for your application, saving you the cost of having to buy a larger one.

See all our inverters See all our inverter/chargers

Service Batteries

The service battery stores power for the system's consumers, providing autonomous power especially for moments when input power sources aren’t (fully) available.

Victron Energy offers several battery technologies, all designed for professional performance, reliability and long service life in the most demanding environments. They come with a 2 year worldwide warranty and our datasheets offer a fair picture of the performance and expected life cycles, meaning no investment surprises along the way.

While there are multiple technologies to choose between, the main choice is between lead-acid and lithium which mainly depends on the expectations of the performance, cost-per-cycle and physical aspects (size/weight).

  • Choose Lead-Acid when:
  • Use occasionally
  • Lower purchase cost
  • Weight and space are not an issue
  • Normal charging
  • Choose Lithium when:
  • Use daily
  • Lower cost per cycle
  • Weight and space considerations
  • Fast charging

Shore Power

Shore power is used to recharge the batteries and/or run large AC equipment.
Sometimes shore power is less than perfect. You might run into voltage drops, or there could also be power surges, which could harm sensitive equipment on board. Victron Energy inverters smooth out these problems and turn bad power into perfect power.

Often shore power is limited in how much power you can draw, i.e. just 10 Amps, without any higher rated points available. Victron Energy inverter/chargers allow you to set a maximum shore power current and still turn on higher rated equipment without blowing a fuse: thanks to Victron Energy PowerAssist, power from the batteries is added seamlessly to the AC input, automatically bridging the gap between supply and demand.

Battery Monitors

A battery monitor is like a "fuel gauge" for your battery. It records how much power is consumed and charged. The battery monitor calculates the state of charge, remaining capacity and time till empty. The battery voltage does not give an accurate indication of how full the battery is (especially not under load). A battery monitor does.

Victron Energy battery monitors keep track of historical data, like the number of charging cycles, deepest discharge, highest voltage, lowest voltage and so on. It will alert you to critical conditions such as low voltage or low charge and can even shut down the entire power supply to avoid expensive battery damage, or start a generator.

Victron offers battery monitors with or without display, Smart versions allow you to track the detailed data and adjust settings in our free VictronConnect app. See all our Battery Monitors

Starter Batteries

Starter batteries are needed to start your engine(s). These batteries are engineered to deal with a large discharge current and enjoy a different technology compared to service batteries. To avoid accidental draining of the starter battery, it should always be isolated from the service batteries. Victron Energy offers multiple solutions for different system types.

Victron Energy offers several Battery Combiners. More comprehensive ways to safely connect the starter- and service battery are also available, including connecting a Battery Combiner to a BMS, all-in-one Smart BMS products or DC-DC chargers. These options may offer more control and configuration options, especially to protect non-regulated alternators from overheating and Lithium batteries from excessive (dis)charging.

See all our Battery Combiners See all our DC-DC chargers See all our (Smart) BMS options

VictronConnect

All Victron Energy smart products can be monitored and controlled from the palm of your hand. Just connect the VictronConnect App via Bluetooth and you’ll have direct access to the performance data of your system. You can also easily change settings, turn devices on or off and much more.

Non-smart devices with a VE.Direct port can also become smart, through the use of the VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle

It is also possible to monitor and control your system remotely. VictronConnect-Remote functionality enables Victron products with a VE.Direct interface to be accessed remotely through a GX product, via the VRM online portal. This powerful feature allows full product configuration and monitoring from practically anywhere in the world using the VictronConnect app. The user interface experience is just like the products were connected locally using Bluetooth or a wired VE.Direct to USB interface.

See what the VictronConnect app can do See our GX-devices
System specifications
Here is our recommendation for a truck loaded with onboard comfort, based on a lead-acid service battery.

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Expected power consumers:
DC:
Domestic CoolMatic CD 20: 480W (40W/h for 12 hrs/d.)

AC:
Coffee machine: 500W (1000W/h for 30 mins/d)
Microwave: 75W (900W/h for 12 mins/d)
Laptop charger: 240W (80W/h for 3 hours/d)
Daily energy consumption AC:
890Wh
Daily energy consumption DC:
480Wh
AC peak power requirement:
1200W
Max energy consumption:
1980W
Inverting
Inverter
Phoenix 24/1200 VE.Direct inverter
Works with VictronConnect when VE.Direct Bluetooth module is added.
Storage
Service battery:
2x 12 Volt Deep Cycle AGM 165Ah
Battery protection:
BatteryProtect 100A
Protects the battery from excessive discharge. Works with the free VictronConnect App.
Generation
Charging the service battery via conventional engine alternator (see explanation here)
Non-smart alternator:
130 Amps*
* See manufacturer datasheet
Alternator charging lead-acid:
Cyrix-ct 12/24-230
Shore power charging:
Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12/30 (3)
Works with the free VictronConnect App.
Monitoring
Battery monitor:
SmartShunt battery monitor 500A or
BMV 712
Works with the free VictronConnect App.
Extensions
Dongle:
VE.Direct to Bluetooth Smart dongle
Monitor and configure the Phoenix VE.Direct inverter with this Bluetooth dongle.
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Why Victron Energy?

The right products for the job

As you are always on the road, you’ll want reliable but cost-effective solutions that power you through the years ahead. It’s important that you can select power supplies that match your exact needs and live up to their spec so they won’t let you down. Victron Energy has a wide range of modular connected products that stay true to their promise. They are Powered by know-how, thanks to 45 years of mastering power challenges with innovation.

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Lithium battery

Why Victron Energy?

Always on. Always ready.

Our robust systems have been proven to deliver unequalled reliability time and time again. This is marked by our worldwide market leadership in power supply equipment for Ambulances, this is illustrated by countless stories of 40+ year old Victron Energy inverters still doing what they were built to do.

Ambulance

Why Victron Energy?

Reliability powers long service life cycles

When making power supply investment decisions, calculations purely based on price can be deceptive. Their true performance and expected service life cycle are equally important. Good thing Victron Energy equipment lives up to their specifications, both in terms of performance and expected life cycle (when used as designed). Our 5 year warranty and fair and fast repair policies mean your investments are protected and under most circumstances, won’t let you down.

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Why Victron Energy?

Professional challenges. Accepted.

Whatever powers your vehicles’ electronics, or toolset you are bringing for the job, Victron Energy has one the widest ranges of power supply equipment in the market to power your works of genius. The advantage of working with just one brand that covers it all means having just one contact for upgrades or resolving any rare issues that may occur. Our global network of Victron Energy Professionals are trained with 45 years of problem solving experience. They can translate your challenges into robust solutions that will keep you satisfied and your investments secure for years to come.

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Why Victron Energy?

Professional Vehicles
powered by know-how

See how we solve typical automotive challenges
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Smart BMS CL 12/100

Safely combine any alternator to Smart Lithium batteries.

See a variety of popular vehicle system diagrams
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In-depth comparison

An expert's view: lithium or AGM batteries

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So you can start or continue your journey, wherever you're headed.