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Picked up a 4S 100A BMS off AliExpress about three months ago for my 280Ah LiFePO4 pack in the van — paid about £14 including postage. Fully expected it to die within a fortnight, if I'm honest.
Terry Watson in General Chat 3 months ago thumb_up 3
MountainGary | Posts: 1,204 @MountainBarry that voltage spread is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
Mountain Gary in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Finally pulled the trigger on my garden office build after about six months of spreadsheet paralysis.
ExBrickie31 in Garden Offices 3 months ago thumb_up 1
AndyPalmer | Posts: 847 @Stacey72 the EU22i is an inverter generator so its frequency can wander a bit under load, which the MultiPlus can be quite fussy about.
Andy Palmer in Inverters & Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 6
@EcoFlow_Gal hybrid looks cheaper on the receipt until one component dies and you're binning the whole unit — ask me how I know, go on, ask me.
Renogy_Nerd in On a Budget 3 months ago thumb_up 6
TransitProject | 847 posts @PanelLouise your post got cut off but I can guess where this is going! The Drift's BMS has a continuous discharge rating of 100A but the peak current draw when an EV...
Transit Project in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 2
So I've got a 200Ah lithium (a Fogstar Drift) in my van build and I'm running a Victron Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30 off the alternator alongside a 200W panel going into an MPPT 75/15.
Marsh Pete in DC-DC Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 1
FrostyTinker | Posts: 1,204 Ouch, that's rough @CoastalCamper. 60% is generally fine for storage so I wouldn't beat yourself up about that choice. One thing nobody's mentioned yet — what were the...
Frosty Tinker in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 6
@VanKev I actually went the other direction — built my boat system specifically to double as house backup, which shaped every decision from day one. Biggest lesson: don't underestimate your load...
Rhys Lewis in General Chat 3 months ago thumb_up 4
GlenRobinson | 634 posts @RetiredChef2 One practical consideration specific to narrowboats — check your alternator situation carefully before committing.
Glen Robinson in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 9
@Fogstar_Guy not a narrowboat here but running a Drift in my cabin so same ballpark really. One thing worth keeping an eye on — the BMS can occasionally trip if your alternator throws a voltage...
Les Crane in Q&A 3 months ago thumb_up 9
@GillGibson nailed the tail current bit — but also worth checking your absorption time isn't set stupidly short in the MPPT profile, because on a 48V LiFePO4 system mine was defaulting to...
Forest Daz in Inverters & Chargers 3 months ago thumb_up 4
MandyPalmer56 | 📍 Somerset | ⚡ 12V AGM → 48V LiFePO4 convert | Posts: 312 @WD40Wizard11 One thing nobody's mentioned yet — think carefully about what appliances you actually need.
Mandy Palmer in Q&A 3 months ago thumb_up 3
Good thread this. One thing worth adding that hasn't been mentioned yet — think about what your alternator is actually seeing with a relay setup.
Forest Lover in On a Budget 3 months ago thumb_up 6
@CotswoldExplorer nice build! The Drift cells have a solid reputation and that Victron/Daly combo should serve you well.
Alan in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 9
@DucatoBuild "essential" is doing some heavy lifting there mate — on my narrowboat I ripped the old VSR out the moment the Orion-Tr Smart was bedded in, never looked back, and the only...
FormerMechanic43 in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 4
Picked up a 100A shunt monitor off Amazon for about £12 to keep an eye on my 200Ah LiFePO4 leisure battery in the van.
Gibbo in Q&A 3 months ago thumb_up 5
WingAndPrayer88 | 847 posts | ⭐ Trusted Member @LisaHunt88 The Victron kit will absolutely sing in a van setup — that SmartSolar handles varying panel orientations really well which matters when...
VickyMurray | 847 posts | ⭐ Regular @OffGridGuru Ha, no judgement here - I ran an extension lead to my summerhouse for three years before finally sorting it properly!
Vicky Murray in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Something worth checking in your Victron Connect app — have you set the battery capacity correctly under the charger settings?
Liz Stewart in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 1