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    Configuring Victron for Lithium via Cerbo GX?

    First and foremost, take it slow. Better to live for another day than fry your yourself or your system. It took me several weeks to get to know my system and a few days to get it turned on. Don’t expect to get things running in a couple of hours if you are new to Solar. A few points. 1...
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    Trying to figure out best option for 18'x8' box truck build

    For limited space applications (e.g. RV), the main driver is size of solar panel (including VOC and ISC or max volts and amps) and mounting kit. You likely want to pick panels that … 0. Figure how much electricity you use and how many days you want to survive with worst case of no sun or...
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    VE Smart Networking

    In general, Bluetooth allows you to view the victron device in the Victron connect app (actual name may various if using iOS or android). There you can configure most victron devices except for inverters. For inverters, you must use the dongle (mk3 something) to actually configure it. With the...
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    Move whole-house AC or get a window AC unit?

    Need more details like Kids? Size of house? Location? Daily keg usage? For me, using portable ACs is by far , more efficient than central air. 3500w run the central air for the whole house along with many areas that I don’t need to cool. The portable AC cools the immediate area and takes...
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    Need help choosing solar panels and inverter

    Not sure if it was mentioned, but your solar panels should be sized for your SCC by VOC and ISC and …. Maybe your roof or ground mount. Your combined Solar panel string VOC should be 80% or less than your max SCC VOC of 250v. Depending on your available space from roof or ground mount, you...
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    Cheapest setup for VE Configure

    Not sure why you want to control the voltage cutoff. My guess is it probably relates to optimizing battery utilization. Once setup, you really don’t have a need to change settings. I think Victron designed their inverters to protect themselves from people like DIYers from easily tinkering with...
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    Advice on installing large off grid system.

    As stated earlier, this is a wild a$$ guess with little to no tangible information. The start of the calculation is 3000kw / month which equates to an average 4 kw / hour. Using this info, I am trying to size the inverter. This is my opinion and estimation. Enough said !!
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    Advice on installing large off grid system.

    Here is my 2 cents. This is a lot to unwrap. Leveraging your “guesstimate” numbers 3,000 kWh / month equates to 100 kWh / day and 4 kW / hr Double the that to 8 kW / hr to account usage during the day Double it again for inductive loads 16 kw / hr Add 50% so you don’t run inverters at...
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    Grouping Solar Panels

    Not sure if this is diy or you're going to pay someone. Also, not sure if this is pure business in the sense that you are watching the ROI numbers or a hobby / partial hobby where the joy of solar can offset some of the costs. When setting up a string, it's best to keep them as close to each...
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    Grounding batteries

    I dont know myself, but I would say it's about marginal cost. An extra $100ish dollars to protect the most expensive component of your system (batteries). Also, if the initial SPD doesn't clamp down on that spiked voltage enough at the PV inlet, the SPD on the battery may still be able to...
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    Grouping Solar Panels

    Probably easier to sacrifice one 9 panel array and use it to setup those 2 straggler panels and any other panel that does not align well. You just will need some long PV wires. That will give you 3 good arrays and 1 not as good array.
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    Grouping Solar Panels

    Not sure how the sun travels, but if I / we assume your roof drawing is oriented so top is north, bottom is south, etc, there are two general scenarios First, there are no trees or chance of shade, then it does not matter. Second, if there is a chance of shade say on east side, then you want...
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    Finaly setting my solar tomorow need quick help!

    The number 4 box that indicates 600v and 30A appears to relate to your solar panel (PV) connectors. 10 gauge (6 mm2) is rated for 30 amps.
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    Question: BMS for 12v pack DALY

    A couple of comments. Daly BMSs are sold on Amazon so they are easy to purchase which is why I have the 4S bluetooth version. Energy is energy. As long as your make 4 cells that the BMS can read, it should work. Its not optimal since each cell is composed of really 8 cells. To me, you...
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    EP Cube Review

    I would say part of DIY is to have some turn key components. Its good to have a variety of "tools" in your toolbox. I have a DIY Victron system and 3 solar generators (2kw, 600w, 256w) that I really appreciate when I am working on the Victron system. I sometimes need something that just...
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    Is 1380 amp hours too big of a battery bank in a van (3 epoch 460).......

    From a high level, here are my comments. PV array is 710 w or 0.71 kw. This indicates how much "free" energy you can get from the sun and charge your batteries. Other factors such as location and van roof space probably matter more for a van setup. Install as much as you can. Battery is...
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    Where to buy a BMS from a reputable retailer?

    Thanks for the responses.
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    EG4 6500EX drop outs

    I remember one more reason why I had to throw out ROI. Wife and kids don’t understand or appreciate the literal pennies that I am trying to save each day with this system. I am collecting those pennies back over 10 or 20 years along with the joy of power independence and redundancy. They...
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    EG4 6500EX drop outs

    I understand money does not grow on trees. My guess is that like many others in this forum, we/they tend to over build, myself included. I threw ROI out the window for many reasons. Mainly difficult to compute intangibles (eg joy of diy project, hobby, independence), unfair to exclude my...
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    Where to buy a BMS from a reputable retailer?

    Where do / did you buy your BMS from a reputable retailer? I bought two Overkill 16S BMS ($160 each) from their website and one Daly 4s BMS ($60) from Amazon. The Overkill is priced higher but has an idiot proof warranty. I"m asking since I'm looking for something where the retailer /...
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    EG4 6500EX drop outs

    The Victron Multiplus II 48 / 5000 / 120v are down to $17xx
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    Victron is Over-priced Eurotrash. Why would anybody buy Victron over an AiO?

    Bump ... This always happens. Buy something and the price drops afterwards.
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    EG4 6500EX drop outs

    Seems like you already have the solution based on your comment "What can I do to resolve these problems, short of replacing the inverters with something all together different and chalking this up to ... I'm just a sucker... don't by budget friendly inverter(s) ?" Right now, Victron Multiplus...
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    Installed Victron MP II 48 / 5000 -- Thanks Adam for Ignoring AC Input Video

    Thought I keep this thread going. While in the Remote Console, Generator start/stop section, how do you activate the generator (its really the grid in this case) based on battery voltage. I'm not at home, but when I click through eventually to the Conditions section, it list the battery as...
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    Installed Victron MP II 48 / 5000 -- Thanks Adam for Ignoring AC Input Video

    @Adam De Lay I wanted to say thanks for posting your "Different Ways to Ignore AC Input on a Victron MultiPlus 2 Inverter" video. Link is below. I recently invested in the Victron ecosystem (MP II 48/5000, Lynx Distribution kit, Cerbo GX, SCC, etc). With one Multiplus running single...
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    Adding PV to my first Victron SCC 150 / 45 -- Please check my calculations

    Thanks Q Dog, Seems like Victron approves 150 / 45 for the 4 parallel strings of 5 panels
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    Anyone know the overheat temp in SA for 6500ex's?

    I just check my 90 day temp history in SA and max was around 120 F. The inverters are in the basement which is obviously cooler in both the summer and winter times. From my observations, running high loads or getting a lot of solar go hand in hand with loud fans and higher inverter temps. A...
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    Adding PV to my first Victron SCC 150 / 45 -- Please check my calculations

    I’m trying to add some solar panels to my new Victron Smart Charge Controller 150 / 45 and connect it to my existing 48v off grid system (EG4 6500EX, 6 Lifepower4 batteries and 10k PV (yes its over paneled but still under max VOC). With my current setup and shade / trees, on an excellent winter...
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    Good 1000w inverter (12v or 24v) ??

    I was looking for a good 1000w inverter that runs on either 12v or 24v to build a DIY power station / solar generator. So far, I have found two safe and decent options that I can pickup easily and return if needed below. The Victron is on my wishlist. Any suggestions are welcome Renogy...
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    Replacing EG4 with Victron - Advice welcome

    Thanks again Adam I definitely want the Cerbo too. I'm being too stubborn right now and don't feel the $1900 is worth it for remote monitoring and configuration. I think I'll eventually warm up and get desensitized to the price the more I keep looking. I'll look at prices later, my guess is...
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    Replacing EG4 with Victron - Advice welcome

    Thanks for the quick response Adam. In regards to the limit of Victron SCC allows, I meant to say / ask .... How many can be properly connected and communicating with the Cerbo so the data is available. Another question and thinking out loud here. Do I really need the Cerbo, lynx...
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    Replacing EG4 with Victron - Advice welcome

    I am looking to replace my one EG4 6500 with a Victron kit. Never used Victron before. Tired of mediocrity and want something that just works well. I am open to suggestions / critiques. Location: Northeast Ohio. PV array is oversized to compensate for shade / trees. Current system -------...
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    Starting up my Battery Finally ... Now hit Overvoltage Protection after charging for approx. half a day

    Check your connections considering those are your starting and ending cells. Another option is to swap a middle cell say #8 with #1. Swap / switch cells to determine if the cell is grumpy or the connection needs reconnecting Fixed numbers above
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    Starting up my Battery Finally ... Now hit Overvoltage Protection after charging for approx. half a day

    Also, giving them a little more time (a week?) to adjust and passively balance and actively balance with your BMS running the show. Some cells may need a couple of charge and discharge cycles to wake up and operate at full capacity. I'm kind of lazy and would not want to disassemble the battery...
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    Starting up my Battery Finally ... Now hit Overvoltage Protection after charging for approx. half a day

    There was a lot of reading and I'm not an expert here. I thought over voltage would be around 3.7 or 3.8v considering max voltage per cell for lifepo4 is around 3.65 when charging them. I'm thinking of my 48v server rack battery which has a max of 58.4v or 3.65 per cell. Also, I think your...
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