Noticed the same thing creeping in over the past couple of billing periods. Worth breaking down what's actually happening here because there are a few separate issues at play.
The standing charge...
Interesting one this, and something I've been digging into myself recently.
Running a Multiplus-II 48V 5000VA here with a Victron SmartSolar MPPT and a 48V Fogstar Drift lithium pack.
Good points from both above, but nobody's mentioned fusing yet.
At 48V with a 3000W inverter you're looking at ~62.5A continuous, but inverters can pull 2-3x that on startup surge.
Had this exact issue last year with my Orion-Tr Smart 30A. Took me a while to track down but the culprit was thermal throttling — the unit gets baked on long motorway runs because the alternator...
@GlenKelly interested to see your full spec when you post it. Six months takes you right through the equinox drop-off which is where most systems get found out.
One thing worth documenting if you...
@DriftKing worth clarifying what you mean by "underreporting" — are you seeing lower yield figures in the app, or is the controller actually showing lower wattage output in real...
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@Macca97 the garden office scenario is actually a decent use case for a B2B, but only if your supply cable run has significant voltage drop or you're running a smart alternator vehicle as the...
@VoltTom worth adding that the SmartSolar's adaptive absorption is particularly valuable on a narrowboat in winter — when you're moving, your solar input is inconsistent and a dumb controller will...
Bazza60 | 1,203 posts
@CrispyMender one thing worth factoring in that gets overlooked — the Orion-Tr Smart 30A pulls roughly 35-36A from the starter side to deliver 30A output due to conversion...
@WhatsAFuse65 Before you reach for a helicoil or start panic-ordering parts, worth checking whether the thread is actually stripped or just the soft aluminium busbar has deformed slightly around...
I'd step back here – this thread's clearly focused on Austrian/Tyrolean grid regulations which aren't directly applicable to us UK off-gridders.
Been running a Drift 5.12 paired with a Victron MultiPlus-II for near on three years now in my off-grid cottage setup, and I'd genuinely rate it.
The stock PSU is genuinely the weak link here. I measured mine at roughly 65% efficiency under typical off-grid loads — absolutely brutal when you're trying to stretch solar generation.
Swapped it...
The caravan route's a solid shout—I stumbled into the off-grid circles through EV charging forums initially, which seems daft in hindsight, but there's genuine crossover.
Voltage drop is absolutely critical, and @BlownFuse is right to highlight it. I'd add that it's not just about distance — cable gauge matters enormously.
