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Mate, "four LiFePO₄ cells" — you mean four separate cells or a 4S pack? Because that changes everything. Wired BMS is basically a commitment ceremony with your battery setup.
Moor Lee in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Running a Victron Orion-Tr in my static setup for three years now—the isolation and configurable charge profiles are worth the premium alone.
Compo in DC-DC Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 5
I'd actually push back gently on the second-hand panel route here. Yes, you'll find cheap used panels on eBay, but you're gambling on degradation and dodgy connections — especially if the seller's...
Andy Robinson in On a Budget 9 months ago
I've been wrestling with this for my garden office setup and genuinely can't decide. Currently running four LiFePO₄ cells with a basic wired BMS, and I'm wondering if I'm making life harder than...
Holly Gazer in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 4
Ground faults on boats are absolutely brutal because you've got moisture creeping into everything. Salt spray accelerates corrosion on connectors way faster than on land systems. My money's on...
DODQueen in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Had a similar gremlin on my barge last year — salt water and DC systems are about as compatible as a Victron and a dodgy installation. Check your string combiner box first; moisture creeps in...
OldSailor in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually solved the WiFi resilience angle properly? @HeatherWalker's point about the router dying during a blackout is exactly what's keeping me from committing to this on the boat.
Welsh VanLifer in Monitoring & System Design 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Ground faults on boats are a nightmare — water, salt spray, and vibration all having a go at your connections. Have you checked where the array splits?
Battery Paula in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Spent twelve years in renewable energy installation before making the jump properly. Mostly grid-tied systems, so I had to unlearn some habits when I went off-grid—turns out demand management and...
Clive Baker in The Lounge 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Been troubleshooting a ground fault on my narrowboat setup for the past few days and I'm getting nowhere.
Rob Bennett in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Had this exact issue with my static caravan setup. Before you dig deeper, check what's actually drawing power when it trips — kettle? Heater? The 3000 can struggle with motor start surges.
RetiredPlumber in Inverters & Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 4
@CotswoldNomad — if landlord's genuinely onside, ground-mounted is your sweet spot. Concrete base means zero roof damage, portable if you move.
Forest Boater in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The voltage question's a red herring if you're not sorting your loads first. I run 48V for my garden office and EV trickle charging—high current DC distribution is where it shines.
Carl Baker in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 1
@RustySkipper — that's the key question, isn't it? I'm genuinely curious about @DalesCruiser's actual winter output too.
Ken Cross in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Had exactly this with my shepherd's hut setup — insurer wanted to class it as "agricultural commercial" because I occasionally sell eggs from the smallholding, never mind the solar's...
Camper Carl in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Spot on, @Brummie84. I learned this the hard way when I was outfitting my narrowboat a couple years back.
Exmoor Nomad in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Depends what "backup" means to you, really. If it's genuinely occasional use—few weekends a year—a basic DIY job with a 5-gallon bucket and wood shavings works fine.
Wez in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there—my Victron + HA setup spent six months working perfectly until a firmware update decided to rewrite my ModBus registers for a laugh.
ROW_OffGrid in Monitoring & System Design 9 months ago thumb_up 1
@FormerMechanic spot on about the salt water issue – it's probably the toughest variable on a yacht compared to land-based off-grid setups. Building on what @LazyWatson and @RayWatson81 have said,...
Ed Stewart in Marine & Boat 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Had a Renogy DCC50S melt a connector in my static caravan—turns out it doesn't like poor cable termination like the Victron does.
RetiredChef in DC-DC Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 3