New Wakespeed 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter Now Available
Users can now unlock next-level power capabilities with high energy systems using the new Wakespeed 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter.
Simplifying and streamlining installation with its efficient bi-directional buck/boost DC-DC converter, Wakespeed’s latest product, the 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter (WS48-12x), grants users the experience of lower costs, faster charging, and more real-world power availability. From installation using a system’s existing chassis alternator, to supplementing, or even replacing the chassis alternator with a high energy unit altogether, this 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter seamlessly manages power distribution.
With a battery 12v input (+), 12v output ground, CAN bus and digital interface connections, and a battery 56v input (+), the all-new Wakespeed 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter puts power where you need it.
Wakespeed Firmware v2.5.2 Now Available
The Wakespeed Firmware v2.5.2 includes two notable additions, including support for the new Wakespeed 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter and extension of Victron Energy’s DVCC (Distributed Voltage and Current Control) method to the Wakespeed WS500 Advanced Alternator Regulator.
Enabling DVCC allows an additional aspect of total system management built upon the existing WS500 + BMS integration. Please note that DVCC is a way for the Victron environment to perform additional prioritization and management of charging sources, it does not replace the need for direct integration between the WS500 and a BMS. Users need to be cautious of attempts to circumvent needed WS500 + BMS integration by using only the Cerbo DVCC method as doing so is unsafe and dangerous in alarm and protection conditions.
DVCC requires specific system installation and configuration steps. Please refer to the ‘Victron DVCC Support’ section on page 4 of the revised Wakespeed Communications and Configuration Guide, or via Victron’s Cerbo GX Firmware Release 3.30 (Full, Beta 9, or Latest).
The latest Firmware v2.5.2 is accessible through the WS500 Advanced Alternator Regulator product information or can be downloaded below.
Additional Firmware v2.5.2 Updates
Additional Wakespeed Firmware v2.5.2 updates, based on field feedback, include refugees of engine RPM sensing and reporting in a twin engine installations. Previously, in the case where a twin engine install had been done and each engine’s RPMs were being sensed by the the Yellow Stator Wire, there was a circular interaction that would occur via NMEA2000 if each regulator had not been configured with its associated, and unique, Engine ID (or Instance). Now, with Firmware v2.5.2, the WS500 system has been updated to detect this situation and break a self-feeding loop.
Please note, if you wish to have the WS500 report engine RPMs that it senses via the Yellow Stator Wire, or receive engine RPMs from a different NMEA2000 source, it is important to manually define the correct Engine ID for each engine. Using the Wakespeed Configuration and Monitoring Utility Application, please reference System Tab > Engine Options while in Expert Mode.
Version 1.9 of the Wakespeed Configuration and Monitoring Utility App is Now Available
The latest Version 1.9 of the Wakespeed Configuration and Monitoring Utility App is also released and now available for free on Android and iPhone iOS platforms and can be downloaded in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Release v1.9 works in conjunction with Wakespeed Firmware v2.5.2, becoming aware of DVCC in both Configuration and Monitor. Support for the Wakespeed 48V/12V Bi-Directional DC-DC Converter, with a new tab added to the Configuration screen, is also included in v1.9, and the Monitor screen has been extended to monitor the operations of the DC-DC Converter.
Other v1.9 Updates Include:
- Improvement of Copy Device / Import Configuration of .txt files
- New Settings toggle to allow temperatures to be shown in Celsius (ºC) and Fahrenheit (ºF)
- Ability to recover a WS500 which has lost its firmware and become bricked
- Refinements for how Expert Mode values are automatically adjusted when making general selections
- And a variety of bug fixes
