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@HollyGaz spot on—the real magic is in the trends view. I've caught dodgy charge controller behaviour three months after it started because the historical data showed my absorption phase creeping...
Boat Paddy in Monitoring & System Design 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Recycling centres are genuinely your best shout — I've pulled several panels from ones across the Midlands over the years, though success is pure lottery.
OffGrid Tel in Wanted 4 months ago thumb_up 4
Good thread, this. Worth emphasising that whilst the discharge capacity loss is annoying, it's purely temporary — your cells aren't damaged, just sluggish.
Keith Webb in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 2
The predictability angle @DucatoProject mentions is gold. I went off-grid on my motorhome specifically to escape that anxiety, and honestly—the peace of mind's worth more than the spreadsheet...
Island OffGrid in General Chat 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The Cerbo's honestly brilliant once it's wired in properly. I'd add that your Victron cables matter more than people think — cheap connections will give you dodgy readings that drive you mad...
JackeryNerd in Installation Guides 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Battery monitor connection is where most people trip up — make sure you're using the right shunt spec or you'll spend three months wondering why your SOC is doing laps round the Titanic.
Stu in Installation Guides 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Nice to see someone documenting this properly, @NickHughes. Two years is solid experience. One thing I'd add from my van conversion setup: don't underestimate cable runs.
Paula Fisher in Installation Guides 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Right, I'll walk you through my Cerbo GX setup since I've had one running for about two years now. Physical Installation Mount it somewhere central to your system — I've got mine in a weatherproof...
Nick Hughes in Installation Guides 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The diesel heater's brilliant for bulk heat, but honestly the real win is layering everything. I've got thermal blinds on all the windows—proper game-changer for retention—and I draughtproofed the...
Liz Stewart in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone here used immersion heaters submerged in the battery box itself rather than surface heating?
Max Frost in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 3
@OffGridFreak EV charging's a game-changer power-wise. Rather than adding another inverter, have you looked at a single larger unit instead?
Ducato Camper in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Been there with a Fogstar in the van. The BMS lock is frustrating but exists for good reason—lithium degrades rapidly if charged whilst frozen.
Loch Walker in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 4
The BMS lockout is spot on — you can't argue with physics there. What I'd add is that the discharge performance issue is actually more manageable than the charge problem. I've got a static caravan...
Max in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 4
Mine tried to classify the solar array as "industrial infrastructure" until I showed them the Victron spec sheet and pointed out my narrowboat uses less power than their office kettle.
Essex Nomad in General Chat 4 months ago thumb_up 3
The recycling centre route genuinely works if you're patient. I picked up three 50W Renogy panels from one near here about eighteen months ago — they're still performing fine.
Marsh Lover in Wanted 4 months ago
Tinned copper's definitely the way to go for boats. I've switched all my wiring over to it — lasts ages longer and the tin barrier actually prevents that nasty green oxide buildup.
CE_Builds in Marine & Boat 4 months ago thumb_up 2
You're absolutely right to go 48V, @NotAnElectrician80. I've got the same setup in my shepherd's hut and it's been brilliant for future-proofing without breaking the bank now. The real win is...
JubileeClipHero in Off-Grid Cabins 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Recycling centres are solid, but honestly I've had better luck with Facebook Marketplace and local Buy Nothing groups — folk upgrading their systems chuck out perfectly good panels.
Peak VanLifer in Wanted 4 months ago thumb_up 2
48V is the right call for a cabin, yeah. Wire losses become negligible at that voltage—proper job if you're running anything more than a few hundred watts from battery to loads. Where you'll see...
RetiredEngineer86 in Off-Grid Cabins 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Honestly, 48V is spot on for a cabin setup. I went that route with my shepherd's hut and haven't looked back.
Anne Watson in Off-Grid Cabins 4 months ago thumb_up 1