Renogy had a good but not stellar reputation in the past but with their latest models of inverters and now with this DC/DC MPPT charger they did everything right.
I installed this charger to charge the 600 AH LiFePo4 battery bank in my truck camper. The install couldn't be easier, 60 Amp inline fuse from the starter battery, 6 awg welding cable (and neg. to the chassis, in my install), 50 Amp Anderson connectors to connect the charger to the starter battery and another pair of Anderson connectors to connect the charger to the 'house' batteries. This allows me to run power from the house batteries back to the starter batteries, bypassing the charger, in an emergency.
The charger doesn't have a monitor or user changeable parameters other than selecting battery type and input priority but it works exactly as it should. According to my battery monitor the DC output is a full 40 Amp and unlike other chargers it doesn't get that warm. Once a high voltage from the alternator is detected it triggers the charger and begins sending the appropriate amount of electricity to the batteries, in my case 2 300 AH LiFePo4 with 200 Amp BMS. Once the bulk charging stage is completed it continues to monitor the batteries and keeps them topped up using a low charge, if needed. The charger does come with an ignition wire which may be needed for some newer 'smart' alternators but in many setups this can be completely ignored.
Another nice feature is the ability to connect solar panels to the charger when at camp or use the roof solar and alternator charging simultaneously, however, this limits the Amp output to 20 Amp each or it can give priority to solar charging over alternator charging, if selected.
If the alternator is big enough it is possible to install a 2nd unit and double the charging capacity.
Update: I installed this DC?DC charger three weeks ago and made several longer and shorter trips since then, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I also made a cable to charge my 'solar generator' using the 'solar in' port. It is important to follow the install instructions and allow for good airflow around the unit to prevent it from overheating. I am very happy with my purchase and would definitely buy it again.
| Brand | Renogy |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | RENOGY |
| Place of Business | RENOGY |
| Model | 840315228450 |
| Part Number | 840315228450 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Batteries Required | No |
| Does it contain liquid? | No |
| Manufacturer | RENOGY |
| Item model number | 840315228450 |
| Product Dimensions | 19.5 x 4.8 x 14.9 cm; 1.2 kg |
| ASIN | B0DBVKDGZ9 |
