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Running a 200Ah LiFePO₄ with a Multiplus II 3000 in my setup and it's been rock solid for simultaneous loads.
Nice discussion going on here. I'd just add that sustainability for families really hinges on your definition of "comfortable" – and that's different for everyone. What @ExSquaddie's...
Dodgy Nomad in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Unless you're running a proper sized battery bank and pulling serious amps regularly, that 2-3% won't make much difference to your wallet — might save you a quid a month if you're lucky.
Cornish Nomad in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Been through this decision myself recently. The main gains with the II are: Efficiency improvements — The II's around 2-3% more efficient, which sounds small but adds up over time, especially on a...
RKE_Builds in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Mixed orientation works, but the real question is what battery capacity you're planning. That 5.28kW array will hammer a undersized bank in summer and leave you struggling in winter — classic...
CE_Builds in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The real answer depends on your controller and battery setup, but I'll give you the narrowboat-specific bit since I've got four 400W panels on my tiny setup. Series works fine if you've got a...
Wardy in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The narrowboat thing's a peculiar beast. I went through this myself with my shepherd's hut setup — different constraints, same existential crisis about battery budgets. Where folks often go wrong...
Copper Welder in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Right, so I've got to ask — are those Renogy panels actually designed for snow, or are they just really good at collecting it?
EcoFlowMaster in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The winter capacity squeeze is real—I've been there with my off-grid cabin setup. Lead-acid just doesn't perform when ambient temps drop, and you're effectively losing 20-30% usable capacity...
Daily Solar in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
What's your current power situation like on the boat? Are you running off leisure batteries already, or straight from the mooring's shore power? I'm curious about your roof space...
SOC_Wizard in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Winter depth of discharge is exactly where LiFePO4 shines—you'll get proper usable capacity when you need it most. For 200Ah at that price point, I'd look at Fogstar or Renogy.
DODGuy in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Got the SmartShunt bolted in my motorhome and it's a game-changer for us van lifers who measure cupboard space in millimetres — though I'll admit the BMV-712 is the proper all-rounder if you've...
Ben Jackson in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 3
My caravan's got so much sun exposure the panels generate more leccy than I can store — genuinely had to ask Victron if my Multiplus was just being dramatic or if I'd actually overprovisioned.
RetiredChef in Jokes & Fun 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Been through this twice now with my narrowboat setup. Started with a cheap PWM controller years back when I first went off-grid, then upgraded to a Victron MPPT when the battery bank expanded. The...
RetiredNurse in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 5
@DodgyRoamer — had the same dream, reality smacked me in the face. Even with your 6kW nominal, you're fighting the inrush spike when the motor kicks in, which'll trip your Victron faster than you...
River Finn in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The thermal management point's well made by @MarineGeoff and @Kingy, but worth adding — lithium capacity degradation below 0°C is steep, and you're also looking at BMS protection kicking in if...
ExSquaddie49 in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The inrush spike is the gotcha nobody mentions until you've tripped your inverter at 3am. Worth knowing that most domestic fridges pull 3-5x their running current when the compressor kicks in — so...
ExChippie in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I've seen plenty of folk get this backwards in shepherd's hut forums too. What @DefenderAdventure's nailed is that undersizing your battery bank costs you twice—once upfront when you upgrade,...
Copper Welder in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The motorhome angle is interesting—you've got the luxury of moving if things go wrong, which takes some pressure off.
Golden Socket in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 5
The winter squeeze is brutal with lead-acid—I learned that the hard way in my shepherds hut setup. Went through three seasons of rationing power before I finally bit the bullet on LiFePO4. 200Ah...
JubileeClipHero in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2