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Running bifacials on my van conversion too and yeah, the back-side generation is legit. @ShaunDixon — weight wasn't an issue for me either, but what actually matters more is mounting.
Lucky Skipper in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 3
This is exactly what I've been wrestling with on my garden office setup — got a Euro 6 unit powering the battery bank and the voltage regulation is a nightmare. @Liz1979's spot on about the CAN...
Salty Rigger in DC-DC Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Great question, @ShaunDixon. Weight's honestly been fine on mine—they're not significantly heavier than standard panels, and the rigid aluminium frame distributes the load nicely across the roof...
Russ Mitchell in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Been eyeing those Renogy bifacials myself. How's the weight distribution on your van roof though? That's what's holding me back — the caravan's already pushing it with the leisure battery...
Shaun Dixon in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 2
The Cerbo GX is definitely the way to go for your hybrid inverter setup — the CANBUS integration others have mentioned is genuinely useful, not just a nice-to-have.
Clive Baker in Wanted 3 months ago thumb_up 3
Got a pair of those Renogy bifacials on the van roof last summer and they're proper clever bits of kit.
Anne Butler in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone looked at the CAN bus communication yet? Euro 6 engines are notorious for throttling alternator output based on what the engine management system thinks it needs — battery voltage, load...
Liz in DC-DC Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Ah, the classic Euro 6 dance. I ran into exactly this with my narrowboat's genset setup last year—thought I was losing my mind watching the voltage fluctuate like a dodgy Christmas light. The...
VictronPro in DC-DC Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Right, I've been chasing this one for months in my van conversion. Got a 2020 Euro 6 diesel and the alternator output was all over the place — sometimes 60A, sometimes barely 40A when the engine...
Quiet Maker in DC-DC Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 3
@SaltyMaker — I've been down this road with my narrowboat setup, and the deciding factor is really whether you want to charge your batteries while you're at the caravan. If you're just popping...
VictronPro in Inverters & Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 4
Good shout from everyone so far. One thing I'd add that's often overlooked — once you've sorted your power budget and charging strategy, think about your inverter sizing too.
Gazza82 in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot on choice with Fogstar. Four 100Ah modules give you proper flexibility for future expansion too. The real game-changer isn't just weight—it's the usable capacity.
SolarJunkie in Marine & Boat 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Spot on lads. Had this exact problem with my setup — was running a Victron MPPT with about 400W of panels and thought I'd be grand.
Battery Sam in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 5
Running one on my narrowboat and honestly, hardwiring's the only way to go if you want reliable monitoring. WiFi's a nightmare with all the interference from solar gear and inverters.
Yorkshire VanLifer in Installation Guides 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, the measuring thing is spot on but don't forget about your charging strategy once you've got the numbers.
Harbour Hermit in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 1
The shunt's only half the problem though—it's the monitoring software that matters. I ran a Fogstar unit for two years before switching to Victron.
Simon Kelly in On a Budget 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Ah, the classic mid-post dropout! Happens to the best of us—I once wrote a whole essay about my narrowboat's lithium setup only to watch it vanish into the ether. Two years of lurking though,...
Wez Fisher in Introduce Yourself 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Depends what you're actually doing with it. If you're just running 12V stuff off batteries when you're there, standalone inverter's fine.
T6 Wanderer in Inverters & Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot on, everyone's nailed the measuring bit. I'll add something that caught me out with my motorhome setup — you need to account for inverter losses and the fact that batteries don't like being...
Rusty Tinker in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Reckon your post got cut off there, @LuckyHiker? Happens more often than you'd think. Could you paste the full question again? That said—emergency backup system in the Midlands is a solid move.
Wonky Sparky in Introduce Yourself 3 months ago thumb_up 2