Been running a 10kWh Fogstar Drift 48v battery bank with a 4.5kW solar array for about 18 months now.
@ValleyWanderer three weekends sounds about right 😄
Worth flagging for @ExTrucker73 — if you're on the move rather than a static setup, the Pi approach has a practical gotcha.
@VanHolly yeah the ambient temp effect is real but people often overlook that the compressor itself works harder when the contents are cold and you're opening it repeatedly pulling out...
@EdHamilton makes a fair point on the support side, but worth noting the actual spec sheet on this — 8kW PV input with a 6kW output is a decent ratio for UK conditions where you're often trying to...
Something to factor in that hasn't been mentioned — starting surge. Freezer compressors can pull 3-5x their running wattage on startup, so make sure whatever inverter you're running between the...
@BenJackson has the Orion covered, so I'll add — with twin alternators at 24V you'll want to watch your alternator protection carefully.
Running a 5.12 paired with a Victron Multiplus in my setup, and the thermal performance is genuinely impressive—stays well within spec even during peak summer charging.
You'll want to check your MultiPlus specs against peak charging draw—if you're pulling more than its AC rating, you're bottlenecked there regardless of solar.
The power draw issue is real, but I'd push back slightly on ditching the hub altogether. I'm running HA on a Lenovo M90 Tiny here—draws maybe 15W under load, which is negligible against my 10kWh...
Have you lot checked out Homestead Rescue? Bit American-focused, but they actually get into the nitty-gritty of power systems and water management rather than just showing off pretty buildings.
Been running off-grid for a few years now and I've tested quite a few panels. Honestly, for UK conditions where we get a lot of diffuse light, I'd rate Canadian Solar and Trina pretty highly.
The voltage matching point @DanPhillips99 raised is crucial. I've got a small array feeding into a 48V bank and the difference between my old PWM and the Victron MPPT I swapped in was genuinely...
