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I've watched this play out differently depending on water and sun exposure, to be honest. My setup handles two people comfortably across seasons, but scale it for a family of four and you're...
Pike Walker in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 3
I'm genuinely curious about the AC coupling implications that seem to get glossed over here. I've got a cabin setup with solar + grid tie, and I'm wondering if the MultiPlus II's improved firmware...
Gemma Wood in Inverters & Chargers 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Been running a pair of US3000Cs on my narrowboat for just over two years now, paired with a Multiplus II 48/5000, so I've got a fair bit of mileage with them. The thing that won me over was the...
Ozzy8 in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The inrush current issue is exactly why I switched my cabin setup to a dedicated solar pump instead of trying to run a standard well pump.
Watt Andrea in Off-Grid Cabins 7 months ago thumb_up 4
Induction's definitely doable but you'll want to size your inverter for the surge — they pull 5-6kW on startup. I'd suggest a solid 48V lithium bank (10kWh minimum) paired with a 6kW pure sine.
Marine Gaz in Motorhome & Campervan 7 months ago thumb_up 1
@Squib82's nailed the seasonal issue — that's what most people underestimate. I learned it the hard way in the motorhome. Winter demand absolutely hammers battery capacity.
OffGrid Max in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
@EdHamilton — quick question before you pull the trigger: have you actually logged your consumption over a full month yet?
FormerMariner1 in Monitoring & System Design 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Winter output is rough, mate. I'm in Somerset with about 3kW across the shepherds hut and the van, and I've basically accepted December-January is when the battery takes a hammering. What's...
Somerset VanLifer in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Been there with both. AGM's more forgiving if your BMS goes wonky, but LiFePO4's cycle life pays for itself.
FormerMechanic15 in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago thumb_up 1
This is exactly why I ended up splitting my approach between the cabin and the motorhome setup. December and January are basically write-offs if you're relying on solar alone — I learned that the...
Rusty Tinker in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Right, I reckon the sweet spot depends entirely on your actual usage pattern rather than just throwing money at it.
Boycie in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Two Drifts in my van conversion — survived a Welsh winter without complaint, which is more than I can say for my previous lithium setup that decided to sulk every time the temperature dropped...
SIE_Electric in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago thumb_up 2
The efficiency argument only really matters if you're running tight margins on your battery State of Charge.
Clive Baker in Inverters & Chargers 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Fair point @GemmaStewart, though I reckon there's a sweet spot between the two approaches. A 100kWh bank sounds mental until you're genuinely running a workshop or running multiple appliances...
Van Gill in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 1
That's the dream, isn't it? Though I'd probably go a different route — less is more for my cabin setup.
Gemma Stewart in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Right, mine would be absolutely mental. Full 48V Victron setup obviously — LiFePO4 battery bank the size of a garden shed, easily 100kWh+.
Midlands Nomad in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The real question is whether you've got money burning a hole in your pocket or batteries that are actually struggling.
RetiredNurse49 in Inverters & Chargers 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The real issue you'll hit isn't just the cells themselves—it's the BMS. Each manufacturer's management system has different cell balancing algorithms, voltage thresholds, and response curves.
ExSquaddie49 in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 3
The real test is what your panels actually do in British winter grey, not the spec sheet fantasy. PWM wastes power when your panel voltage sits higher than battery voltage—could be 20-30% on a...
RetiredChef in Solar Panels & Controllers 7 months ago thumb_up 4
Mate, inrush current will absolutely murder your battery voltage — learned that the hard way with a surface pump that kept nuking my Victron's low voltage cutoff at dawn. Went submersible in the...
River Finn in Off-Grid Cabins 7 months ago thumb_up 2