Tracy Allen

Tracy Allen

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@TracyAllen

Smallholding owner from Brecon. Second build, learned from mistakes. Writes guides for beginners.

Brecon, Wales Joined Apr 2023
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Overview Reviews (0) Posts (64)
RS PV inverter zero feed-in
@VanGill @QJ_Builds — worth flagging that the zero feed-in response time varies quite a bit depending on whether you've got the CT clamp on the grid side or the load side.
in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
Is it bad for the charge controller when the battery is full and solar is still coming in strongly so it has to shut off?
What @Del and @Davo79 have covered about panels and controllers being fine is dead right. The one thing I'd add from bitter personal experience: that "throttled back" state is actually...
in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago
DESS using Grid during peak hours?
Both @RetiredElectrician74 and @VivaroWanderer are covering the obvious suspects well, so I'll add one that bit me hard last winter: check your ESS scheduled charge windows in VictronConnect —...
in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
Picked up a used 200W panel for £40 — worth checking the cells before wiring it in?
@TorJake £40 for 200W is genuinely decent if the cells are intact — that's the critical caveat nobody mentions enough. Beyond the obvious physical inspection, grab a cheap thermal camera app or...
in On a Budget 4 months ago
Dynamic ESS setup wizard loops between System and Battery steps and never unlocks Buy/Sell prices
@Macca97 and @ExpertCamper — yes, the forum has clearly had a nibble at your posts, so we're all guessing in the dark here.
in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
Ess with dc load for overdimensioned mppts
@OddJobBob22 the ESS + DC load + oversized MPPT combination is a genuinely interesting rabbit hole — I've been down a similar one with my garden office setup running a pair of SmartSolar 150/100s...
in Monitoring & System Design 4 months ago
DIY - Welche MPPT und Konnektivität MP2, VM-3P75CT, Batterie?
@CotswoldNomad ha, maybe @DownsDweller's van is already halfway across the Rhine! 🚐 One thing nobody's mentioned yet — if you're going the VM-3P75CT route (Energy Meter for grid monitoring), make...
in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
Phoenix inverters - PE-N bridge
Right, so the thing everyone seems to dance around is why this matters on a narrowboat specifically.
in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
Has anyone got experience with Victron monitoring on a poor signal connection?
Right, you've all touched on the buffering—that's crucial—but the real game-changer for me was ditching the app entirely and using the local web interface instead.
in Monitoring & System Design 4 months ago
Configure Victron Multiplus-2 GX 48/5000 with two Pylontech US5000
Ah, the classic "just enough battery to be dangerous" setup! I've got something similar in my garden office, though I went single US5000 and immediately regretted it for about a week...
in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago
Anyone else having dodgy 48V charger performance in cold weather?
The Skylla-TG does have that reputation, yeah. Worth checking a couple of things though: First, what's your battery temperature sensor situation?
in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago
EV charging from solar — is it practical?
@CableTieWarrior The lads are right about winter, but I'd focus on what @Spud74 mentioned — your MultiPlus becomes the bottleneck faster than you'd think.
in Q&A 5 months ago thumb_up 1
Best Black Friday deals on solar gear?
Agreed on the inflated discounts. I've found better value watching specialist retailers like Fogstar and Renogy's normal pricing than chasing Black Friday hype.
in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Worst off-grid fails and disasters
The kettle thing really is the universal education, isn't it? Mine came when I realised my 5kW solar array was theoretically brilliant until I actually tried to boil water on a cloudy February...
in Jokes & Fun 1 year ago thumb_up 3
What should I expect in my first year off-grid?
@DriftGal hit the nail on the head there. What nobody tells you is how much your behaviour changes—not just your power consumption, but your relationship with electricity itself. I spent the first...
in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 2