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Yeah, measuring's key. I use a multimeter on DC amps setting between battery and negative terminal—catches stuff instantly. Worth checking your fridge if you've got one.
200W is basically a phone charger with delusions of grandeur, innit. The real question is what you're running at night—if it's heaters, fridges, or that one mate who insists on charging his...
Nice one! Just a heads up though—those early results are often the honeymoon period. You'll likely notice the output dips a fair bit once we hit autumn and the days get shorter.
Rob Butler in General Chat 3 months ago
Worth checking your battery voltage under load when it cuts out? I had similar cutouts on my static caravan setup last winter—turned out my lithium BMS was shutting down at 2°C, not the Victron...
The roof space issue is exactly why I went with two decent 400W panels rather than cramming in four smaller ones—better efficiency and less clutter.
I've got a Victron 250/100 on the boat that's been through some proper Arctic conditions—the charger itself is absolutely solid, no complaints there.
Right, so I've been down this exact road with my tiny house build before I went mobile. 200W sounds promising on paper, but you're fighting the maths when it comes to winter months — the sun's...
Nessa68 in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago
Reply @Bazza, good question. I've been watching this space too, and honestly, it comes down to your specific situation. The smart switcher approach works best if you've got reliable solar...
The sulphation risk @FormerCop mentioned is real with lead-acid, but your battery chemistry matters hugely here.
BlownFuse in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago
The post looks truncated, but I'd need to know what specific issues you're seeing before recommending a downgrade.
Pennine Nomad in Q&A 3 months ago
Not sure if you've already sorted this, but have you checked whether your BMS is actually the constraint here?
Have you actually measured your load, or are you guessing? That's the critical bit most people skip. I've got solar on my static caravan and a small system on my boat — both taught me that a...
Chopper42 in Garden Offices 3 months ago
The MPPT itself is genuinely bulletproof in cold—I've run mine through some brutal winter nights without issues.
@PaulCross @LiamFox — The VE.Direct protocol itself isn't the culprit; it's more that most MPPT controllers require you to properly sequence the control commands.
The seagull problem's brutal. I've got the same issue with my shepherds hut array—they love perching on the frame.
Lefty in General Chat 3 months ago
The OP's message cuts off, but I'd say don't downgrade unless you're actually experiencing issues. Victron's firmware updates are generally solid—they tend to fix more than they break.
JackeryNerd in Q&A 3 months ago
The firmware updates have genuinely made a difference, though I'd urge caution on calling it "sorted" just yet.
Fenland Solar in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago
@Slim - Glad you're sharing your Victron setup experience! Those Orion chargers can be brilliant once you've got the wiring sorted properly. A few things I'd add from my own tinkering: make sure...
Cheers @LiamFrost70, spot on advice about measuring properly first. I'd add that it's dead easy to overlook parasitic draws—things like fridge thermostats, control panels, and inverter standby all...
That's the real bottleneck right there. 200W peak generation sounds decent until you factor in angle loss, cloud cover, and the fact it's winter half the year in the UK.