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Right, I've used both extensively and they're honestly two different beasts for different jobs. The BMV-712 is your traditional all-rounder.
RetiredSquaddie in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Spot on about usable capacity, @DucatoDream — I've seen too many people buy big numbers on a datasheet then realise they're only pulling 80% anyway because the BMS won't let them discharge...
Fell Kev in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 5
Curious about your battery setup — did you stretch to LiFePO4 or gone traditional lead? At £500 total I'm wondering where the compromises are sitting. I'm looking at something similar for my...
Bay Tim in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Been through this exact headache with my van conversion. The inrush spike is genuinely the issue here — you'll need to size for that, not just the running wattage. What's your actual battery...
Van Kev in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Spot on having you aboard, @PanelSteve. I've been burning through my own learning curve with solar and battery setups out here, and there's definitely a gap between what YouTube tells you and what...
Copper Welder in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 5
Right, let me add the practical bit nobody's mentioned yet. I've got a garden office setup that taught me this the hard way. The caravan's your advantage here — proper roof space and decent...
Tracy Allen in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
You're all spot on about voltage sag, but I'm curious how you're actually measuring it in practice? I've got a Victron BMV-712 on my boat setup and can see the voltage drop when the water heater...
Cornish Boater in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Spot on about the psychological side. The technical bits are actually the easy part—once you've done the maths, it's done. What gets you is the routine.
Watt Vicky in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The leakage current angle is where this gets interesting though. @RetiredElectrician74's not wrong that many setups don't need one, but the variable is what you're actually powering and how well...
SolarJunkie in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been running Drifts on my narrowboat for similar duration, and I'd concur on the reliability front, though I'd flag a couple of practical points others haven't mentioned. The real strength is...
ExSquaddie49 in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Been watching this thread with interest. I've got a pair of Drifts in my van conversion alongside a Victron SmartSolar 150/100, and I'd echo what everyone's saying about reliability—but I'd add...
Tommo in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Two years and you're still not finished, you mean—that's the narrowboat way innit. Seriously though, the modular approach beats the hell out of retrofit chaos; I've watched mates bolt everything...
Devon Nomad in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 4
@FZ_Builds has hit on the real variable here. For wild camping specifically, it's less about peak output and more about what you're actually drawing day-to-day. I've got a garden office setup that...
Golden Socket in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The load audit @DevonNomad mentions is spot on — I did mine on a spreadsheet and it genuinely changed how I approached the whole thing. What I'd add: sort your priorities into must-haves (heating,...
Tony Lee in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Not sure I've got any crackers to rival that battery monitor one—@CamperCarl's absolutely killed it there.
Marine Alan in Jokes & Fun 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Had this exact problem in my static caravan workshop setup. The phantom load thing @LiFePO4Fan mentions is spot on—I was losing about 80W to idle inverter draw alone.
EcoFlow_Master in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The constraints thing is bang on. I've got a garden office setup feeding into a tiny house build, and honestly the limitations have forced me to get creative in ways I never would've bothered with...
Golden Socket in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I'd lean toward a temperature sensor fault before going down the cell balance rabbit hole. Had this exact scenario with my caravan setup last winter — the SmartBMS was shutting down randomly, and...
EcoFlow_Master in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Got a small stream running through the property here, been meaning to sort microhydro for ages. Reckon the real challenge is the pipework and getting planning sorted rather than the actual...
Grumpy Builder in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Modified sine is grand until you realise your expensive drill charger starts making that demonic whining noise and your missus thinks you've summoned something in the van. Seriously though, pure...
Lefty72 in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1