New Victron Smart BuckBoost 50A Dc-Dc Charger - First Impressions

In this video, we're giving our first impressions of the new Victron Smart BuckBoost DC-DC Charger. This is going to be an excellent addition to the Victron lineup! We're pumped to get our hands on this DC to DC charger!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS -

- CONNECT WITH NIGEL - 

- CONNECT WITH ROGER - 

- GEAR -
** Some of the links on this page contain affiliate links that generate a small commission for us if you click them.

- MUSIC -
Musicbed SyncID: MB01PFOPBHKGSIY 

#offgridpower #vanlife #solarpower

[djsmiley]

For anyone interested in this one, it recently has been renamed to Orion XS.
It also will support DVCC in future firmware updates.

[bonezed]

If you're running a sizeable offgrid system, then it's usually best to go with 48V. In which case the Safiery Scotty is a great option, plus it can push 1500w

[JeepTJay]

You know you’re a Victron fan when you have a color matched cutting mat 😂 Great video. I’m converting the isolator charged AGM battery bank in my Jeep to DCDC charged lithium in the near future and when I do this is the unit I’m going with.

[junkerzn]

One comment I would make on charging. Generally speaking there is no need to stress the battery or the BMS. Most individual LFP batteries will have 100A BMS's which means in order to not stress things you want to limit charging to 50A or less. And, if you can swing it, stick to 0.25C (25A for a 100Ah battery). But there are three other things that have to be taken into account.

The first is, of course, if you parallel multiple batteries you can increase the amperage and still only be pushing 0.25C or 0.5C into each battery. If you have 4 x 100Ah batteries in parallel, then charging at 100A is only 0.25C going into each battery.

The second is also related to paralleling batteries. Because the batteries have BMSs and can disconnect, the absolute maximum charge rate for the whole bank should generally not exceed the absolute maximum continuous charge rate for a single battery. And this is typically 100A.

And the third relates to safety and wire sizes. There is a big difference between 25A and 100A, or between 100A and 200A, when it comes to sizing wires, so to simplify matters people go with higher voltages and lower amperages, smaller breakers, and smaller wires. e.g. with a 51.2V battery bank, 4000W is only 78A which 2 AWG cable can handle with ease.

[tiborchren]

I would like if Victron would make a Smart BuckBoost 12/48 Dc-Dc charger where it can charge a 48V battery from a smaller lighter portable 12V battery that it can solar charge in a different location than the main 48V solar system.

[giovanniterenghi]

planing to change my 30A Votronic DC-DC charger. Would be correct to connect D+ signal to remote H-pin? thank you

[silviuflorescu]

What would be the differences between the old 50A buck boost and this new one? Apart from the higher price of the old one...

I ordered an old one and need to know if I keep it or return it and wait for the new one (12-24).

[jimmiller]

Good information and I have a question . Can this be used with a traditional 140 amp alternator ( non intelligent ) ?

[johnkeyworth]

Very interesting roger, I'm looking at putting in victron 12-12-18 or the 30 supplying 2x120ah lead acid batteries but you say you wouldn't do that with lead acid builds . What would be the reason? Lithium is a future goal just not yet.

[junkerzn]

Oh nice. But only 12V 😞I was hoping for a buck-boost that could do 12-24/12-24, or 12-48/12-48. The efficiency is good anyway... 98.5%, but note that will ONLY be for the "buck" part of the circuit. If it has to boost, efficiency will not be even remotely close to 98.5%. It will be more like 94%.

One problem is that the unit isn't isolated. It would be nice if it were (efficiency would suffer a bit, but still...).

The weight difference is probably related to how the unit dissipates heat. Most of Victron's gear in the 30A and lower category are passively cooled and are half-potted with the rest of the space taken up by salt or some other crystalized mineral.... which is heavy. The actual electronics are light. It sounds like this new unit has gone a different route for heat dissipation.

[LancashireProClean]

The Stirling range of buckboost would be a good one to look at 10amp to 200amp same efficiency but will also do reverse charging. Personally if I wanted a 50amp DC-DC I would rather go for one with built in MPPT then you have the option of connecting solar panels into it ( Renogy, Redarc I think votronic as well)

[MJ-omqm]

It will be interesting to test this new model and measure the performance. The current Orion 30A DC-DC are only 87% efficient. Just after few minutes it gets to hot and reduce charge current.
I really dont get why they not adding a fan into the new version. Even if the efficiency are improved it will probably be to hot inside as the case is more compact.
I think the Votronic VCC1212 series will still be nr1 choice, specially the 70A and 90A versions.

[LeisureBit]

Very interesting Roger, quite fancy one of these to simplify my setup as it addresses the gaps in the current Orion and hopefully will work well with Cerbo GX (may need update to that perhaps)
All the best, David 👍

[thomasdesloovere]

I hope they make a smaller version (also bit cheaper) because i don't have the need for 50amp, i know 50amps is nice for those that are capable of using it.

[welshnutterz]

I hope they get the pricing right, there's talk of it being double the price the the older 30a model

[sykassiopeia]

Would be nice to have 2/3 more Power but the 30A BB gets really hot if you crank it up to Max for longer time....
Mine heats up to more than 80 °C and starts to smell "funny". So I have to add a manually Switches blower!
We will see...

[goingmouch]

Do they have a isolated one as well? Thanks

[DavidPritt-xhqq]

Interesting bit of kit.
I agree with @tiborchren that it would be nice to have a range of these as my requirement would be for a 12v to 24v BuckBoost, and as I am a marine user the IP65 is a requirement.
My existing Stirling device will need replacing next year, and the Stirling version is not as efficient as the Victron device, and is eye wateringly more expensive.

[bencole]

Im only getting 20A from my 30 dcdc
Maybe I'll get 30A from a 50

[robertdillon]

I believe the higher, the charge rate the more you decrease the life of the battery