Sizing an Enerdrive 12V System
Enerdrive build a complete 12V ecosystem rather than single products, so most builds come down to four decisions: the battery, how it charges from the vehicle, how it charges from solar, and whether you need 240V. Here is how the range splits.
B-TEC Lithium: ULTRA or SLIM?
This is the decision that catches people, because the two ranges look similar on a spec sheet and are not.
- B-TEC ULTRA - IP67 rated, 6000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge, mounting tray and straps included. Available 100Ah, 120Ah, 200Ah, 300Ah and 460Ah.
- B-TEC SLIM - IP52 rated, 2500 cycles, integrated mounting flanges, a narrower case for tight spaces. Available 200Ah, 300Ah and 400Ah.
The Ultra gives you more than double the cycle life and a sealed case rated to survive dust and immersion. The Slim exists because sometimes the space decides for you. If the battery is going in a canopy, under a tray or anywhere it can get wet or dusty, the Ultra is the one to choose.
Charging from the vehicle - DC-DC
A DC-DC charger takes power from your alternator and brings your auxiliary battery to a full state of charge, which a direct connection cannot do. The Enerdrive units take solar in as well, so one box handles both inputs.
- EN3DC40+ - 40A, suits most single-battery touring builds.
- EN3DC100 - 100A from the alternator plus 80A from solar, 1400W maximum output, remote LCD display included. Enerdrive recommend it for 500Ah of lead acid or over 200Ah of lithium, and it needs a high-output alternator of 180A or more.
Do not oversize this one. A 100A charger into a small bank is charging capacity you have paid for and cannot use, and pulling 100A through an alternator that cannot supply it will shorten the alternator's life.
Charging from solar - MPPT controllers
MPPT tracking pulls meaningfully more out of a panel than a basic PWM regulator, particularly in changing light and partial shade. Both Enerdrive controllers carry an on-unit LCD, so you can read the system without reaching for a phone.
- EN43520 - 20A, up to 300W of panels at 12V or 600W at 24V.
- EN43540 - 40A, up to 600W at 12V or 1200W at 24V.
Both accept a maximum panel open-circuit voltage of 92V at 25 degrees C, rising to 100V at minimum operating temperature. Size your string against the cold figure, not the warm one - panel voltage climbs as panels get cold, and that is exactly when an oversized array can overshoot the controller.
One install note most retailers leave out: the 12V and 24V auto-select does not operate when a lithium battery is connected. On a lithium system the battery voltage has to be set manually. It is a footnote in Enerdrive's own specification and it is the difference between a system that works first go and a callback.
240V and mains charging
The ePOWER pure sine inverters run from 1000W to 2600W for running mains appliances off the battery bank, and the ePOWER AC chargers (20A and 40A) top the bank up from shore power or a generator when you are parked up with access to 240V.
Circuit protection and connectors
The part of a build that gets skipped and causes the most problems. We stock the Enerdrive fuse blocks, surface-mount resettable circuit breakers in 40A and 80A, panel-mount Anderson plug holders, DC sockets, dual USB outlets and MC4 solar connectors. Fuses protect the cable, not the appliance, so they belong close to the battery and sized to the cable you have actually run.
Warranty and support
Every Enerdrive product carries a 5 year warranty and lifetime Australian technical support. Enerdrive is now part of Dometic, and the hardware is badged accordingly, but the range, the support line and the warranty are unchanged.
Enerdrive recommend that 12V electrical work is carried out by a qualified auto electrician. If you want a hand matching a battery, charger and controller before you order, call us on 07 5211 0841.
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