Routing the Cable to install a EcoFlow 800w Alternator Charger

[Kayleigh]

Can anyone advise what the black connector is for?

 

[Aspire4969]

Heated seats I think. There’s a blue one on the passenger also which I assume is occupancy sensor.

 

[Aspire4969]

I retract that. There’s another multiplug with thicker wires which is likely more for heated seats. So, unsure on this one.

 

[Kayleigh]

Anyone know how to remove the earth stud under the seat?

 

[Feggers]

That’s the key, to set the voltage at 13v. I think the EAC does drain the leisure battery quicker than it is charged though. Although that’s only anecdotal.

It turned out that the fuze had blown on the leisure battery…!!! Changed that and the EAC works like a dream now … just tried it at 400w … not sure how much one can push the alternator though ?

 

[Aspire4969]

Anyone know how to remove the earth stud under the seat?

View attachment 134375

I assume you can’t just put a long reach socket on it and undo?

 

[Kayleigh]

I assume you can’t just put a long reach socket on it and undo?

I think it’s actually welded to the chassis. What looked like the head of a bolt has 8 sides. In the end I have cut it lower and it’s still usable.

 

[jaydisc]

not sure how much one can push the alternator though ?

I've had the AC installed for about 9 months, and I'm constantly observing the behaviour of all related devices. I have my AC set to 13V, so it should never drain the leisure battery when the car isn't running.

Here's what I've gathered:

When the car is running, I find that the alternator's voltage varies between 12.6 at the low end up to 14.7 at the high end, and where it is on that spectrum depends on how depleted the leisure battery is. If the leisure is low (below 80%), the van sends higher alternator voltage… ~14.4V. The AC just uses excess voltage at this time to charge itself, and I don't believe the alternator is working any harder than it normally would.

However, if your leisure battery is >= 80%, the alternator backs off to 13V or lower. If your Delta needs more power at this time, there is the wonderfully helpful Max Charge button in the upper display of the van (on a T6.1), which will set the alternator to max capacity and send out 14.4V, thus charging your Delta and topping up your leisure. If you find that you have to do this frequently, I think your alternator is indeed getting an extra workout, but without using that, I would not expect so.

However, I will add, that regardless of the AC & Delta, if your van has a steady draw on its leisure battery (mine does due to 5G/WiFi hotspot, Raspberry Pi and more…), and you do a bit of driving around town (it's my daily driver), then nearly every time you get in your van, it will have the alternator running at max, initially, to bring the leisure back up to 80%. But, this is not a new problem that the AC/Delta adds. But, if your leisure has no load and doesn't ever drain much, but your Delta does, your van won't know this (it only assess the state of the leisure), and its alternator will only run at a low voltage, not high enough to charge the Delta (w/o either reducing the AC voltage threshold setting or using the Max Charge button).

 

[CaliSou]

This is how I installed it as a test today to the rear hose battery in a Cali Ocean T6.1 2023. You how know this, does it look ok? Everything seems to work fine, charges with 800W at 13.5 V (after update of EF and EAC) and reverse charges as well. I guess it will only charge the rear AGM battery? I wonder if Calis battery management system will get confused?
Yes, and the smalll electronic thing on the -pole connected with a cable to the +pole as well had the marking in the last picture, just as information.
View attachment 131302

View attachment 131303

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Hi all ! I’m new here but would really appreciate some advice.

I have a 2019 T6 coast with two leisure batteries. I have 'solarcampersolutions' kit with 200W Dual panel kit (2 panels 200w) Victron MPPT 220w 75/15 installed last year and working well.

As we are planning a month long trip to France and Spain in May I read through all the info here previously, and purchased a EAC and installed it today in the same way as the post I replied to here. My delta2 lives on the rear pull out drawer in the boot so rear battery connection would have been most practical for me.

But unfortunately it did not work for me. I got the low voltage message as per screenshot.

- I updated the firmware, then tried unbidden and restarted everything.
-I had the tried 11v and different settings on volts setting.
-I checked that the rear battery was fully charged.
-I tried max charge trick to make sure the alternator was outputting high as possible.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

John

 

[Aspire4969]

Have you confirmed you’re definitely getting a voltage on the battery in the boot? With a voltmeter? Double checked fuses?

 

[CaliSou]

I have just checked the fuse that came with the EAC and it’s broken. I am guessing I broke it on tightening it even thought I was being careful not to over tighten it.
Hopefully it will be as simple as that.
Now to try and find somewhere that sells them.
Thanks @Aspire4969 for the quick reply.

 

[Aspire4969]

Think they’re called midi fuses. Amazon have them but can’t find any on Halfords if you’re trying to get one for tomorrow.

 

[Aspire4969]

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/pearl-mega-oto-fuse-bolt-on-green-125-amp-559773011 I think it’s 125 amp from memory?

 

[Aspire4969]

^^^ scrap that. That’s a mega fuse (I can’t edit the post).

 

[Feggers]

I had the same problem … fuze went so I changed mine from 50amp to 75amp and it’s working now … but my bus is a 2009 T5 2.5 TDI

 

[vbk1975]

Can anyone advise what the black connector is for?

View attachment 134347

If it is the Passenger seat, then it is likely to be the Seat Mat used to sense if the passenger seat is occupied. Used for the Airbag System and the Seat Belt Warning.

 

[Kimbo]

I have assumed, maybe incorrectly, that the charger needs needs to connect to the starter battery to draw from alternator, however if the split charge relay provides this, then that’s where I’ll connect, one of the functions of the EcoFlow Delta 2 battery is it can provide a boost charge to the starter battery (if flat) when required if connected, I’ll need to investigate if this feature is still applicable if connected via the relay under the seat, certainly make life a lot easie

Can anyone advise what the black connector is for?

View attachment 134347

Mine is connected to the ambient LED lights mounted in the lower plastic trim panels on the rear of the front seats, they appear to be missing on your panel. Lights come on when the door is opened.

 

[myvanrodney]

I've had the AC installed for about 9 months, and I'm constantly observing the behaviour of all related devices. I have my AC set to 13V, so it should never drain the leisure battery when the car isn't running.

Here's what I've gathered:

When the car is running, I find that the alternator's voltage varies between 12.6 at the low end up to 14.7 at the high end, and where it is on that spectrum depends on how depleted the leisure battery is. If the leisure is low (below 80%), the van sends higher alternator voltage… ~14.4V. The AC just uses excess voltage at this time to charge itself, and I don't believe the alternator is working any harder than it normally would.

However, if your leisure battery is >= 80%, the alternator backs off to 13V or lower. If your Delta needs more power at this time, there is the wonderfully helpful Max Charge button in the upper display of the van (on a T6.1), which will set the alternator to max capacity and send out 14.4V, thus charging your Delta and topping up your leisure. If you find that you have to do this frequently, I think your alternator is indeed getting an extra workout, but without using that, I would not expect so.

However, I will add, that regardless of the AC & Delta, if your van has a steady draw on its leisure battery (mine does due to 5G/WiFi hotspot, Raspberry Pi and more…), and you do a bit of driving around town (it's my daily driver), then nearly every time you get in your van, it will have the alternator running at max, initially, to bring the leisure back up to 80%. But, this is not a new problem that the AC/Delta adds. But, if your leisure has no load and doesn't ever drain much, but your Delta does, your van won't know this (it only assess the state of the leisure), and its alternator will only run at a low voltage, not high enough to charge the Delta (w/o either reducing the AC voltage threshold setting or using the Max Charge button).

Hi, I think you see the same issue I had last year (post 36);

Routing the Cable to install a EcoFlow 800w Alternator Charger

Sorry for the confusion here, I switched off at fuse box at the rear of the van inside the cabinet (Cali Ocean) only, I'm pretty sure that toggle circuit breaker in the rear cabinet only cuts power from the EHU supply. The leisure batteries will still be powering the electronics.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Im reconsidering the EAC, but hesitating because without the 800w charging Im not sure it will fit my needs (off grid, no solar).

Have you managed to overcome the EAC modulating [down] its current draw clashing with the alternator 'modulating' its output current based on leisure battery needs?

 

[myvanrodney]

Okay, it's done! Super happy. Dont know what I was fussing about.

I drilled a discrete hole in the rear battery compartment door. Grometed it and shortened the EAC input cable. EAC and Delta 2 sit nice and snug in the rear left corner of the boot, with the 12v charge cable running to the right hand accessory socket, a 1m extension lead routes the 240v output through the tunnel beside the bench seat to the saloon and the 240v charge lead is plugged in and stored wound up inside the tunnel for 'hooked up' charging.

Simples.

It all just works! yay.