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    My tiny off-grid power system

    Here is my "portable" power bank running off-grid in a cottage. There is grid power too so this is more a learning/hobby project. I designed the aluminum frame and equipment layout in CAD. Not the safest system: solar panel cables run to an anderson wall mount for decoupling and I have omitted...
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    Do PWM controllers/dimmers cause EMI noise? Alternatives?

    I can see or sense the flicker on my Samsung phone screen, for example. Installed a software dimmer app to solve that. Fortunately there are led lights that have voltage dimming (or is that the constant current controller?).
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    Do PWM controllers/dimmers cause EMI noise? Alternatives?

    (not getting any alerts from forum) I'm looking this from health perspective, both electrical and light flicker.
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    Powering USB-PD from 12V?

    Still looking. Now more power hungry so should be buck-boost GaN 100W+. Maybe it takes some time for those arrive on Ali...
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    Do PWM controllers/dimmers cause EMI noise? Alternatives?

    I would like to dim 12V fans and led lights. Easiest solution seems to be PWM dimmer switch. I have read, and it makes sense, that PWM causes electric pollution - EMI. Is this true, and if so, is there an analog alternative for dimming led lights? For fans it's easy to make diy resistors.
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    Lifepo4 battery getting tired after 6 months?

    Shutdowns continue even after fully charging the battery. This week got two while battery was between 40% and 65% charge (~13V). So something else is going on. Maybe water heater is just too much so I'll test if moving it to wall power helps.
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    watt hours probably dumb question

    I was just thinking about this too. So 200 Ah 12V lifepo4 is probably closer to 2600 Wh.
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    Do you need a switch or fuse in addition of circuit breaker?

    I have this Blue Sea circuit breaker as main battery fuse and switch: https://www.bluesea.com/products/7149/187-Series_Circuit_Breaker_-_Surface_Mount_200A Is this enough or should there be a additional switch and/or faster fuse? If so, why? I think you use a switch only when doing...
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    How to test solar wiring without light

    What is the source of current?
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    How to test solar wiring without light

    Just added an extra connection in the wiring path and I'm not getting any solar power. It's very rainy though so not sure if there should be any. Is it possible to test with multimeter that the PV loop that connects to MPPT is continous, there isn't faulty connections in the wiring?
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    Diy DC USB pd for laptop and highspeed charging for tablet

    Missed your reply. This one is only 65W per port but Baseus has also 160W model with 100W per port. Problem there is it charges at full power only for about 15 mins then thermal throttles to lower power. So something similar to this but a bigger with better cooling would be perfect. Maybe with a...
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    Lifepo4 battery getting tired after 6 months?

    Battery is this one (PDF): https://www.suomenakut.fi/storage/product_files/5/217305-TB12200_37eb50f171eaa10ba8aacdd46101e852.pdf That's all info I have on it. Battery monitor is Victron BMV-712 Smart. One thing came to mind: it has been cloudy here so battery hasn't had a 100% charge for a...
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    Lifepo4 battery getting tired after 6 months?

    I have 200Ah 12V battery feeding 3000W Multiplus II inverter. I know it's a bit underrated but I'm drawing max 1C. Max consumption is when water heater kicks in for couple of minutes at a time taking 2 kW plus ~400W of other constant usage. Six months ago battery would shut down when charge...
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    Use for excess energy without sending to grid?

    Heating air is 100% efficient, but conducting it to sand is probably not, unless heating is done in the same space.
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    Use for excess energy without sending to grid?

    I was thinking of starting to mine crypto again in same situation. But not sure it's worth the hassle even with free electricity.
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    Searching for: Mega fuse holder that bolts directly to battery terminal

    It's a good point that bolting mega fuse directly is pita to change. I ended up with those Blue Sea MRBF holders. Not so easy to get the fuses but maybe I'm not blowing them too often ;)
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    Battery load handling at low charge level

    Battery is new and I don't have access to internal parts. Manual says: Over-discharge protection each cell 2.50±0.05V (4 cells). I have used it with small loads down to 11.5V and not sure if it's BMS or inverter's battery safety limit that kicks in at that point (don't have access to inverter...
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    Searching for: Mega fuse holder that bolts directly to battery terminal

    Do you know if this works with Eaton and Blue Sea fuses? So you can stack two of them in battery terminal?
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    Searching for: Mega fuse holder that bolts directly to battery terminal

    MRBF fuse holder would be nice, but then have to stock different types. Or use more expensive MRBF everywhere. Could also be harder to find in case you run out.
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    Searching for: Mega fuse holder that bolts directly to battery terminal

    I'm also interested in this. For Eaton MRBF it says that you need to use a block: "Do not fuse directly to batter terminal, requires use of Marine Rated Fuse Blocks." Could you use mega fuse directly in battery terminal if the attached cables are supported/tied somehow?
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    Powering USB-PD from 12V?

    Low idle power consumption is important for me too. Would like to avoid using extra switch for the ports.
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    Powering USB-PD from 12V?

    I was looking at those too but same, didn't like all the light show. I ended up ordering couple of these https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/4000553292760.html. They don't seem to have any lights. They are a little bit harder to mount, have to see.
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    Battery load handling at low charge level

    Didn't remember that Inverter has safety limit also.
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    Battery load handling at low charge level

    My 12V 200Ah lifepo4 battery shuts down at 12.75V (~15% charge) when trying to draw 2000W. I guess that is normal? Lower the voltage/charge level, less amps you can draw from a battery? (sorry should be at battery discussion)
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    Powering USB-PD from 12V?

    No one doing USB PD chargers?
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    Negative wires when grounding to chassis

    That's a good point that some devices have internal grounds.
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    Negative wires when grounding to chassis

    I'm talking about the 12V wires. Although they are usually quite close to each other, maybe alternator charger being exception.
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    Negative wires when grounding to chassis

    Makes sense. What about grounding, you can use one common wire for equipment ground and negative for long runs?
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    Negative wires when grounding to chassis

    Why do you need to run separate long negative wires around the van for DC system if you connect negative to chassis, along with equipment grounds? Why not just connect negatives to nearest chassis point or equipment ground point?
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    Silent options for Victron

    Thanks! I have heard of the kit mut didn't realize it's for new Multiplus II also. I don't think I can upgrade firmware, it would need USB-adapter or Gerbo, right?
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    Silent options for Victron

    I have Multiplus II 3000VA 12V inverter & charger which is too noisy for me. Are there any silent alternatives from other brands that you could recommend? I would like 200A long term current, 100A charger and UPS function. I've got a 200A Lifepo4 battery and I'm in Europe. Thanks!
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    Powering USB-PD from 12V?

    Any experiences on these 12-24V USB PD chargers? There are at least 3 types: cigarette lighter plugs, round ones without step up converter like this https://www.amazon.com/65W-12V-USB-Outlet-Laptop/dp/B09YTWNCM2/ and boxed ones with step up like this...
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    Diy DC USB pd for laptop and highspeed charging for tablet

    I'm also lookin to connect USB PD plugs to12V system. USB PD seems to have 5A max current, so for example for 100W voltage is 20V. I guess these cheap adapters don't have step up converter 12V -> 20V? https://www.amazon.com/65W-12V-USB-Outlet-Laptop/dp/B09YTWNCM2 So you would need a additional...
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    How low voltage is safe under load for lifepo4?

    Thanks, that was my thought too. I'll put an alert for SOC for around 12V. With bigger loads voltage drops temporarily to 11.5 so voltge alert won't work.
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    How low voltage is safe under load for lifepo4?

    I continued testing the system with low battery, in order to know what to expect in future. Around 11.5V and 300W load battery started to shut down. There was an audible click and voltage dropped to ~1.35V. Only to wake up with charging. Battery specs say "End of discharge voltage 10.0V". Is...
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