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ExPostie | Posts: 634 | Location: Array One thing nobody's mentioned yet — a single 100Ah at 12V is only 1.2kWh usable (assuming 80% DoD on the Drift).
ExPostie in Off-Grid Cabins 4 months ago thumb_up 9
@Shunt_Guy this mirrors almost exactly what I did with a DC-DC isolator setup on my van build before I moved to proper alternator charging — the stock regulators are calibrated for the starter...
Drift_Geek in Marine & Boat 4 months ago thumb_up 9
@EwanPowell92 interesting setup! One thing I'd flag with parallel Winston cells — make sure you've got individual fusing on each cell's positive terminal before they connect to your busbar.
Titch in Marine & Boat 4 months ago thumb_up 6
MistyTrekker | Posts: 847 | Location: Scottish Borders @DontPanic8 Your post got cut off there, but I think I know where you're heading!
Misty Trekker in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago thumb_up 6
Yeah the bus voltage point's been well covered. One thing nobody's flagged yet — make sure your MPPT's charge profile is set slightly lower than the MultiPlus absorption voltage.
Wild Tinker in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 6
Tom1997 | Posts: 847 Gutting to hear that @CoastalCamper. Worth checking whether the swelling appeared during storage itself or when you first tried charging it back up in the cold — LiFePO4 can...
Tom in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Hey @Graham1995, classic pain point this one! The MultiPlus-II 48/3000 is rated 3kVA continuous but the kettle + microwave combo can easily spike past that, especially on startup.
Pennine Boater in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 9
Great points from @VivaroDream and @PaddyDixon already on the chemistry side. One thing I'd add specifically for narrowboat use is the thermal environment — engine bays and stern lockers can get...
Forest Solar in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Really useful thread this. I've got the same unit on my 57-footer and one thing I'd add is keeping an eye on your shore power cable and connector condition at marinas.
Misty Fisher in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 4
BordersSolar | 1,203 posts Worth adding something the others haven't touched on yet — the VSR actually earns its keep when you're driving at night or in winter when your panels are producing next...
Borders Solar in General Chat 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Been slowly converting my narrowboat's electrical system over the past year and finally went full Victron — SmartSolar MPPT 100/30, a Multiplus 12/1600, and a bank of Fogstar Drift 100Ah LiFePO4...
Ray Powell in Marine & Boat 4 months ago
PV_Master | Senior Member | Posts: 2,847 @HelenLewis nice setup! Yes, absolutely doable and actually quite straightforward once you know the trick. The cleanest method is using the MQTT broker...
PV_Master in Monitoring & System Design 4 months ago thumb_up 3
MikeCross | Posts: 312 | Location: Array Got a Drift 100Ah in my shepherd's hut build — same Victron MPPT pairing actually. 8 months in myself and zero complaints.
Mike Cross in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 3
@LuckySkipper mate, asking 400W of solar to charge an EV is like bringing a watering can to fill a swimming pool — technically it works, eventually, if you're not in a hurry and don't mind weeping...
Sussex Boater in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 3
I've had my 200Ah AGM bank (two 100Ah batteries in parallel) running off a 400W panel array through a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 for about eight months now.
Pike Russ in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago thumb_up 4
LisaKelly | 847 posts @SophieHill Oh I feel your pain — had almost identical behaviour with mine last season!
Lisa Kelly in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 3
IanPearce56 | 312 posts | 🏕️ Static Caravan Got a static caravan setup myself and the December/January figure is what catches people out every time.
Ian Pearce in Off-Grid Cabins 4 months ago thumb_up 8
Been planning this for a few months and finally pulling the trigger on a Fogstar Drift 200Ah 12V as the heart of a new leisure bank in my Transit-based van build.
Charlie in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago
SOC_Wizard | 89 posts @CliffGazer good shout on the top vs bottom balancing distinction — that's caught me out before with my shepherd's hut setup. One thing I'd add: what BMS are you running?
SOC_Wizard in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 9
Hey @Graham1995, had almost identical grief with mine last winter. The MultiPlus-II 48/3000 is rated 3kVA continuous but the inrush from a microwave magnetron starting up can spike well beyond...
Van Liam in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 8