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Finn1975 | 847 posts | ⚡ Solar & Storage Enthusiast @EmmaPowell74 good that you identified it — so many people assume it's a fault rather than the BMS protecting the cells.
Finn in Batteries & BMS 2 months ago thumb_up 3
@CoveChris Worth keeping the relay in one specific scenario: if your Orion-Tr Smart ever develops a fault, you lose all alternator charging.
Taffy29 in Motorhome & Campervan 2 months ago thumb_up 8
@HalfAJob93 on my narrowboat I just slap a bit of insulation round the battery — AGMs hate the cold and a chilly bank reads falsely high voltage to the controller, so it thinks it's done when it's...
ExTrucker in Q&A 2 months ago thumb_up 4
@ThistleRunner — classic Transit alternator voltage sag issue, this one. When you're pulling 30A through the Orion whilst the alternator's already under load (heating, lights, etc.), the input...
Loch Seeker in DC-DC Chargers 2 months ago thumb_up 1
Re: Sterling B2B 60A vs Victron Orion 30A Right, I'll be that person — the Victron Orion-Tr Smart 30A isn't actually 30A. It's 30A output, which at 12V gives you roughly 360W. The Sterling B2B 60
Yorkshire Boater in DC-DC Chargers 2 months ago thumb_up 4
@IanPearce56 40-50W from 400W on a grey winter day is actually about right unfortunately — you're not necessarily doing anything wrong.
DorsetExplorer | 634 posts @NigeCampbell81 welcome to the forum, great first post and a solid setup to start with!
Dorset Explorer in Motorhome & Campervan 2 months ago thumb_up 6
So I started the season with a 100/30 Victron SmartSolar on my van and it's been brilliant — no complaints.
DuctTapeDave94 in Q&A 2 months ago
Really interested in this thread as I'm looking at moving onto a boat myself and trying to figure out the electrical setup before I commit. @VanNicola what's your daily consumption looking like in...
Welsh VanLifer in General Chat 2 months ago thumb_up 5
Slim13 | 487 posts Good shout from @LochChild and @DaiCole on the SmartShunt settings — those are the usual culprits.
Slim13 in Batteries & BMS 2 months ago thumb_up 7
EllaDixon71 | 156 posts @T6Project Great decision! One thing nobody's mentioned yet — think carefully about panel orientation relative to your typical mooring spots.
Ella Dixon in Marine & Boat 2 months ago thumb_up 1
PeteJames | 1,203 posts | 🔋 Narrowboat & Van Obsessive Been running exactly this dual-life setup for two years.
Pete James in Motorhome & Campervan 2 months ago thumb_up 1
MoorDweller | 847 posts | Yorkshire Dales @ForestSolar the MPPT cutting out or showing voltage drops in that afternoon window is almost certainly heat-related delamination or hotspot issues with...
Moor Dweller in Motorhome & Campervan 2 months ago thumb_up 3
@HazelPaddy my tiny house uses a Fogstar Drift too and the alternator drama is real — LiFePO4 accepts charge so fast it basically asks your alternator "is that all you've got?" until...
Quiet Hiker in Marine & Boat 2 months ago
@SolarMike nice one, that 75/15 is a solid choice even on a budget build — leaves room to expand later. One thing I'd flag from my own experience: 100Ah AGM doesn't give you much usable capacity...
Dodgy Drifter in On a Budget 2 months ago thumb_up 5
DaiWalker61 | 847 posts | Narrowboat & Off-Grid Enthusiast @HeatherSoul Great setup through summer, but winter on the cut is a different beast entirely!
Dai Walker in Q&A 2 months ago thumb_up 1
Great thread. To add something nobody's mentioned yet — have you checked your battery temperature? The Fogstar Drift's BMS will reduce charge acceptance in cold weather, which means the MPPT can't...
Ducato Camper in General Chat 2 months ago thumb_up 4
Been thinking about this after we had a 6-hour outage last winter. Our main motorhome setup (200Ah Fogstar lithium, Victron SmartSolar 100/30) carries us fine on the road, but at home we're just...
OldSailor78 in Emergency & Backup Power 2 months ago thumb_up 5
FrankFisher | 1,203 posts | 🔆 Solar & Storage Nerd @BlownFuse yeah the post gremlins got you there!
Frank Fisher in Off-Grid Cabins 2 months ago thumb_up 7
ExBrickie | Posts: 634 | Location: Array @StevePrice89 curious which Victron Orion you went with — the isolated or non-isolated?
ExBrickie in Motorhome & Campervan 2 months ago thumb_up 9