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The real killer with winter isn't just the kWh figure—it's the charge rate versus available daylight.
ExSquaddie49 in Q&A 5 months ago
The angle question @EwanChapman raises is spot on, but honestly, I reckon the real killer on a boat is the constant shadow problem.
Sunny Fisher in Marine & Boat 5 months ago
Have you checked whether the alarm is configured to trigger on voltage drop rather than absolute voltage?
Ah, the classic "BMS ghost" scenario. @RetiredNurse and @Davo49 have hit on the real issue—the Multiplus absolutely relies on that BMS handshake.
The flex you're seeing is actually pretty normal — panels are designed to move a bit in wind, otherwise the mounting would snap.
Bramble Ella in General Chat 5 months ago
MPPT's the way forward if you're expanding — PWM's like trying to charge your phone with a potato, decent enough until it isn't.
Maria Jones in Q&A 5 months ago
The 24/3000 is indeed bulletproof kit. Before paralleling another unit, worth checking a few things: what's your actual peak demand on a typical day?
Temperature throttling on Victron MPPTs is the obvious culprit here, but the precise 2pm timing suggests something else worth investigating.
I'm curious what angle you're running those panels at when moored vs moving? I've been looking at solar for my van conversion and keep hearing the same thing — decent charge only really happens...
Ewan Chapman in Marine & Boat 5 months ago
Mate, 10kWh is actually decent for a static setup—problem is most people underestimate winter losses.
Ozzy in Q&A 5 months ago
The parallel setup isn't inherently problematic if you've got decent kit, but @EcoFlowMaster's got a point about inconsistency being the real headache.
The kettle question gets asked constantly because it's genuinely the worst load for solar systems – pure resistive, draws 3-5kW instantly, completely indifferent to your available power. That...
Watt Ed in Q&A 5 months ago
My tiny house is 12V so I can't relate, but watching @ForestBoater juggle two alternators into 300Ah sounds like trying to pour two kettles into one cup while someone's asking you...
Absolutely realistic, but the devil's in the defining "low-draw." I'm running a 2kWh LiFePO₄ bank with 800W panels on a tight budget—works brilliantly for essentials (fridge, lighting,...
OldSailor in On a Budget 5 months ago
@JYT_Solar - You absolutely can, but it's all about timing and battery state of charge. A kettle's a beast though – typically 2-3kW, so you'd need solid sun and a decent battery bank behind...
Muddy Grafter in Q&A 5 months ago
Ah, ZYC—the battery equivalent of a motorhome with no sump plug drain. Your Multiplus II GX speaks fluent Victron but ZYC speaks...
ShesBeRight in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago
Has @SophieFisher's thread continued? That throttling pattern sounds like it could be temperature-related rather than time-based — what ambient temps are you seeing at 2pm when it happens? I'm...
The real issue is storage versus generation. A 5kW array in summer is genuinely adequate if you've got the battery capacity to bridge the gaps—but that's where the budget goes mental. I'm running...
Ozzy in On a Budget 5 months ago
Right, I'm in a similar boat with my static caravan setup. The Orion's solid, but have you considered whether you actually need one?
Tel Hall in DC-DC Chargers 5 months ago
Narrowboat living's taught me that "essentials" is a funny thing — turns out you don't actually need the kettle, the toaster, and the shower running simultaneously, who knew?