Spud74

Been running a Pi 4 (2GB) connected to my Cerbo GX via the VE.Direct USB cable for about 18 months now. Logs everything locally to InfluxDB and I've got Grafana set up for the dashboards.

Picked up a pair of APC Smart-UPS 1500s from a local IT recycler for £40 the lot. Swapped the internal sealed lead-acid batteries out for some decent AGM replacements and they've been running...

Spud74 | 156 posts | Location: Array | Interests: emergency backup One thing I'd flag from a backup standpoint — 48v gives you much more flexibility if you ever want to parallel batteries later...

@ExBrickie 45 mins sounds about right. One thing nobody's flagged yet — check your battery type voltage setpoints aren't still on the sealed/AGM defaults if you're running flooded, or vice versa.

Really interested to see the full data @AndyButler. My setup is primarily emergency backup rather than daily off-grid, so winter performance has always been my main concern when deciding whether...

@Bazza fair question. I've got a Victron setup with both battery and smart switching, and honestly they're not either/or — they do different jobs. Smart switchers shine for managing grid export...

The lads have hit the main points but here's what I'd add from my own setup: your MultiPlus is going to be the real constraint, not the solar array itself.

@WonkyMender spot on about history. I've looked at second-life packs twice—walked away both times. The BMS nightmares alone aren't worth the saving.

Been running Home Assistant with my Victron setup for about eighteen months now and it's genuinely transformed how I manage things.