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The relay works but you're leaving efficiency on the table, especially if you're doing shorter runs.
WhatsAFuse65 in DC-DC Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Have you actually measured what your garden office can handle at peak draw? That's where I'd start before entertaining any washing machine dreams. The inrush thing @BoxerProject and @RiverFinn...
WD40Wizard23 in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The 2am problem-solving bit really resonates with me. I've been running my shepherds' hut setup for a few years now, and "off-grid" honestly just means accepting that you're the grid...
NoPlanB in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 3
The sustainability piece really hinges on water and waste management, doesn't it? I've spent enough time in my motorhome to realise what actually works versus what sounds good in theory. With a...
Caddy Camper in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot on about usage patterns. I'm running 200W on the Array for EV charging top-ups and general battery work, and honestly it's taught me that what you're charging matters far more than how much...
Cleggy in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, I've got a Fogstar 5.12 in the shepherd's hut and it's genuinely the best bang-for-buck I've found — though fair warning, the BMS is about as chatty as a grumpy sheep when the voltage drops...
OffGrid Hamish in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 5
Mate, your post's more fragmented than my shepherds hut wiring diagram after the first firmware update. Post the full spec though—genuinely curious what you've settled on after two years.
Sam Frost in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 4
Has anyone here gone with the budget Chinese options (like the Fogstar or Renogy stuff)? I'm genuinely curious whether they hold up long-term on a boat — I'm looking at similar capacity for my...
Muddy Tinker in Product Recommendations 11 months ago thumb_up 2
The payback argument's a red herring for narrowboats though — you're not saving on grid bills, you're buying freedom and reliability.
VictronMaster in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot on, @FenlandSolar. The inductive load issue is massive — I learned this the hard way with my cabin setup. Switched from a 2000W Giandel MSW to a Victron Pure Sine about three years back, and...
DODQueen in Inverters & Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Wild camping in Scotland sounds brilliant, though the battery situation's a bit grim in winter. @BayJason's spot on about the BMS lockout—it's a protective measure that's genuinely necessary, not...
Vivaro Nomad in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually calculated the payback period on lithium vs lead-acid for a narrowboat? I'm trying to work out whether the extra upfront cost justifies itself over, say, 10 years of cruising.
Muddy Ranger in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 1
@Titch nails it with accountability. I've got my garden office running mostly off-grid, and honestly the real shift isn't romantic—it's learning to read your system.
Golden Socket in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Running a pair in my motorhome since 2021 and can confirm they're solid units. The BMS is genuinely reliable—no weird voltage balancing issues like I had with cheaper alternatives.
Kev Clark in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 3
Spot on about voltage mattering. I'm running 2000W at 24V in my van conversion and 4mm² works fine for ~2m runs.
Welsh Camper in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, you've all got the patience of saints. I'd have set mine on fire by day two. Honestly though, the worst part isn't even the initial cost.
Brian Brown in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 3
Spot on about accountability, @Titch. Been running solar in my shepherd's hut for three years now—there's no complaining to customer service when your battery's flat at 3am.
Mike Cross in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, had similar with mine on the boat. Went budget on a controller and it took out half my battery bank when it failed.
Golden Gaffer in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 1
I've got a 5kWh LiFePO₄ bank in my motorhome and briefly tried a single-ring portable induction unit — honestly, it's the inverter that becomes the headache more than the battery itself.
Louise in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 5
The cycle depth advantage is real, but worth noting that your charging infrastructure needs to be decent to make LiFePO4 worthwhile.
OffGridGuru in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1