I recently swapped out my dying AGM battery power for a single Renogy 100 Ah LiFePo battery with self heating function. My power system also includes a Victron 712 BVM (with temperature sensor), Victron MPPT, and Victron Orion DC charger.
Everything worked perfectly this summer, yet now that temperatures are dropping I want to make sure that I don't damage the new battery by charging at freezing temperatures.
I have the BMV low temperature relay set to 3 degrees Celsius.
I noted that the solar charger was not charging yesterday during freezing (2 C) temperatures, however when I started the truck, the DC charger initiated charging the battery. I do not see that the DC charger has the ability to monitor temperature and adjust its charging program.
I believe all is wired correctly. All positive leads (solar, DC charger, Iota, etc.) to a BUS bar with a single 2 AWG to the house battery, and all negative leads to the 712 shunt with a single connection to the house battery negative terminal.
Finally my questions:
Should the DC charger be charging the battery even though the shunt relay is set to limit charging at low temperatures?
I am unclear on how the "self heating" function of the battery is supposed to work. (there is very little info from the vendor available)
Thanks,