State of Charge — your battery's fuel gauge basically. @ZFS_OffGrid and the others have nailed the lithium bit.
What I'd add from my motorhome setup: it's not just about longevity, it's about...
Spot on about thermal management @OffGridMax. I learned that one in the motorhome the hard way — laptop throttling in summer because the van cab gets proper hot, even with decent ventilation...
The real quest is finding cells with known history, innit. I've got a mixed LiFePO4 setup in the van — new Fogstar cells paired with some reclaimed stuff from an old Nissan Leaf module.
Decent setup for the Highlands — that's proper testing ground. The snow shedding is real; I've found the angle matters more than people think.
Got LiFePO4 in the van and AGM in the motorhome backup setup. Honestly depends on your actual cycles.
AGM's fine if you're dipping 20-30% regularly and don't mind topping up often.
Depends on your charge controller and battery voltage, really. What've you got?
Series pushes voltage, parallel pushes current.
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1 year ago
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You're absolutely right about the inrush — it's mental. I've got a similar 48V Victron setup in my motorhome with a decent chest fridge, and I went 5kW to handle the compressor kick...
Portable stations are convenient but you're paying a premium for the box they come in, tbh. Your DIY setup is miles ahead if you've already got it dialled in.
The real question is whether you...
@Lefty72 reckon you're being a bit harsh, depends entirely on usage though innit. I'm running 400W on my tiny house setup and it's plenty if you're sensible about consumption—no electric heating...
The distance thing's key yeah. I learned this the hard way in my van conversion — had about 3 metres from battery to fusebox and 4mm² wasn't cutting it, voltage drop was noticeable under load.
Brilliant to have someone with proper credentials on board, @PanelSteve. The Midlands circuit work must've given you some serious stories — bet you've seen every dodgy installation imaginable...
Been looking at this properly for the first time now our grid's getting dodgier. Currently in a van conversion but planning a tiny house build in the next couple years, so want something that'll...
Decent setup! 4kW on a shed is proper serious. Guessing you're running the SmartSolar with a battery bank underneath? Those Renogy panels are solid — how are you finding them in winter though?
