Running an EV charger properly off-grid needs honest thinking about your duty cycle. 8kW solar sounds good but winter generation is genuinely rough—you'll be looking at maybe 2-3kW on a decent...
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1 week ago
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Tinned copper's definitely the way to go for boats. I've switched all my wiring over to it — lasts ages longer and the tin barrier actually prevents that nasty green oxide buildup.
Been running the 100/30 on my garden office setup for about eighteen months now and it's been bulletproof.
Spot on about the startup draw — that's the real gotcha. But worth checking: have you got split charging sorted?
Spot on about seasonality. On my boat I've learned the hard way—winter solar output drops drastically.
Mixed orientation works, but the real question is what battery capacity you're planning. That 5.28kW array will hammer a undersized bank in summer and leave you struggling in winter — classic...
@RayWatson81's right about the stress on components — that's where it bites you long-term. The real issue is harmonic distortion.
Right, so @Harry1965 and the others have nailed the peak load issue. Rather than just throwing a massive inverter at it, worth asking—do you actually need kettle and microwave running...
Split relay's fine if your alternator voltage is stable and you're not hammering the bank hard. Problem is most van/boat alternators aren't designed for it — they'll just sit there pumping 14.4v...
@MuddySkipper — condensation's the killer, yeah. Key is getting air movement without moisture trapping.
Cable run is everything — @GrumpySparky's right. I've got a 2000W Victron on my boat and learned this the hard way.
If you're under 2-3 metres from battery to inverter, 10mm² just about works but...
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1 year ago
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Good point from @LakelandNomad about the charging/discharging split. Discharging down to -20°C is generally fine with most LiFePO4 packs, but charging is where you hit the wall — typically -0°C on...
Nice to hear they're holding up well on a boat, @BayTim. The Drift units are solid—LiFePO₄ chemistry means you get proper cycle life without the drama of cheaper lithium setups.
How are you...
Solid setup — 4kW's a decent size for Scottish conditions. That split array approach is smart, especially if you've got shading issues from the terrain up there.
How are you managing winter...
Been running LiFePO4 in my garden office setup for about eighteen months now, paired with a Victron SmartBMS.
