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External Battery Charger

Basil48192Basil48192 Member Posts: 381
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
I'm sure this has been covered, but I haven't been able to find the specific information.
I am installing two, new lithium 12v batteries, in parallel, into my 2021 T@B 320S.  

Due to all of the issues I've seen on this forum, I am not changing out my converter.  My plan is to let the old converter charge the batteries to around 85% (or whatever it ends up being), then letting my solar panels charge them up to 100%.  I realize I need to change my solar controller settings.

Lastly, in the event we have little sun, I purchased a Victron external battery charger.  Because I shouldn't need it very often, my plan was to simply connect to my installed batteries with alligator clips and then remove them when complete.

My main question:  Will turning off my factory battery disconnect switch be sufficient to isolate the T@B while charging with the Victron?  I know there are a few items that are powered outside of the switch.

Thank you in advance!
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Comments

  • elbolilloelbolillo Member Posts: 495
    Turning the battery disconnect off will isolate it from the Tab. I had a Victron external charger that I connected to the battery using the supplied M8 eyelet cable. That way the cable was always connected and I just had to connect the charger to it. I never turned off the disconnect.
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (29,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
    2025 - 1 Trip - 25 nights - 2 National Parks
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  • Basil48192Basil48192 Member Posts: 381
    @elbolillo.  Thank you!  I am planning on doing exactly the same thing.  So, you didn't turn the disconnect off, even when you were charging?

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  • elbolilloelbolillo Member Posts: 495
    Basil48192 said:
    @elbolillo.  Thank you!  I am planning on doing exactly the same thing.  So, you didn't turn the disconnect off, even when you were charging?

    No. I didn’t see any reason to do so. I didn’t turn off the disconnect when charging via solar. And I didn’t use the WFCO converter to charge either.
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (29,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
    2025 - 1 Trip - 25 nights - 2 National Parks
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  • HoriganHorigan Member Posts: 726
    You can permanently install the Li charger in parallel to the non-Li WFCO and Li solar chargers.  That's what I did and have had no issues. 
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2013 Toyota Highlander 3.5L V6
    Bellingham WA
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