Extending My Victron Battery Charger Cable.

[snoop6060]

Is there any reason why i cannot extend the cable between my victron smart battery charger and battery with some artic flex? I want to move it from under the seat to the back where the consumer unit is. There is a run of artic flex back to the battery so was planning to just chop the cable on the charger and run it back to the battery with this cable.
Cheers
Si

 

[travelvolts]

It depends on which charger you have and what the total length of cable will be needed. I would suggest that even for the 7 amp version on a run like that you should use at least 4 mm cable. You could use all three cores of the flex for the + and ground the negative at the back locally. This should give you adequate capacity without losses.

 

[snoop6060]

I've got the 15amp version I think. Total length is essentially the length of the rear of a t6, 2.5m?

 

[travelvolts]

OK, I would advise 6 mm cable on a 15 amp charger over that distance. Again, you can just do the + and earth local to the charger.

 

[snoop6060]

Thanks. I assume it's safe to earth it to the earth bar within the consumer unit itself? That would be nice and tidy (and easy). Fairly sure there is a spare screw.

 

[travelvolts]

No, use the VW earthing point at the back by the rear lights. Never mix 12 volts and 230 volts on the same bus.

 

[snoop6060]

Okey dokey, makes sense though I need to have a think as I earthed the consumer unit to the spare earth point behind the rear light.

 

[travelvolts]

That will be OK. It's just internal buses that shouldn't mix voltages.

 

[snoop6060]

Actually out of interest is strict isolation of the 12v/240v circuits a requirement? Because thinking about it where I earthed the consumer unit I also attached the -ve to one of my rear 12v circuits. That is the only point that 12v/240v meet (except the charger). I assume this is safe on what you have put above but just want to confirm as I think I can probably change that if it's advisable. Thanks for your help as always anyway.

 

[travelvolts]

No problem with that.