A really big month for really small things
All men think we are good at three things: sex, driving and listening.
For the first one I make no comment. As for the second, I think I am one of the world’s best drivers, but then don't we all? As for listening, we at EGON at least, are quite good at that too. Well, we think we are. Because we are a small company, not only can we listen, we can also act on what we hear.
I will now try hard to avoid the clichéd phrase that size matters, but April is a really big month for really small things here at EGON. We are launching the Dc-Hub NANO.
Heiner and I are very close to the 4x4 and caravan accessory industry. And about 14 months ago we started to take seriously the comments, that while the Dc-Hub saves a lot of time and money when used in installations, it has a footprint often too large for use in anything but UTE canopies and roomier installations. There was rarely enough space to use one in a station wagon, SUV or compact trailer. How about a Hub that could satisfy that demand as well?
But, could we make a Dc-Hub that’s smaller, and at the same time even more versatile?
To help us we asked workshops questions about the Dc-Hubs they were installing, like,
“Once you’ve finish an installation, what connections are not used the most?”
We wanted to find out if there were any unused connectors. We were told that the 25A outputs were rarely all used and unexpectedly, there was a common need for an additional high-amp connection.
With this we had our mental blueprint.
Introducing DC-Hub NANO
The NANO is 33% smaller than the regular Dc-Hub, but now cleverly offers the option of connecting a combined MPPT/DC-DC such as a Redarc, or stand-alone DC/DC charger and MPPT chargers such as Victron, in a way that provides the hub with an additional high-amp output. This means it now has three 80 Amp outputs, as well as the usual DC-DC charger input (80 Amp), MPPT charger input (60Amp) or unregulated solar input which use the same connector, and five 25A general purpose outputs. It can still handle continuous current of 150A and has a built-in negative bus-bar. And it’s even better value. You’d spend the same buying crimps, heat-shrink, lugs, terminal posts, bus-bar etc., to do the installation that’ll take five times the time.
Nano is the first and only product on Earth that permits a fully standardised DC-installation, and with it adds visual fault diagnostics and hugely reduced voltage drops. It’s an engineered solution and the first time a product can be used as a benchmark standard in DC installations – something that simply does not exist – anywhere.
What’s more, it’s the only DC-installation product that can be branded by any workshop that does the work. The one illustrated is being made for Midland 4WD Centre here in WA. Any order of 10 or more gets a LED-lighted custom logo designed into the cover.
48V
The launch of 48V has been delayed by what can only be described as a pleasing problem. We hear that the earliest adopter, Unwind Designs in Melbourne, is no longer offering high-end 12V systems to customers. They are buying up every 48V DC-Hub 48V they can lay their hands on so we’ve had to step up early production numbers. They’re even making pre-built 48V boards to speed up 48V installations for their clients. This kind of insight into its phenomenal performance is so encouraging!
When we answer the most common question about 48V, we also explain the question: If you are considering changing your original equipment alternator in order to boost your charge current, then read this: The cost of upgrading your 12 Volt alternator and charging system is similar to, or higher than fitting a 48V alternator with EGON 48V architecture. With the very best 12V system available today you might, on a cool day, get 100A charge into your battery. With a 48V system you will get 400A into your battery without breaking a sweat. Then why would you still choose 12V if its less reliable and has fewer redundancies built into its architecture?
Talk about a no-brainer.
We released a video recently answering 48V Q&As: https://youtu.be/Ua1WLEtLI3M?si=rqLDco4zlckqDIqd
EGON offer for April:
Perth was this past week set up for a cyclone of biblical proportions, one that would wash away anything not nailed down. Typical of the news fighting for clicks, it was no more than a gentle shower introducing autumn.
EGON-DC-Hub NANO early bird offer, limited to just 20 units, A$50 off. Offer includes bundles steel bracket.
Until next month.
Thank you for being part of our amazing journey.
PS. I am a really good driver. Gwynn reminds me daily.
Andrew