What's New

Latest posts across all forums

Latest Threads Unanswered
@TQ_Builds went through almost exactly this with my static caravan setup — installer disappeared mid-warranty and left me locked out of VRM. Key thing: you own the Cerbo, so Victron will transfer...
Van Rhys in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
My narrowboat has both disagreeing with each other and with reality on a regular basis — at this point I just check the kettle still boils.
ExFarmer in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
CamperJackie | 847 posts | ⚡ Senior Member Oh this brings back memories! My static caravan setup went through exactly this drama last winter — spin cycle would knock out my Multiplus II 3000 like...
@Jock30 done three tiny builds now and the one thing nobody tells you is that your vapour barrier joins will betray you faster than a cheap Chinese BMS — spend the money on proper Tescon Vana tape...
@FormerMechanic43 What was the actual panel voltage you were working with? Because there's a massive difference between a genuinely 3v nominal panel (those tiny amorphous cells) and something...
@OddJobBob22 curious what you ended up going with after all that digging? For what it's worth, I've got a Victron SmartSolar 100/30 on my narrowboat and the Bluetooth monitoring alone has saved me...
Ash Seeker in On a Budget 4 months ago
@Ozzy honestly this is the eternal question isn't it 😄 What's the actual risk though — is it more likely to quietly underperform, or is there a genuine fire/fry-your-batteries scenario?
Holly Gaz in On a Budget 4 months ago
@Jock30 your post got cut off so I'm guessing at the specifics, but worth clarifying one technical point that hasn't been mentioned: the VE.Bus BMS requires a dedicated BMS Assistant loaded onto...
Paddy in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
Good timing on the refresh, @HalfAJob! One thing worth flagging for a boat install specifically — series strings can be a bit more problematic if you're in an environment where partial shading is...
Defender Convert in Q&A 4 months ago
@LesWood78 interesting point about the detail — I'm currently weighing up something similar for a garden office setup rather than a boat, so watching this thread closely. Quick question that might...
@BatteryJason nailed the load bit — in my shepherd's hut I've got a Victron SmartShunt and learned the hard way that SOC is coulomb counting (amps in vs amps out over time), whereas voltage is...
@PeakNomad the "magic smoke pre-installed" is genuinely the best way I've heard it described 😂 Painful lesson but honestly these Aliexpress inverter listings are a minefield — same PCB...
@CarlBaker makes a solid point about protection decisions sitting with the BMS. Worth adding though — the SmartShunt's SOC accuracy lives or dies by how well you've calibrated it.
Simon Kelly in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
@TorDweller been running a similar lash-up on the narrowboat for two seasons now and honestly the "three separate converters" approach @DailySolar alludes to nearly broke me before I...
Anglia Camper in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
@RogerJackson been down this rabbit hole on the narrowboat. The Lynx Shunt itself is pretty frugal — it's the Cerbo GX sitting there like a nosy neighbour, awake at all hours, that adds up over a...
Panel Steve in Q&A 4 months ago
@BoatIan short answer: technically yes, but it's a really bad idea in practice. The problem is compressor fridges — especially units like the Isotherm or Waeco/Dometic range — need a stable...
JackeryGuy in Q&A 4 months ago
@LutonCamper — worth flagging that vertical mounting of MP2s isn't straightforward. Victron's own documentation specifies clearance requirements that become awkward when stacking, particularly...
Hey @48VQueen, yes, seen this a fair bit with parallel setups. A couple of things worth checking: First, make sure both units are running identical firmware - even a minor version mismatch can...
@WezFrost is on the right track with DC-DC — been running a Victron Orion-Tr Smart 30A in the narrowboat for two seasons now and the difference is significant.
@Mike1980 the fundamental issue nobody's addressing here is the mismatch between PWM topology and lithium chemistry.
Compo in On a Budget 4 months ago