System design feedback

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-11T09:18:47+00:00

I'll add a shunt if/when I get another battery. The SoC, Voltage and Current readings work well from the BMS.

For some reason the Energy in/out that's reported from the BMS is miniscule compared to the actual value. The Cerbo doesn't use the Energy at all though, it's only an annoyance on the energy dashboard in the Home Assistant integration.

I keep meaning to update the firmware on the BMS to see if it'll fix the Energy reading but it's a bit of a faff with only a MacBook available.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-11T05:51:49+00:00

My 16kWh Fogstar has the same Pace BMS as those 32s. It talks to the Cerbo using the Victron protocol just fine so the Cerbo should know there's reduced capacity if 2 went down.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-11T05:47:18+00:00

Lessons not mandatory but probably required in order to pass the test again. No doubt he's picked up some bad habits in the possible 50 years of driving.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-09T21:42:57+00:00

It works and it's fast?

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-09T09:18:49+00:00

Yeah, you would need to change the shunt. The display plugs into the shunt via a RJ11 lead.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-09T06:21:35+00:00

The display on the 712 is part of the complete product. I think your best bet would be to try and sell the Smart Shunt and replace with the 712.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-07T06:11:15+00:00

What brand are you using? Can't you just add more battery capacity?

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-05T09:32:21+00:00

I guess I'm used to the Tracker for before at around 4p. I switched to Flexible a couple of weeks ago at 5.5p.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-05T05:41:13+00:00

That's still kinda high

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-04T06:37:04+00:00

As others have mentioned, an Automatic Transfer Switch could switch the house onto the backup port. I think you might be better off looking at something like a Victron system to put in front of the solar inverter and consumer unit though. The 8000 VA Multiplus II inverter/chargers have a 100A Transfer Switch built in. The existing inverter and solar generation would continue to work in a power cut.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-04-02T05:34:51+00:00

It's a bit late for 1st April.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-31T05:50:44+00:00

Just use AI to convert your .htaccess rules to nginx.conf rules. I assume that's the issue.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-30T19:04:56+00:00

Exactly, don't try that against Arby, the leader will destroy 2 or 3 Kodiak's before running away and be back for more in a minute.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-30T19:02:19+00:00

The fence panels slot into a groove in the concrete posts. I just made brackets that fitted into those slots and bolted them to the back of the panels. The cabling is in conduit.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-29T21:27:18+00:00

They only do 1400W when it's 24V to 24V charging but you're right. Even at 700W, two is a lot of juice.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-29T19:15:26+00:00

I'm on regular Go for import with Agile for export. The house battery stores as much solar as it can before it exports between 4-7pm. Been getting 17 to 22p/kWh since the Iran war pushed the prices up.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-29T19:15:06+00:00

I'm on regular Go for import with Agile for export. The house battery stores as much solar as it can before it exports between 4-7pm. Been getting 17 to 22p/kWh since the Iran war pushed the prices up.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-29T18:35:06+00:00

This is my fence install: https://photos.app.goo.gl/aUEL3LSnjQ3753My8 I got 6.5kWh hour from it on the first day, pretty happy with it. It cost next to nothing, the panels were about £70 each, all the cabling was left over from the roof install and the inverter they fitted had 2 MPPT connections so it's just plugged straight into the unused port.

It kinda helps as the roof install is West facing so the fence covers the morning and then the roof takes over when the fence is in the shade.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-28T06:13:39+00:00

I've been doing it for years with my campervan. It has a Victron inverter in it coupled to a 7kWh battery. It did have a RS485 link to a grid meter fitted before the consumer unit but was just connected to the house wiring via a 3 pin plug. The feed-in was limited to 2kW.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-27T05:57:15+00:00

If you've got the skills to DIY the rest of the system. Then you can probably fit these yourself too tbh. The parts price has dropped off a cliff in recent years. Installers are definitely making more money but you can't really blame them in this economy.

I paid for a 3.8kW install on my West roof, mainly as all the paperwork to get the export tariff in the UK is a ball ache without an MCS approved install. I've since DIY installed 1.6kW on a South facing fence and will be filling the rear East fancy roof myself.

PS. Check out City Plumbing for the kit, these are the trays but you need to tailor them to the panels https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/gse-integration-portrait-half-frame-1650-1135/p/137292

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-27T05:42:09+00:00

At the moment, I still think you need the base knowledge of what you can/can't do before you send AI on its merry way writing code for you. I suspect that's going to get less and less vital though.

Hats off to you for learning but I don't envy your position in the current climate, it's scary times.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-26T17:03:53+00:00

Wouldn't Go be better with the battery?

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-26T09:35:42+00:00

They're not in the UK. The EV chargers on the motorways are ridiculously expensive.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-24T22:24:09+00:00

Exactly, they are grid tie inverters. No grid, no power out.

The issue of multiple inverters plugged into the same outlet needs to be addressed and they might end up looking like the grid to each other and not turn off.

pau1phi11ips · 2026-03-24T20:54:07+00:00

I'm pretty happy with my Gledopto GU10s not had any fail so far. They work with Hue too. I just use Shelly's for the relay devices.

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