FrazzledHunter
SILVER Star
Got it - it's sometimes pretty dang hard to get things phrased the way you want them. I'm living proof LOL!thanks for the detailed information. Sorry, I wasn't clear, and also used the wrong terminology, my mistake. When I said "bad" battery I meant to say a battery that was very much discharged, like 7V (the default for the undervoltage protection). I also used the term "lock out" wrongly, I meant to say *undervoltage*. "Lock out" is for engine detection I think. Dang, too many parameters... (or good...)
Anyway, what I'm wondering is what happens if the Orion sees an input of zero volts without it being turned off first. That is possibly very different from it going to sleep so to speak (as in output deactivated), because of the lock out threshold or the engine detection threshold while there still being some voltage seen at the input and the Orion keeping an eye on things. More specifically, I'm wondering what would happen if the Orion is in the back with a house battery and connected to a bus that goes to zero volts when the ignition is turned off, and then suddenly sees over 12V again when I start the engine. Any chance that would damage it? The reason I brought up the undervoltage feature is that it seems (a guess) like the unit will actually completely turn off below that threshold (the 7V default) so I'm hoping that if it does that it won't hurt anything at a full zero input either. And if it's fine with zero input, will it reactivate when the voltage goes back up? I'd try it on my bench, but I'd rather not zap a brand new costly unit without a bit of research first.
Unfortunately, I think Victron has now gone more mainstream in that they did not respond to my last technical inquiry besides "contact the distributor". I had been telling folks earlier that they were great at answering questions. Not so much any more maybe, sadly.
Anyway, what I'm wondering is what happens if the Orion sees an input of zero volts without it being turned off first.
I don't think it's an issue. I think it's made to work like that or at least robust enough to not care pretty much no matter what you do.
If the Orion sees an input voltage below it's lock out value it just shuts off its output but stays energized so you can communicate with it. I have literally had it in that state for days as in we pull up to camp, turn off the engine and then the Orion shuts off. I might or might not unplug the Orion (your zero volt scenario) and put my Goal Zero on solar etc... Then we'll start the engine and (perhaps plug in to an energized circuit if I unplugged) to go exploring. Then we Days later I realize I forgot to turn it off. Oops. I hope I'm not slowly cooking my Orion by doing this but it's been fine for 2+ years.
More specifically, I'm wondering what would happen if the Orion is in the back with a house battery and connected to a bus that goes to zero volts when the ignition is turned off, and then suddenly sees over 12V again when I start the engine. Any chance that would damage it?
You're fine. But I'm a bit confused why your input ti the Orion would go to 0 volts with the ignition turned off. The alternator voltage would go to zero but the battery would just slowly discharge past the lockout value, turn off its load and then continue as a small parasitic draw on the battery.
And if it's fine with zero input, will it reactivate when the voltage goes back up? Yes. I've done this. E.g. :
- Engine off, Orion unplugged, car battery V+ is below Orion's restart value.
- Plug in the Orion
- Orion sees voltage
- Orion springs to life, can now communicate via Bluetooth etc...
- No outgoing load as the battery voltage is below lockout.
- Start engine, battery V+ above restart value
- Orion now supplies output charging power device
I would be very surprised if it would hurt the unit however as Victron just had to have thought of this scenario of a low battery.
My guess is is that you can't hurt these things with under voltage.
Good luck!