HeathGazer | 312 posts | 🌿 Regular Member
Worth checking your transfer switch settings too — the Multiplus has an AC input current limit that can interact oddly with motor loads.
Great thread to land on as a new member, @LochChild — welcome to the forum, you've clearly come in with a proper technical question rather than just "why isn't my solar working" 😄
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Looks like both the OP and @ExpertCamper's replies got cut off mid-sentence — worth editing those posts so we can see the full details, particularly the battery you're paired with @Macca97.
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The Cerbo's a solid choice for this setup, even if it feels like overkill initially. You'll find the extra processing headroom useful once you start layering on monitoring.
One thing worth noting...
Got mine mounted on the cabin's south-facing array three summers now. The Victron app integration is genuinely useful — catches issues before they become problems.
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.
Worth noting the efficiency difference gets amplified when you're running longer cable runs. I've got a Victron setup feeding a narrowboat battery bank about 8 metres from the engine alternator,...
Good shout on the depth, @IanHenderson79. I'd add that if you're on clay or chalk (which half the UK seems to be), you might need to go deeper or consider multiple rods.
@DorsetExplorer — you'll want to size for Isc, not nominal. Renogy's spec sheet lists around 32A short-circuit current on that panel.
in Q&A
1 year ago
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The cable sizing comment from @RetiredNurse49 is spot on — I made exactly that mistake on my narrowboat.
Two years well spent, @SolarJunkie—that's the sort of patience that actually pays dividends on a boat.
The shading thing caught us out too, but honestly it depends where your trees actually are. We've got ours on the south-facing edge of our clearing, well clear of the canopy line.
The peaking point @TracyAllen mentions is crucial — I learned this the hard way with my narrowboat setup.
The spectrum thing makes sense, but I'd add: it's also about intention versus circumstance.
I'm in a cabin setup and deliberately off-grid on power—solar + battery bank (Victron gear), rainwater...
Completely agree with this. I've been caught out more than once chasing what looks like a bargain on Amazon—the real cost becomes apparent once you add VAT, extended delivery times, and dodgy...
