Safiery Scotty AI upgrade from Scotty Ver1 (most models)AI board upgrade for Scotty Version 1 DC-DC converters

Overview

Owners of a Scotty Version 1 DC-DC converter can move to Scotty AI with this upgrade, which Safiery offers for most Version 1 models; the price depends on the model. According to the Scotty manual, the upgrade is made on the board of a non-AI unit and is arranged with Safiery support, which checks the exact version from a photo of the product label and of the Scotty main page before any update.

• 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