Simon Kelly

Simon Kelly

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@SimonKelly

Garden office powered by solar in Lisbon area. Working from home off-grid. Known for detailed build logs.

Lisbon area, Portugal Joined Jun 2023
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Overview Reviews (0) Posts (38)
How much to sell it for: EG4 LiFePO4 48V 18A Waterproof High-Frequency Battery Charger
The EG4 stuff is genuinely decent hardware, but I'm with you on the Victron integration angle. I've been running Victron across my motorhome setup for three years now—the way their chargers,...
in Batteries & BMS 1 month ago
Has anyone had issues with their Victron Multiplus cutting out when the battery voltage drops below 48v?
The LVD settings are definitely your culprit here. What @MarkGibson and @SmartSolarNerd have said is spot on, but worth adding — you'll want to check not just the disconnect threshold, but also...
in Inverters & Chargers 1 month ago
Selling: Complete van solar kit — emigrating!
The real question is whether you've got the system dialled in properly before offloading it. A 3kVA Victron with 10kWh lithium is solid kit, but configuration is everything and most folk don't...
in For Sale 1 month ago thumb_up 1
Victron Phoenix vs Renogy 2000W comparison
The Phoenix handles inrush far better than Renogy kit I've tested—it's built for exactly this scenario. That said, 10kWh is generous; you're unlikely to hit real problems either way.
in Inverters & Chargers 2 months ago thumb_up 3
Budget monitoring — DIY shunt vs Victron SmartShunt
The shunt's only half the problem though—it's the monitoring software that matters. I ran a Fogstar unit for two years before switching to Victron.
in On a Budget 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Storm season prep — emergency power checklist
Been through this myself during a Welsh winter lockdown—motorhome, subzero temps, and a Victron LiFePO4 bank that went from 100% usable capacity to about 60% literally overnight.
in Emergency & Backup Power 3 months ago thumb_up 5
Storm season prep — emergency power checklist
Spot on about the lessons learned the hard way. Three days is rough going. Worth adding to your list: a dedicated leisure battery monitor (I use a Victron BMV-712) so you're not guessing state of...
in Emergency & Backup Power 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Best portable power station under £300?
The issue you'll hit at £300 is that you're buying a compromise device. Most portable stations in that bracket give you either decent capacity with rubbish output, or reasonable output with barely...
in Product Recommendations 5 months ago thumb_up 3
Best value LiFePO4 batteries in 2024?
The value proposition with Fogstar really depends on your discharge profile. I'm running two 5.12kWh units in the motorhome and they've been solid for 18 months, but I'd push back slightly on the...
in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Planning a fully off-grid cabin — where to start?
The live-in phase everyone's emphasising is dead right, but I'd add: instrument it properly from day one.
in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Victron MultiPlus vs Multiplus II — worth the upgrade?
The efficiency gains are real but honestly overshadowed by what @RetiredChef's mentioned — the GX integration on the II is genuinely transformative if you're building a proper monitoring setup.
in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Generator vs battery backup — which is better?
The generator vs battery question plagued me for years in the motorhome. What finally clicked was thinking about duty cycle rather than just capacity. Generators excel at sustained load — running...
in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Our narrowboat electrical refit — before and after
The modular approach is spot on for boats, though I'd flag one thing that caught us out on the motorhome conversion—ventilation around lithium banks is critical, especially in the damp environment...
in Show Your Setup 1 year ago
Complete guide: Wiring a 12V campervan system
The cable gauge conversation is spot on, but I'd add that voltage drop is the sneaky killer most people ignore.
in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Complete electrical guide for campervan newbies
The sequencing point is crucial, but there's another layer that catches people out: voltage sag under transient loads.
in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1