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The PWM thing's a proper headache, yeah. What you actually want is a VSR (voltage sensing relay) instead—Victron make a solid one.
Master Adventure in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I've been there with the shaky crimps — honestly, it's worth investing properly. I went through two wonky Harbor Freight specials before realising I was just creating future problems. Ended up...
Forest Jenny in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Learned this one painfully with my shepherd's hut setup. Parallel batteries need matched internal resistance or you'll get current imbalance — older cells discharge faster and cook themselves.
FormerMechanic15 in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Honestly, the usable capacity thing catches everyone out. I've got a 10kWh bank in the hut but only cycle about 6-7kWh realistically — keeps the cells happier and you're not constantly chasing...
Fiona in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 3
@DevonDweller and @HelenPhillips are right — internal resistance is where it's at. Resting voltage just tells you state of charge, not actual health. With a decent multimeter you can't measure...
Marine Gaz in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Got LiFePO4 in the van and AGM in the motorhome backup setup. Honestly depends on your actual cycles. AGM's fine if you're dipping 20-30% regularly and don't mind topping up often.
Wonky Mender in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The real killer is assuming your phone charger and a cuppa kettle run on fresh air and good intentions.
RetiredElectrician74 in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Right, cable routing is where the fun really starts, isn't it? I've learned this the hard way in my van conversion — watched a mate run his cables along the outside and spend half the summer...
Peak Camper in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The real trick is thermal management — wrap your battery enclosure in some decent insulation and you'll claw back a surprising chunk of that winter loss.
Marine Geoff in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 3
@DodgyRoamer - the inrush is definitely brutal, but there's a practical workaround most don't mention: delay start functions.
ExFirefighter in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been there with my static caravan setup — mixing battery ages is asking for trouble. @BMS_Geek's spot on about BMS firmware versions too.
RetiredPlumber in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Have you actually got the space constraints that make the SmartShunt worth considering? That's the real question. The BMV-712 needs proper cabling runs and a dedicated display location—not an...
ExFirefighter in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 2
@BlownFuse and @CornishBoater nailed it — cable gauge is basically a voltage drop calculator away from being sorted.
Cotswold Nomad in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Snow shedding angle is definitely the game-changer up there. I'd actually push back slightly on @LesWood78 though — steeper helps with shedding, but you're fighting against low winter sun angles...
VictronMaster in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Had this exact problem with my van conversion setup — turns out it was a kettle triggering the surge protection every time.
Marine Phil in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Got a pair powering my static caravan setup alongside a Victron MPPT, and they've been rock solid for two years now—no drama, no firmware surprises like my previous LiFePO4 nightmare.
Border VanLifer in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Yeah, the proper crimper makes all the difference. I went through three different tools before settling on a Weidmüller — cost a bit more upfront but the consistency is worth it, especially when...
ExChippie30 in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The induction dream dies the moment you realise your battery bank needs to be roughly the size of your shepherd's hut to handle the peak draw — which defeats the entire purpose of living in a...
Renogy_Nerd in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The snow question's crucial up there. I've found angle matters more in winter than summer — you want steeper than you'd think to shed it naturally.
Les Wood in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 2
That's a decent sized array for the Highlands. How are you managing the snow coverage? I've been thinking about tilting my panels seasonally on the narrowboat, but the logistics are a nightmare...
Yorkshire VanLifer in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1