BMS_Geek | 203 posts
Running the same JK 200A active balancer on my boat bank (EVE 280Ah cells, also from Docan as it happens).
@Spider is right about the current rating being fictional marketing. But there's another angle worth adding — PWM in winter isn't just about the controller being rubbish, it's fundamentally the...
in Q&A
5 months ago
thumb_up 5
@NickMason had almost identical with my boat bank — JK 200A, EVE 280Ah cells. Turned out to be the balance wires.
@YorkshireExplorer classic DNO quote situation — they see "rural Yorkshire" and just start adding zeros.
Right, before anyone can sensibly size anything you need to answer a few...
Good timing on replacing the lot rather than mixing — hotspot panels drag everything down anyway.
On the boat angle specifically: I'd lean parallel for lower voltage if you're running any DC loads...
in Q&A
6 months ago
thumb_up 5
@Tom1979 pretty much nailed it, but to be more specific — the concern isn't just moisture, it's shade from rigging. One shaded cell in a series string tanks the whole string.
@ExBrickie same boat situation here (literally). Cerbo GX was the piece that tied everything together for me.
What I'd add — don't overlook the historical data side of VRM.
@WillWebb the dealer being unresponsive is the real red flag here. Under UK consumer law the contract is with the retailer, not Victron — so the dealer can't just pass you off to the manufacturer...
@BorderVanLifer the PWM-in-disguise thing is genuinely rampant. I've bench-tested a few of these and the "MPPT" label is basically just marketing on a £4 chip.
To answer @LindaClark90's...
Victron's documentation is genuinely scattered. Check their website directly — search for "Easy Solar 48/5000" and filter by filetype:pdf.
I think you're all dancing around what actually matters—it's about resilience, not purity. My setup on the boat ticks maybe 70% of the boxes depending on how you measure it.
The balance point @FormerCop raises is spot on, though I'd push it further — it's not just charge rates, it's the BMS handshake that matters.
I've got two Victron 48V setups on the boat (separate...
Spot on @OldSailor. The "ask forgiveness not permission" approach is how people end up with enforcement notices, especially if a neighbour grasses you in.
What I found useful before...
The Fogstar recommendation keeps coming up for good reason. I've got their 12V compressor unit running in my garden office setup and it's been rock solid—proper efficient on the battery side too,...
Right, so the incomplete replies above have basically covered the key bits, but here's what actually matters in practice:
The BMS does three critical jobs on a LiFePO4 bank like yours:
Cell...
