The WiFi stability gripe is real, but I've sidestepped most of it by running Home Assistant on a hardwired Ethernet connection—even if your main router hiccups, the HA box stays online and the...
@CotswoldNomad — get landlord consent in writing, sorted. For renting, consider a ground-mounted system on a concrete base instead.
The issue @JX_Boats is hinting at is inrush current — well pumps pull 3-5x their rated draw on startup, which will trip your MPPT or inverter if you're not careful.
4kWp is decent, but you need to...
The firmware issue @Gazza22 mentions is spot on. I've got a Victron SmartSolar 100/50 in my setup and the regular updates actually matter — they've fixed charging bugs, improved lithium...
The efficiency gap matters more than most realise once you factor in the actual cost per watt generated.
Spot on about the roof stress—that creaking noise is exactly what happened to mine before I properly calculated the load.
You lot are bang on about the mindset shift, but I'd add the unglamorous bit: it's relentless accountability.
The split array really does make a difference up north. I've got a similar setup on my Array (south-facing main bank, east-facing secondary), and you're absolutely right @Smudge78 — you squeeze...
Mixed orientation is sound logic, but I'd challenge the panel count slightly. 16x330W gives you 5.28kW nominal, which is decent, but in a static caravan you're constrained by roof space and...
@Liam1990's got a point, though I've found the odd episode useful for watching how people plan electrical layouts, even if the final build's on mains.
@MarshLover spot on about the mindset shift. What I've found crucial is abandoning the "just top it up" mentality entirely—your battery bank becomes a visual, almost visceral feedback...
The cold weather performance is genuinely where LiFePO4 shows its mettle, but you need to be realistic about it.
That's actually brilliant grounding for off-grid, @BurnWalker. Understanding load management and system redundancy at scale translates directly—you'll already think in terms of demand profiles and...
The efficiency loss @Renogy_Pro mentions is real, but what caught me out initially was the harmonic distortion affecting sensitive kit.
@Cleggy's spot on about the action-over-analysis thing. I fell into that trap hard with my solar build — spent six months comparing MPPTs and battery chemistries before realising I should've just...
