B2b or more solar.

Mr and Mrs Tupcox

Mr and Mrs Tupcox

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Well we have been using our van loads in the last 9 weeks of ownership only had 8 days home ,i fitted a 460ah fogstar.
A 30amp victron b2b ,and we have the standard fit 100w solar ,And I swaped the autotrail regulator for a victron mppt.
And fitted a 2500w inverter ,
We use a small kettle on 240 all the time, air fryer Every most days
Battery has not got lower that 72 percent.
Do we need all this solar every one adds to there roof.we drive most days 40 ish miles.
B2b over solar b2b is the winners 🏆
 
Yes its all down to own use patterns. I can stay parked for a couple of weeks so my B2B does nothing. Even when I move every day my 30A B2B is not enough unless I am driving more than 2 hours. approx 7 months of the year (in UK) my 300W solar does the job
 
I agree with the others, it is life style that counts.
I wonder what will happen when winter comes, because from what you say you're getting approximately 60 Amp hours which probably won't be enough for your usage.
It will be interesting to find out.
 
Lee said:
I agree with the others, it is life style that counts.
I wonder what will happen when winter comes, because from what you say you're getting approximately 60 Amp hours from the B3B which probably won't be enough for your usage, when you're getting very little on the solar.
It will be interesting to find out.
Click to expand...
 
My next job was putting on more solar ,but I will run as we are for now and see what happens over the summer lots 4 day events booked .so solar only.
 
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i have just fitted 2 more 100w renogy panels ! we are in a steady drizzle with grey skies but those two panels are still harvesting 60w , panels are £79 each on amazon & i had all the wires connectors & fittings from amazon delivered on site for a further £80 so relatively cheap at £240 i fitted them & jeff has connected them for me
 
You aren't a big power user looking at the figures in your first post, you b2b will only put a MAX of 30A back in the battery each hour driving but not taken much above 120Ah out the battery. 4 day standing in Winter should be easily doable I would think with that battery unless you change usage patterns.
If it was me I wouldn't be buying anything else til I know I need it :)
 
We have both solar and 2 x. 280 amp lithium battery’s and B2B we have been away all day with a portable freezer. The tv on most of the time the WiFi and a diesal heater on part time .
The battery’s have shown no use . So we’re on a winner this time ..l
 
Sonar said:
We have both solar and 2 x. 280 amp lithium battery’s and B2B we have been away all day with a portable freezer. The tv on most of the time the WiFi and a diesal heater on part time .
The battery’s have shown no use . So we’re on a winner this time ..l
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Freezer/fridge freezer will use approx 48 amps over a 24 hour period, all the other stuff won't use much spread over a few hours. Mine with similar kit works out at approx 65ah per day so you have a while to go yet before you hit significant usage, saying that solar this time of year will easily replace usage
 
What is this "B2B or Solar?" question? either/or? Nah, need both ;) Just finished this sled for a camper build :)

Sled by David, on Flickr


Just a comment on the Fogstar 460Ah battery .... I was rather underwhelmed by the supplied bolts with the battery.

Fogstar 2 by David, on Flickr
Very short and very few threads to secure onto the battery as they are so short! this photo shows what is left when using a 70mm2 cable lug.

This photo shows the supplied bolts with the Fogstar (bottom) compared with bolts I normally see on batteries (top).

Fogstar 1 by David, on Flickr

If this battery is being used as a swap for an existing battery, the chances are there are a stack of connectors on the positive terminal (last swapout I did had 11 connectors on the battery +ve terminals!). Have to do a lot of recabling with those bolts!
 
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some of the many pearls of wisdom i received from david over the years are relavant here ie the more power you have the more you will use ✅
think what power you will get from solar in the middle of winter not summer ✅
don’t plan for a porsche and buy a ford ✅
 
rugbyken said:
some of the many pearls of wisdom i received from david over the years are relavant here ie the more power you have the more you will use ✅
think what power you will get from solar in the middle of winter not summer ✅
don’t plan for a porsche and buy a ford ✅
Click to expand...
Really really good advice stated in understandable way.
 
30A B2B sounds very small for a 460Ah battery. At 50% discharge it would take 7 or 8 hours driving to top it up.
 
3 days away of grid .meaning no ehl.
Using inverter for tea and coffee air fryer 3 times breakfast bacon sausage. And sitting good this morning. Watching tv at night ..
Screenshot_20240630_101618_Fogstar Drift.jpg
 
Mr and Mrs Tupcox said:
Well we have been using our van loads in the last 9 weeks of ownership only had 8 days home ,i fitted a 460ah fogstar.
A 30amp victron b2b ,and we have the standard fit 100w solar ,And I swaped the autotrail regulator for a victron mppt.
And fitted a 2500w inverter ,
We use a small kettle on 240 all the time, air fryer Every most days
Battery has not got lower that 72 percent.
Do we need all this solar every one adds to there roof.we drive most days 40 ish miles.
B2b over solar b2b is the winners 🏆
Click to expand...
I have a 125 ah KS lithium and 120 w solar and I'm thinking of fitting an inverter can I ask do you plug direct to your inverter or is it connected to your 230 v system for when not hooked up
 
I have no idea what B2B is;please cansomeone explain to this ignoramus in wirds of prefferably one syllable what you are all taking about. Ta
 
andromeda said:
I have no idea what B2B is;please cansomeone explain to this ignoramus in wirds of prefferably one syllable what you are all taking about. Ta
Click to expand...
B2B stands for battery to battery charger. A battery to battery charger is a device that is powered by the engine battery and turns on when the engine is running so that it can charge the leisure (domestic) battery from the engine. Sometimes a B2B is called a charge booster and it is essential to have one of these if you have a modern vehicle with a smart alternator, the old split charge system for charging the leisure battery does not work with a smart alternator. A B2B is also important if you have a Lithium leisure battery because it will not charge properly without one. A B2B replaces the old split charge system and can not work properly alongside the old system which usually has to be disabled.
 
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