Using Bluetti Charger 1 to charge lithium trailer battery while towing

bjn2 · April 1

I recently bought and installed a Bluetti Charger 1 in our tow vehicle. It's a DC-to-DC charger that can fast charge portable power stations. But unlike most DC-DC devices, it uses an app to control the output voltage. This gives the Charge 1 flexibility, and I just tested it at 24 volts plugged into the tub solar port I added to our 320s BD. Charging from the TV comes in at about 225 watts to our 100AH LiFePo4 battery. So now if we don't have decent sun exposure we have a new charging option.

I installed a second Victron 75/15 MPPT solar controller in our trailer that has a connector I installe at the side of our front tub. This port lets me hook up suitcase solar panels via an extension cable that can let us park in shade if the portable panels can reach the sun. Having an external solar port gave me the idea to use it with the Charger 1 while towing.

Below shows the 10 AWG cable I made for tow charging plugged into the new Anderson connector port at the side of our front tub. I got rid of the Zamp solar port I initially installed, which isn't marked for positive and negative. The Anderson connectors are red and black. SAE connectors like Zamp's are a lousy design compared to Anderson Powerpole. This is the solar port shown in the photo below: https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-panel-mount-powerpole-black-single?srsltid=AfmBOopQ7WbVkIR0jWh4y3cjIwgsTj9IlIyh2THzgmUjQhdjxQFxz5ZWj-c&gQT=3

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/pd/1g5avucox3bv.jpg

Bluetti has been selling the Charger 1 as a kit with installation wire. In the photo below, you can see the heavy 6 ga. wire that comes from the vehicle's battery. I used the gray Anderson SB50 connectors to let me disconnect the charger when it's not in use (big connectors on the right). Bluetti provides a short cable with MC4 solar connectors. I have a cable that runs from these to connect our Bluetti AC180 power station. It should be able to charge at the charger's maximum 56 volts, however I had to dial back the voltage a bit and get a little over 500 watts when charging the AC180. Having a power station is very useful for many different activities.

To charge the trailer's battery via the second solar port I installed, I manually set the Charger 1 to 24 volts (matching the Victron's maximum input voltage), which gives me about 220 watts when charging from the vehicle. Below you can see the Charger 1 and the cable connections.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/nx/rgyqskhezpho.jpg

The installation cable from Bluetti isn't very long, and Bluetti provides a house-type breaker on the end of the cable nearest the Charger 1. It's safer to have your power protection as close to the battery as possible in case there's a short along the power run, so I didn't use the Bluetti breaker and instead installed a weather resistant 60A breaker near the battery. This is the breaker I used: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BWM7YH9?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

I used a pair of terminal block adapters to provide solid connection points for the 6 awg wire. Look up, "Recoil BTO Solid Brass Positive Negative Battery Terminals with Adaptor Collars". The wire from Bluetti isn't very long, and I had to cross the width of the vehicle to get to the mounting spot I had picked out. The wire was just long enough to reach, and my SUV isn't a big one. Be sure to plan your installation and get measurements before you start wiring. I had to invest in wire end crimpers and a bunch of cable ends and specialty tools. It may have been no more expensive to have someone who does high power stereo intallations do the installtion, so DIY only if you enjoy it. Note that the smaller gauge wires in the foreground go to a connector for my Noco battery minder. The alternator is standard equipment and the Charger 1 has car battery protection built in.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/hm/do3w8l2rj798.jpg

Grumpy_G · April 1

SAE connectors like Zamp's are a lousy design compared to Anderson Powerpole

Amen to that ! The engineer in me recoils looking at these things.

Question though: The setup seems overly complicated. Why not set the Bluetti DC-DC converter to 14.4V (typical LiFePo charging voltage) and connect it directly to the trailer battery ? That would have eliminated the additional MPPT solar controller.

TourDeForth · April 1

Is the plan to use the Bluetti Charger 1 with a 24v input to the spare Victron MPPT 75/15 as a pseudo generator to top off your trailer batteries?

rcarlson1957 · May 21

bjn2 I'm looking to get the Charger 1 for to keep my Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station charged while I'm driving. I use the power station to keep my ICECO GO 12v Frig/Freezer running when traveling (I keep it in the back of my Ridgeline under the tonneau cover). I thought the Charger 1 was just for charge Bluetti's portable power stations. I didn't realize you could use it to charge your camper battery. Has it worked out ok for you? Definitely would provide more flexibility. I also installed a Victron Solar Controller in my tub to work with 2 Bluetti Portable Solar Panels I have. So you added another port on the tub just for the connection to the Charger 1 when you want to charge the camper battery?

bjn2 · May 27

@rcarlson1957, I added a second Victron solar controller and port in our trailer to allow us to use portable solar panels in addition to the rooftop panel. We camp a lot in desert spots, so if we have shade, we want to take advantage of that. Using portable panels gives us some flexibility to locate the panels in the sun away from the trailer.

The Charger 1 has manual output voltage setting via the app, so you can use it with a wide range of stations. Since power stations are designed to charge from solar within a specified voltage range, you basically just need the correct connector adapter/cable and set the voltage to match what your device can handle. With that flexibility, I've tested the Charger 1 with my smaller Oupes 600 station and with the Victron MPPT controlled port on the trailer. Both work and charge rapidly. I found that my Bluetti 180 needed me to set a manual voltage a couple of volts lower than their default, which is 180's maximum charge voltage spec. Not sure if that's a hardware issue, firmware, or perhaps an advanced setting issue, but I was happy to find that setting a little lower voltage fixed the 180 shutting down charging using the preset for my power station.

I really dislike the SAE type solar port and connectors and I updated the port using with this one using Andersen connectors. Powerwerx PanelPole1, Panel Mount Housing for a Single Powerpole Connector with a Weather Tight Cover | Powerwerx

rcarlson1957 · May 31

bjn2 Got my Charger 1 in. Going to tackle the install in my Honda Ridgeline soon. Right now I'll just be using it to power my Bluetti power station that powers my frig in the bed of my truck. I have a 3 way frig in my T@B. But I may look at using for dual duty down the road.

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Using Bluetti Charger 1 to charge lithium trailer battery while towing

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