ECOFLOW and Viofo

[GPak]

GPak

I have quick question regarding the power drain durring idle at R3+.
My setup:
1. Viofo A229 Plus (front and rear camera)
2. HK4 Adaptec (USB-C)
3. Cigarette spliter (1 male -> 2 female)
4. USB-C to 15V cable
5. "Dual Power Transfer Switch"

R3+ settings:
6. Car input charge - 6A
7. DC - automatic
8. Port memory ON.
9. Charging limits - 0%-100%
10. Reservation - Disabled
11. Wif enabled
12. Bluetooth enabled

Connections:
- Viofo connect using USB-C (using USB-c->15V cable) -> "Dual Power Transfer Switch" -> HK4 ->Viofo
- Original Car cigarette charging port-> Car cigarette charging splitter (1 male-> 2 female)-> 1-st female-> R3+ connected using stock car XT60i cable

Questions:
Q1: Is it possible to minimize the power drain of R3+? (Wifi disable for example)?
Q2. How to disable Bluetooth at all? Maybe this will be usefull to minimize power drain?

maybe you have some usefull tips 🙂
thanks 🙂

Sysio2000

Your setup and connections are as good as it gets!

All your settings are good, except:
- Disable the “Output Port memory”, it is not needed for the USB-C port and the USB-C to 15V cable, which activates automatically regardless of the “Port memory”.
The “Port memory” is only needed for 12V DC out if you want it to automatically activate.
This 12V DC out port is regulated and consumes noticeable power when turned ON.
-------------------------

I am not sure if the following will noticeably help with self-consumption, and I think most of these are disabled by default:
-Disable “Auto join” for WiFi
-Disable “Power outage reminder”
-Disable “Low battery reminder”
-Minimize “LCD screen timeout”
-Unbind WiFi in app, by “Change WiFi”
--------------------------

The following is a bit risky, I have never done it and I don’t want to try this on my unit. 🙂
- I think that you can completely reset/disable WiFi and Bluetooth by long pressing the power button while power station is off. (After bip, the wifi sign should flash on screen)
But man, without the app, you’ll miss out on so much convenience!
I am not sure, but, may be you can par the Bluetooth ONLY afterward but keep WiFi Off?

Just be careful not to hold the button for too long - around 10 seconds or so, the unit might perform a full factory reset.
I think it is better to read the manual for this. 🙂

 

[sysio2000]

The way you wired is perfectly fine!
That is exactly how I connected my power stations previously.

On charging cables/connectors:
The third pin in XT60I connector is to identify the power source and properly limit the max charging current.
With car charging via CLA the third pin and positive pin are interconnected, limiting the max charging current to up to 8A (to protect CLA circuity).
With Solar charging the third pin and negative pin are interconnected, allowing up to 13A charging.
When using plain two-pin XT60 the Ecoflow defaults to lower up to 8A charging limit for safety.
I have tested this and can confirm it.
Consequently, in my opinion, using a standard XT60 connector in conjunction with a splitter is safe.

ok Thanks for deep explanation what is third pin for 🙂

 

[sysio2000]

Your setup and connections are as good as it gets!

All your settings are good, except:
- Disable the “Output Port memory”, it is not needed for the USB-C port and the USB-C to 15V cable, which activates automatically regardless of the “Port memory”.
The “Port memory” is only needed for 12V DC out if you want it to automatically activate.
This 12V DC out port is regulated and consumes noticeable power when turned ON.
-------------------------

I am not sure if the following will noticeably help with self-consumption, and I think most of these are disabled by default:
-Disable “Auto join” for WiFi
-Disable “Power outage reminder”
-Disable “Low battery reminder”
-Minimize “LCD screen timeout”
-Unbind WiFi in app, by “Change WiFi”
--------------------------

The following is a bit risky, I have never done it and I don’t want to try this on my unit. 🙂
- I think that you can completely reset/disable WiFi and Bluetooth by long pressing the power button while power station is off. (After bip, the wifi sign should flash on screen)
But man, without the app, you’ll miss out on so much convenience!
I am not sure, but, may be you can par the Bluetooth ONLY afterward but keep WiFi Off?

Just be careful not to hold the button for too long - around 10 seconds or so, the unit might perform a full factory reset.
I think it is better to read the manual for this. 🙂

ok. I will try to not use the wifi, because I don't need it.Bluetooth will be enough. Will see the results 🙂
Thanks for tips 🙂

 

[Gumby27]

I'm having an issue with my setup. When power to the battery and ACC is cut (car is turned off), the dashcam loses all power. The light on the UPS switches from red to green but the battery fails to power the dashcam. I've tried with both the 12v car charger and USB C cable but neither works. I've even verified that all the ports have power. I think there may be an issue with my UPS wiring but I am not sure.

 

[GPak]

I'm having an issue with my setup. When power to the battery and ACC is cut (car is turned off), the dashcam loses all power. The light on the UPS switches from red to green but the battery fails to power the dashcam. I've tried with both the 12v car charger and USB C cable but neither works. I've even verified that all the ports have power. I think there may be an issue with my UPS wiring but I am not sure.

From what I see, your UPS wiring looks good to me.
-----------------

- Does your Vantrue (which model?) work with River 3 Plus, switching between normal and parking modes (without using the UPS)?
I have already asked this question previously, but there was no answer - please let us know so we can properly troubleshoot.

In addition:
- Which USB-C cable are you using - the 12V or the 15V version?
- Could you please measure the actual input voltage from the USB-C cable, as well as the output voltage at the UPS terminals (with the ignition switched off and the green light on the UPS illuminated and the Venture connected)?
- What is your low-voltage protection cutoff value on the Vantrue hardwire kit?

 

[Gumby27]

From what I see, your UPS wiring looks good to me.
-----------------

- Does your Vantrue (which model?) work with River 3 Plus, switching between normal and parking modes (without using the UPS)?
I have already asked this question previously, but there was no answer - please let us know so we can properly troubleshoot.

In addition:
- Which USB-C cable are you using - the 12V or the 15V version?
- Could you please measure the actual input voltage from the USB-C cable, as well as the output voltage at the UPS terminals (with the ignition switched off and the green light on the UPS illuminated and the Venture connected)?
- What is your low-voltage protection cutoff value on the Vantrue hardwire kit?

Vantrue N4 Pro S

I used the time-out activation feature for the parking mode previously and that worked. It's a few minutes of no movement before it activates.

I am using the 12v car charging cable that came with the camera, which I was using previously to power it. The USB C end was damaged so I cut it out and am using the rest of the wire.

I don't have a multimeter right now but I'll be able to borrow one later on tomorrow.

The cutoff is set to 12/24v

Edit: Could it be that I need the 15v cable?

 

[GPak]

Vantrue N4 Pro S
I used the time-out activation feature for the parking mode previously and that worked. It's a few minutes of no movement before it activates.
I am using the 12v car charging cable that came with the camera, which I was using previously to power it.

The timeout parking activation is completely different method of entering parking mode.
As you mentioned it is based on no-movement, for certain period of time to activate, it is simple, but considers to be not very reliable.
For this method you do not need ACC signal for parking
And we can integrate the UPS as well if you wish.
==============================================

However, here we are discussing the most reliable method for activating parking mode, based on the ACC signal.

The USB C end was damaged so I cut it out and am using the rest of the wire.

I don't understand: exactly which USB-C cable are you using?
Is it just a regular USB-C cable?
If so, it won't work for our purposes.

I don't have a multimeter right now but I'll be able to borrow one later on tomorrow.

OK, if you are using the wrong USB-C cable, it actually doesn't matter.

The cutoff is set to 12/24v

EDIT: If you are using USB-C to 12V cable, than lower the cutoff setting to 11.6V (I think that is the minimum for Vantrue)

Edit: Could it be that I need the 15v cable?

Yes - you need special USB-C to 15V cable.
Here are a few Amazon links:
- Any of these cables should work
1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0D86T4RMX
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0CY9957Y6
3. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0B9FTJHGV

 

[Gumby27]

The timeout parking activation is completely different method of entering parking mode.
As you mentioned it is based on no-movement, for certain period of time to activate, it is simple, but considers to be not very reliable.
For this method you do not need ACC signal for parking
And we can integrate the UPS as well if you wish.
==============================================

However, here we are discussing the most reliable method for activating parking mode, based on the ACC signal.

I don't understand: exactly which USB-C cable are you using?
Is it just a regular USB-C cable?
If so, it won't work for our purposes.


OK, if you are using the wrong USB-C cable, it actually doesn't matter.

Yes - you need special USB-C to 15V cable.
Here are a few Amazon links; Any of these cables will work.
1. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0D86T4RMX
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0CY9957Y6
3. https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0B9FTJHGV

Previously I also posted a link (and image) to AliExpress, - see post #282 (this will take 2-3 weeks to get)

For recent testing purposes I switched the parking mode to ACC mode. That's what I've been testing with the UPS just to be clear.

I am using the USB C to 12v car charger that came with the dashcam. The USB C end was damage so I thought I could try repurposing the wire. I cut off the USB C end and am using the car charging end wired into the UPS.
-12v end in the river 3+ DC port/ wires from that into the UPS

I will try the other 15v cable and hopefully that will solve my issues.

 

[GPak]

For recent testing purposes I switched the parking mode to ACC mode. That's what I've been testing with the UPS just to be clear.
I am using the USB C to 12v car charger that came with the dashcam. The USB C end was damage so I thought I could try repurposing the wire. I cut off the USB C end and am using the car charging end wired into the UPS.
-12v end in the river 3+ DC port/ wires from that into the UPS
I will try the other 15v cable and hopefully that will solve my issues.

- Check the EDIT in my previous post.
- Measure the actual Voltage of that "car charger" - I suspect it is around 5V - If so it will not work
- Make sure the "Port Memory" is ON - in the River 3 Plus settings
(Only if "car charger" output is 12V. If output is indeed 5V - it is not needed, turn it Off, and use USB-C to 15V cable instead)

 

[Gumby27]

- Check the EDIT in my previous post.
- Measure the actual Voltage of that "car charger" - I suspect it is around 5V - If so it will not work
- Make sure the "Port Memory" is ON - in the River 3 Plus settings
(Only if "car charger" output is 12V. If output is indeed 5V - it is not needed, turn it Off, and use USB-C to 15V cable instead)

Port memory is on but that doesn't really matter since the output is 5V as you suspected. I won't be able to tinker with it over the weekend but I will order the new 15v wire and try again on Monday. When using the 15v wire, should I leave the cutoff at 12v or lower it to 11.6v?

 

[GPak]

Port memory is on but that doesn't really matter since the output is 5V as you suspected. I won't be able to tinker with it over the weekend but I will order the new 15v wire and try again on Monday. When using the 15v wire, should I leave the cutoff at 12v or lower it to 11.6v?

Turn the "Port memory" Off - to minimize self-consumption.
The cutoff voltage is irrelevant here, as all settings will be below the 15V supplied via the USB-C cable.
Let's hope that the Vantrue N4 Pro S is able to switch between normal and parking modes without the use of a relay.