Safiery Scotty AI 3kW V3 12-48V3,000W bidirectional 12–48V DC-DC converter with two CAN ports

Overview

The Scotty AI 3kW V3 12-48V doubles the power of the 1500 model: 3kW in either direction, up to 250A on a 12V low side, between 12V and 24V, 36V or 48V. It suits high-output 12V alternators charging a 48V bank, or a 48V bank feeding heavy 12V loads such as an inverter. Two CAN ports allow connection to VE.Can and to a CAN BMS or a BMG at the same time, with the same AI auto-tuning and alternator temperature protection as the rest of the range.

• 1.5kW (125A at 12V) or 3kW (250A at 12V or 24V)
• Power flows both ways between low and high side
• Patented auto-tuning learns each alternator
• Alternator temperature sensor with automatic derating
• Victron VE.Can, NMEA 2000 and CAN-BMS compatible
• Rated 94% efficiency, -40…+105°C

How it works

Scotty AI sits between an alternator and a lithium bank at a different voltage. In one direction it charges a 24V, 36V or 48V bank from the 12V or 24V system; in the other it supplies the 12V or 24V side from the 48V bank, switching to load supply in 25ms according to Safiery, so one high-voltage bank can also run low-voltage equipment, including an inverter of up to 3,000VA on the 12V side.

The patented auto-tuning reads alternator voltage, current and temperature, builds a charging map for that alternator and adjusts output continuously. A temperature probe fitted to the alternator is required, and Scotty reduces power as the alternator heats up. With a CAN BMS battery it follows the battery's charge limits; three setpoints, Soft, Medium and Hard, set how much load is placed on the low side.

Models

Scotty 1500 handles 1.5kW in both directions, 125A at 12V, and is offered in a standard case and in a slim case sized to mount directly on a Safiery Solid State battery. Scotty 3000 handles 3kW, 250A at 12V or 24V, in 12–48V and 24–48V versions with two CAN ports. The datasheet rates both at 94% efficiency and -40°C to +105°C operating temperature.

Installation and compatibility

The ground (GND) must be connected first, removed last and never disconnected while the high or low side is live; before welding on the chassis both supplies and positive cables must be removed. Use flexible class 5 copper cable and fuses sized to the cable under local wiring rules; the manual's example diagram shows 60A on the high side, 150A on the low side and 2A on the enable wire. The alternator sensor negative goes to the harness, never to chassis ground.

Monitoring and settings

Setup needs no programming tool: the unit opens its own 'Scotty XXXX' Wi-Fi network and its pages load in a browser at 172.24.24.1, showing status, error codes and the tuning page. Scotty connects to Victron VE.Can at 250kbit/s and appears as an alternator on recent GX displays. Two units can work as master and slave on one battery bank, and firmware updates are published on Safiery's software download page.

Questions and answers