Plug-in hybrid-electric drive ... for your boat!
Components / DC-DC converter Print version
Victron Centaur 12V-60 A battery charger
Layout diagram (above)
BatterySelect DIP switches (below)
The E motion system includes a DC-DC converter, or cross-charger. It reduces 144 VDC power from the E motion main battery pack to 12 volt or 24 volt DC output for recharging house-power batteries.

The DC-DC converter, made by Victron Energy of Alemere, The Netherlands, is an extension of the company's Centaur line of battery chargers. It accepts DC input ranging from 90 volts to 400 volts.

That range more than covers the voltage of our 144 VDC battery pack and the extra high voltage that can be produced by a 12 panel solar photovoltaic array such as the one on our Lagoon 47 test boat. Under minimal load, individual solar panels can produce up to 20 volts each on a sunny day, totalling potentially 240 volts overall. (See test result story.)

And of course, since it started life as a battery charger, the DC-DC converter also accepts AC input, from 90 volts to 265 volts at 50 or 60 Hz. This AC-DC capability allows owners of the E motion system to charge the house 12 volt batteries not only from the main 144 VDC battery pack and a high voltage solar array but also from shore power.

On the output side, the DC-DC converter can charge three separate, isolated lower-voltage battery banks simultaneously. Each output can carry full rated current.

There are three consecutive charging regimes: bulk, absorption and float. The unit charges at bulk rate until output has dropped to 70% of rated amps, then switches to a constant-level absorption mode for four hours, followed by a low-level float rate.

The DC-DC converter comes in 12 volt and 24 volt output models. Current output for the 12 volt models ranges from 20 to 200 amps, and for the 24 volt models from 16 to 100 amps.

The DC-DC converter charges all standard marine battery types, selectable by DIP switches (left).

The unit is easily installed with top and bottom brackets (right). A separate Z-section mounting plate is fastened to the wall and the upper bracket hung from it. The lower bracket is then screwed directly to the wall from the front.


DC-DC converter accepts a wide range of AC
and DC inputs with three separate outputs.
Charge profile for 12 V, 100 A model
Dimensional drawing (in mm)
showing mounting brackets
12 V Models
Model
 12 V, 20 A 12V, 30 A 12V, 40A 12V, 50 A 12V, 60A 12V, 80A 12V, 100A 12V, 200A
Charge Current (A)
 20 30 40 50 60 80 100 200
Recommended Battery Capacity (A-h)
 80-200 120-300 160-400 200-250 240-600 320-800 400-1000 800-2000
Weight lbs
 8.4 8.4 11 11 11 26 26 35
Weight kg
 3,8 3,8 5 5 5 12 12 16
Dimensions - LxWxD inches
14.0x8.5x4.3 14.0x8.5x4.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x9.1
Dimensions - LxWxD millimeters
 355x215x110 355x215x110 426x239x135 426x239x135 426x239x135 505x255x130 505x255x130 505x255x230
Battery connection studs
 M6 M6 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8
24 V Models
Model
 24V, 16 A 24V, 30A 24V, 40A 24V, 60A 24V, 80A 24V, 100A
Charge Current (A)
 16 30 40 60 80 100
Recommended Battery Capacity (A-h)
 45-150 120-300 160-400 240-600 320-800 400-1000
Weight lbs
 8.4 11 26 26 35 35
Weight kg
 3,8 5 12 12 16 16
Dimensions - LxWxD inches
14.0x8.5x4.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x9.1 19.9x10.0x9.1
Dimensions - LxWxD millimeters
 355x215x110 426x239x135 505x255x130 505x255x130 505x255x230 505x255x230
Battery connection studs
 M6 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8
Electric Marine Propulsion
Ft. Myers Beach, FL
phone 239.463.1824 fax 239.463.1485