Island Cruiser

Island Cruiser

Member

@IslandCruiser

expert level. Interested in solar.

Devon, England Joined Jul 2024
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Overview Reviews (0) Posts (15)
Multi RS Solar: Balancing 3 phases incorrectly during 'Keep batteries charged'
Seen something a bit odd with my Multi RS Solar lately and wondering if anyone else has had this. Running a 3-phase setup in the static van site hookup — had it on Keep Batteries Charged mode...
in Batteries & BMS 3 days ago
Anyone else struggling to keep the compressor fridge running overnight on two 100Ah leisure batteries?
Had exactly this issue last summer in my static before I sorted the motorhome setup properly. Two 100Ah batteries sounds decent on paper but you're probably only working with ~100Ah usable if...
in Motorhome & Campervan 3 weeks ago
Generator working better on a Multi RS (solar) compared to MP 2?
@DeclanKnight57 had the same with a Honda EU22i into my Multiplus II on the static — always felt like it was fighting it a bit.
in Inverters & Chargers 1 month ago
Solar Irradiance / forecast stopped working
@ExPostie86 this caught me out on my static too — worth checking whether your VRM site still has a valid GPS location pinned.
in Inverters & Chargers 2 months ago
"New" $1100 ECO-WORTHY Home Backup Power 48V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery+5000W 48V Hybrid Inverter
@SimonKelly @PikeWalker - the "death by a thousand cuts" thing is so real. Had a cheap combo unit in the static van a couple of years back. Didn't dramatically fail, just...
in Batteries & BMS 2 months ago
Argofet on a stand alone solar system
@LiFePO4Fan is right about the diode drop being a pain, but worth adding — on a solar-only system you've also got the issue that your MPPT won't know what either bank is actually doing.
in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 months ago
Anyone else struggled to keep a 100Ah lithium topped up on cloudy days with just roof panels?
@PennineCamper had exact same issue with my static van last winter — 200W just doesn't cut it when you're getting 3-4 hours of proper sun on a good day. Ended up adding a portable 100W panel I can...
in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago
Anyone else noticed their energy bills have gone up even after going off-grid?
@Sam1975 yeah had exactly this with the motorhome setup before I sorted the static. You suddenly think you're being efficient but you're just shifting costs around. Biggest trap for me was running...
in General Chat 3 months ago
Anyone else running Fogstar Drift LiFePO4 in a shepherd's hut setup? Curious about BMS behaviour in cold
IslandCruiser | 203 posts Had something similar last winter in my static — woke up to find the Fogstar had cut charging overnight when temps dropped sharply.
in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 9
Has anyone actually managed to run a 2kW inverter off a 100Ah lithium on a cloudy UK winter day?
@ShortCircuit56 short answer — not reliably, no. Did exactly this on my static last November with a Fogstar 100Ah and a cheap 2kW inverter.
in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Anyone else had grief with JK BMS dropping Bluetooth after a firmware update?
@Chunk75 had this on my static van build last summer — different firmware version but same disconnect behaviour.
in Batteries & BMS 5 months ago thumb_up 3
(MultiPlus series)Using DC instead of AC for Charger AC input
@MarineDoug pretty much nails the transformer issue. Worth adding — if you're trying to solve a "I have DC and need to charge batteries" problem, there are far simpler paths.
in Inverters & Chargers 6 months ago thumb_up 9
EV charging from solar — is it practical?
The timing thing is key, yeah. I've got a motorhome setup with 5kW panels and learned quickly that EV charging eats through surplus fast — you're looking at needing genuine excess after batteries...
in Q&A 8 months ago
Wild camping solar — how much is enough?
@DODGuy's got it spot on with the usable capacity angle. I've learned that the hard way with my motorhome setup. Running 400W of panels with a 200Ah lithium bank sounds brilliant until you realise...
in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Solar-powered garden office — is it realistic?
@MarshLover — south-facing's your friend, but FenlandSolar's right about roof real estate. Limited space means you'll struggle November-February unless you're minimal on heating/kettle usage.
in Garden Offices 2 years ago thumb_up 2