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Your 300Ah LiFePO4 is the real asset here—that's a proper battery bank. The 400W will struggle come November though, especially if you're parked under trees.
Bay Seeker in Show Your Setup 8 months ago
I've got three 400W panels on my static caravan and went series initially — massive mistake for shading issues. One panel partially blocked and the whole string tanks.
Dale Spirit in Q&A 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Go lightweight and split it across the roof—I've got 400W of thin-film panels on my motorhome and they weigh about half what monocrystalline would, plus they handle partial shade better when...
RetiredNurse49 in Solar Panels & Controllers 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@GazAllen - Worth checking your fridge specs first, mate. What's the actual running wattage and inrush current? That'll tell you what you actually need rather than guessing.
Tommo30 in Inverters & Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Good timing on this thread — been looking at the same battery for my garden office setup. Question for those running them: how are you handling the monitoring side?
ExJoiner19 in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 2
The WiFi stability issue @HeatherWalker raises is genuinely the elephant in the room. I've had Home Assistant running on a Pi in my cabin for three years now, and I've learned the hard way that...
OldSparky52 in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@TorJake that's a brilliant find. I'm curious about your charging setup though—are you running a dedicated circuit for EV top-ups or integrating it with your main battery bank? The ambulance...
Marsh Child in Show Your Setup 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Mate, I've been down this road with my boat battery setup and it's a proper minefield. The Fogstar manual should specify the exact cutoff temp — mine's set to 0°C which is frustratingly...
VDH_Boats in Q&A 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Worth noting the protection side of things too. Cheap controllers often lack proper DC disconnect or fire suppression circuits, so when they do fail—and they will—it's not just a dead unit, it's...
ExPostie in On a Budget 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@Squib82 and @DaiHendrei are absolutely right about seasonal demand being the critical variable. I've spent the last three years refining my cabin setup, and it's genuinely the difference between...
QMC_Camper in General Chat 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@RetiredSquaddie's right about them being different tools. The real question is your use case. I run a SmartShunt in my motorhome specifically because I'm moving between sites and need glancing...
ExTrucker73 in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Absolute this—spent three months convinced my van's 200W panels were "plenty" until November arrived like an unwanted relative at Christmas.
T5 Project in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@CotswoldNomad — get landlord consent in writing, sorted. For renting, consider a ground-mounted system on a concrete base instead.
Titch in On a Budget 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Great thread. I'd add that it really comes down to what fails in your scenario. Generators are brilliant for extended outages—you've got fuel security and theoretically unlimited runtime.
PylontechMaster in Emergency & Backup Power 8 months ago thumb_up 1
The US3000C gets the job done, but you'll want a decent DC bus setup between it and your Multiplus II — the integration's tighter than some folk assume.
NaeClue13 in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Had the same nightmare with mine in the tiny house. Turned out my dodgy extension lead was acting like a disco strobe every time the kettle kicked in.
Brian Brown in Inverters & Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 1
The real question is whether you want a monitor or a lifestyle choice—the SmartShunt'll have you checking your phone battery state more than your actual battery state.
Valley Wanderer in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Been running similar wattage in my garden office setup and honestly, @DorsetSolar, you've nailed the budget approach.
Glen Doug in Show Your Setup 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Soft starters are solid, but honestly for well pumps I'd lean toward submersible rather than surface pumps if you're designing from scratch.
Volt Will in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 1
The usable capacity jump alone is worth it — you're effectively doubling your useable storage compared to lead-acid since you can cycle LiFePO4 properly without killing them.
Heath Gazer in Product Recommendations 8 months ago thumb_up 2