Installing a DC-DC Converter (aka alternator charger or DC-DC Charger)

KurtW

KurtW

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Oct 9, 2024
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Landcruiser LC
I will be doing some road trips and bringing along a couple of portable power stations. The LC's inverter is not a pure sine waver inverter (damn you Toyota for going cheap!). While I know a number of YouTubers (and at least one post on the forum) have demonstrated that portable power stations will charge off of the inverter, I am concerned about long-term damage to the charging circuit. Therefore I am considering putting in either a Victron or Bluetti Charger 1 DC-DC converter to recharge the power stations.

I'd appreciate any thoughts and insights folks have around installing a DC-DC converter in a hybrid vehicle and if anyone has more experience using the inverter to charge electronics and portable power stations.

Thanks!
-Kurt
 
Im curious as to how dirty the inverter is, have you viewed the "sinewave" from built-in inverter with a scope?
Do you know if the built- in inverter is powered from traction battery or 12v?
Any reason not to connect a pure sinewave inverter to the 12v battery?
 
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I haven't purchased it yet, but I plan on getting an EcoFlow alternator charger (DC-DC). I like their products so far and just keeping it in the family.
 
MSINAL said:
Im curious as to how dirty the inverter is, have you viewed the "sinewave" from built-in inverter with a scope?
Do you know if the built- in inverter is powered from traction battery or 12v?
Any reason not to connect a pure sinewave inverter to the 12v battery?
Click to expand...
Good Morning,

No I haven't looked at the output waveform - I don't have a device to do so yet. That may be an AliExpress purchase.

As for buying and installing another inverter - I could do it however for about the same cost I could install a DC-DC converter.
 
EOD Guy said:
I haven't purchased it yet, but I plan on getting an EcoFlow alternator charger (DC-DC). I like their products so far and just keeping it in the family.
Click to expand...
I also like Ecoflow's products and have a couple. However I also have products from Oupes; until Ecoflow decides to produce an adapter their converter only interfaces with Ecoflow products.
 
EOD Guy said:
I haven't purchased it yet, but I plan on getting an EcoFlow alternator charger (DC-DC). I like their products so far and just keeping it in the family.
Click to expand...
Hmm that thing is tempting… does reverse charging basically serve as a way to jump start the car?

Does it turn on automatically with the car (ergo, I don’t need to press the inverter button?)

Do you reckon the LC inverter would actually damage a power station? I’ve been using the 120v outlet with great success and am hesitant to drop the money for the alternator
 
jenos96 said:
Hmm that thing is tempting… does reverse charging basically serve as a way to jump start the car?

Does it turn on automatically with the car (ergo, I don’t need to press the inverter button?)

Do you reckon the LC inverter would actually damage a power station? I’ve been using the 120v outlet with great success and am hesitant to drop the money for the alternator
Click to expand...
I've had no issue using the 2400 inverter charging the pwr bank. I was thinking for a long trip I could get a couple of Li batteries (smaller footprint) and use the Alt charger to repower the battery bank just to conserve fuel in the LC
 
KurtW said:
I will be doing some road trips and bringing along a couple of portable power stations. The LC's inverter is not a pure sine waver inverter (damn you Toyota for going cheap!). While I know a number of YouTubers (and at least one post on the forum) have demonstrated that portable power stations will charge off of the inverter, I am concerned about long-term damage to the charging circuit. Therefore I am considering putting in either a Victron or Bluetti Charger 1 DC-DC converter to recharge the power stations.

I'd appreciate any thoughts and insights folks have around installing a DC-DC converter in a hybrid vehicle and if anyone has more experience using the inverter to charge electronics and portable power stations.

Thanks!
-Kurt
Click to expand...
They are all square wave inverters in this size and price class. Its the batteries you need to be concerned about not the power electronics.
Don't have my Cruiser yet, very close, will take a look at the inverter when i get the SoccerMom mobile.
Power electronics don't get hot and possibly melt or go bang when they fail batteries do. We must be kind to batteries.
🐪 🐪 🐪

 
Since the AC is rectified into DC I am not worried about the LiFePo4 batteries, rather the electronics that convert the AC to DC. Every power station manufacturer will tell you not to plug it into a modified sine wave inverter because the modified sine wave may damage the electronics. I've got a similar Fniri unit arriving Sunday and will be checking out the inverter waveform and noise. I'd rather spend a little money on a DC to DC charger than risk destroying expensive portable power stations.
 
jenos96 said:
Hmm that thing is tempting… does reverse charging basically serve as a way to jump start the car?

Does it turn on automatically with the car (ergo, I don’t need to press the inverter button?)

Do you reckon the LC inverter would actually damage a power station? I’ve been using the 120v outlet with great success and am hesitant to drop the money for the alternator
Click to expand...
The Ecoflow, Bluetti, Pecron and others can be set to turn on when they sense an incoming voltage above a certain level; i.e. once the alternator is providing voltage. The car's battery will supply voltage at a max of about 12.8 volts. The alternator, if it is working correctly, will supply at least 13 volts.

Fort the LC there is no alternator. The standard battery is just used to power the electronics and "wake up" the hybrid battery. The hybrid battery starts the engine.
 
KurtW said:
The Ecoflow, Bluetti, Pecron and others can be set to turn on when they sense an incoming voltage above a certain level; i.e. once the alternator is providing voltage. The car's battery will supply voltage at a max of about 12.8 volts. The alternator, if it is working correctly, will supply at least 13 volts.

Fort the LC there is no alternator. The standard battery is just used to power the electronics and "wake up" the hybrid battery. The hybrid battery starts the engine.
Click to expand...
The EcoFlow alternator charger, has nothing to do with an alternator...... it's just what they named it. It's purely a DC to DC charger that allows for solar input.
 
EOD Guy said:
The EcoFlow alternator charger, has nothing to do with an alternator...... it's just what they named it. It's purely a DC to DC charger that allows for solar input.
Click to expand...
Yes EODGuy, I am aware of that :). However since the common term is "alternator charger" I use it here. Technically it isn't a charger, it is a DC-DC converter.
 
KurtW said:
Yes EODGuy, I am aware of that :). However since the common term is "alternator charger" I use it here. Technically it isn't a charger, it is a DC-DC converter.
Click to expand...
No worries, I misinterpreted your post........ “i.e. once the alternator is providing voltage. The car’s battery will sup about 12.8 volts. The alternator, if it’s working correctly, will supply at least 13 volts.”
 
KurtW said:
Good Morning,

No I haven't looked at the output waveform - I don't have a device to do so yet. That may be an AliExpress purchase.

As for buying and installing another inverter - I could do it however for about the same cost I could install a DC-DC converter.
Click to expand...
I have an oscilloscope, maybe I'll do that this weekend.
 
EOD Guy said:
No worries, I misinterpreted your post........ “i.e. once the alternator is providing voltage. The car’s battery will sup about 12.8 volts. The alternator, if it’s working correctly, will supply at least 13 volts.”
Click to expand...
I totally understand and no worries!
 
Are we over thinking this issue? The latest portable power banks are designed to be plugged into standard AC wall outlets in pass through mode or to act as a UPS. How many of those outlets have pure sine wave output?

An alternator charger is certainly nice to have as another and possibly simultaneous power input. However, unless you are permanently charging the power bank through the LC, I wonder if the alternator charger is worth the expense and effort? Is it wise to add another tap off the hybrid system if not absolutely necessary? Also, keep in mind the Ecoflow alternator charger is max 800 watts which is roughly 1/3 the max charging rate of the LC inverter.

Overall, I really like the alternator chargers in general. Just raising questions.
 
PACruiser said:
Are we over thinking this issue? The latest portable power banks are designed to be plugged into standard AC wall outlets in pass through mode or to act as a UPS. How many of those outlets have pure sine wave output?

An alternator charger is certainly nice to have as another and possibly simultaneous power input. However, unless you are permanently charging the power bank through the LC, I wonder if the alternator charger is worth the expense and effort? Is it wise to add another tap off the hybrid system if not absolutely necessary? Also, keep in mind the Ecoflow alternator charger is max 800 watts which is roughly 1/3 the max charging rate of the LC inverter.

Overall, I really like the alternator chargers in general. Just raising questions.
Click to expand...
I plan on using as an alt source for charging from Li batteries, thus saving fuel during long term camping trips. Fuel isn't exactly surplus in the LC.

400 watts of solar, a 230ah Li battery, 2400 watt Inverter and the Alt charger I should be able to endure for a couple of weeks with my Delta 2 Max power bank. Now I just need to pony up for the Alt charger.
 
PACruiser said:
Are we over thinking this issue? The latest portable power banks are designed to be plugged into standard AC wall outlets in pass through mode or to act as a UPS. How many of those outlets have pure sine wave output?
Click to expand...
If you're taking about wall outlets, pretty much all of them? If you're talking about the outlets on the battery stations or a UPS, it varies greatly.
 
KurtW said:
The Ecoflow, Bluetti, Pecron and others can be set to turn on when they sense an incoming voltage above a certain level; i.e. once the alternator is providing voltage. The car's battery will supply voltage at a max of about 12.8 volts. The alternator, if it is working correctly, will supply at least 13 volts.

Fort the LC there is no alternator. The standard battery is just used to power the electronics and "wake up" the hybrid battery. The hybrid battery starts the engine.
Click to expand...
Wake up = close contactor
Energize ECUs.
 
Markarian421 said:
If you're taking about wall outlets, pretty much all of them? If you're talking about the outlets on the battery stations or a UPS, it varies greatly.
Click to expand...
Commercial power a true sine wave.
Cheapy desk/ office type UPS modified or filter enhanced square wave.
 
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