Victron Energy Smart IP43 Charger 48/13 Single Output, 120-240V Input, 48V Battery Charger and DC Power Supply, 13A Charge Current

The Victron Smart IP43 48/13 charger is a battery charger built for 48V off-grid, marine, or grid-connected alternative energy systems using flooded lead-acid, AGM, Gel, or LiFePO4 batteries. It accepts 85-250Vac at 45-65Hz but the input should be at least 100Vac to get the full power output. It also accepts DC input from 90-375Vdc, so it can operate from solar power or non-standard sources like generators with DC output.

Choose the Victron Smart IP43 48V charger to charge your boat, cabin, RV, or residential batteries from AC or DC power. 

Multiple Power Input Options in Victron’s Smart IP43 48V Charger

The Victron IP43 48/13 charger receives both AC and DC power. This makes it ideal for connection to the grid, an inverter, or a generator for backup battery charging in a residential home, or for use in a completely off-grid mobile or stationary alternative energy system.

Adjustable 48V LiFePO4 Battery Charger Modes

The Victron IP43 48/13 charger runs a six-stage adaptive algorithm with bulk, absorption, recondition, float, storage, and repeated absorption. You can set the charger to use normal, high, or Li-ion charge modes. Normal mode uses 57.6V for absorption, 55.2V for float, and 52.8V for storage. High mode raises absorption to 58.8V, and Li-ion mode sets absorption to 56.8V, storage to 54V, and disables float. 

Optimize 48V Battery Life Through Intuitive Charging

To prevent battery degradation caused by overcharging or undercharging, the Victron 48V 13A battery charger times the bulk charge stage and uses this information to estimate the battery DOD (Depth of Discharge). When the charger identifies that the battery has only been slightly discharged, it shortens the absorption time to as little as 30 minutes, and when it sees that the battery has been deeply discharged, it extends the absorption stage up to 8 hours. 

Charge Fully Depleted 48V LiFePO4 Batteries

Victron’s Smart IP43 can identify connected batteries even when they are deeply depleted or at 0V. These batteries often trigger under voltage protection, but the Smart IP43 can reset this protection to begin charging at a very low current. The low current charges the battery slowly, but once the battery voltage rises, the charger delivers a higher current to charge the batteries faster.

Small Power Demand for Versatile Charging

The Smart IP43 Charger outputs up to 13A, and needs only 0.8kW to function. This low power demand makes it possible to charge batteries even with a small generator. With a slightly larger generator, you could run a few loads while simultaneously charging your batteries. You can also use it early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sun is not high enough to generate power on the solar panels. 

Low current mode reduces output to 6.5A, and the VictronConnect app lets you set the current limit as low as 3.25A (25% of maximum). These options make it possible to charge low or high capacity batteries without causing the battery to degrade or overheat. Remember to check your battery specifications to select the correct charge current for your system.

Temperature Compensation for Lead-Acid Charging

For lead-acid batteries, the Smart IP43 charger adjusts charge voltage based on ambient temperature. An added battery monitor like the SmartShunt or BMV-712 can provide more accurate battery temperature readings for improved compensation. By adjusting the charge current based on temperature, this feature enables optimal charge voltage regardless of the environment. Since temperature does not affect LiFePO4 charging, the charger disables this feature during Li-ion charge mode.

VE.Smart Networking Wirelessly Connects Multiple Devices 

VE.Smart Networking links compatible Victron devices over Bluetooth. A battery monitor on the network, like the SmartShunt, provides accurate battery voltage, charge current, and battery temperature. When you connect multiple chargers to the same bank, they automatically synchronize their charge states and assign a primary charger. It’s not possible to manually assign the primary charger, but if the primary charger disconnects for any reason, the system automatically assigns a different charger to the primary position. 

Devices compatible with VE.Smart Networking include other Smart IP43 chargers, Blue Smart IP22 chargers, and SmartSolar MPPT charge controllers. You can connect up to 10 of these devices participating in a single VE.Smart Network.

Voltage Drop Compensation in the Victron Smart IP43 48V Charger

Voltage sense monitors the battery voltage at or near the battery terminals to identify a voltage drop between the charger and the battery. If the Smart IP43 identifies a voltage drop, it can automatically increase the voltage output to deliver the needed voltage to the battery. While voltage sense can compensate for voltage drop, it’s important to always use properly rated cables in your energy system and never rely on voltage sense to compensate for underrated components.

Installation and Connectivity

To install the Smart IP43 Charger, mount it vertically with the integrated mounting bracket and the terminals facing down. The charger incorporates fanless cooling, and it should be placed in a well ventilated area or with a cooling fan. The charger needs at least 4 inches on all sides. Keep it away from all flammable or explosive materials or gasses, and never install it connected to or directly above a battery. 

Power DC Appliances Without a Battery

The Smart IP43 charger includes a power supply mode. This mode allows the charger to output a constant DC voltage to directly power connected devices without a battery. The voltage and maximum current can be configured in the VictronConnect app.

Remote Access Through VictronConnect

Victron provides the VictronConnect app for remote access through both iOS and Android devices. VictronConnect provides remote access to the Smart IP43 charger for monitoring, configuration, and firmware updates. All access to the device happens through the IP43’s integrated Bluetooth signal. 

The VictronConnect app shows real time information like output voltage, output current, charge stage, alarms, and historical data for the last 40 charge cycles. To set up the Smart IP43, you’ll use the PIN printed on the side of the charger, but you can change this PIN once connected. Security features include the option to lock the charger’s mode button and the ability to disable Bluetooth if needed.