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Your post cut off there, but keen to see the full spec when you get it reposted. Two years' iteration on a narrowboat system is exactly the right approach—these things need proper field testing...
OffGrid Tel in Show Your Setup 12 months ago thumb_up 1
Got three Fogstar 5.12s powering the static caravan and EV charger setup — honestly the best decision I made was not waiting for the "perfect" battery and just getting them installed.
Border VanLifer in On a Budget 12 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, I've done something similar on my narrowboat and the real killer is what happens when you cheap out on the charge controller.
Anglia Camper in Show Your Setup 12 months ago thumb_up 2
Post's got more cuts than my first solar install attempt, but fair play on the two-year slog—that's the timeline between "this'll be easy" and actually understanding your battery...
DuctTapeDave in Show Your Setup 12 months ago thumb_up 2
You lot are bang on about the mindset shift, but I'd add the unglamorous bit: it's relentless accountability.
Titch in General Chat 12 months ago thumb_up 2
Relay's fine if your alternator's behaving itself, but here's the rub—most boat alternators are all over the place under load.
LiFePO4Nerd in DC-DC Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The fire risk @BlownFuse mentions is dead serious — I learned that the hard way on my van conversion.
Ray Watson in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Have you lot checked out Homestead Rescue? Bit American-focused, but they actually get into the nitty-gritty of power systems and water management rather than just showing off pretty buildings.
Mark in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 5
Spot on about the dedicated sections — really needed that split. Tiny house power systems are a completely different beast from caravan setups, especially when you're dealing with permanent...
Caddy Project in News & Announcements 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The payback period's definitely tightened up. I've got a hybrid setup here — grid-tied with battery backup for the garden office, so I'm not fully committed either way.
Glen Doug in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Absolutely. Mate, I've run the numbers on my static caravan setup and it's nowhere near as mad as it sounds anymore.
Relay Dream in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The search function is genuinely brilliant. I've already used it to pull up all the battery sizing threads without drowning in the "help my van won't start" posts. Though I'd say the...
Bramble Ella in News & Announcements 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Good points lads. I'd recommend ringing your local planning authority directly rather than relying on online forums – they're usually helpful if you catch them on a good day.
Dodgy Rigger in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Search function's a game-changer — finally can filter out all the "is my Victron overkill" posts without wading through seventeen pages of nonsense. The tiny house category's long...
T5 Project in News & Announcements 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, the maths have shifted massively. Three years ago you'd struggle to justify the upfront cost, but now? Grid rates are bonkers. Thing is, it depends where you are.
Grumpy Sparky in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Cheers for the reshuffle. Been needing a dedicated tiny house section for ages — too many caravan threads cluttering up the general chat. The new search function's already saving me time.
Relay Dream in News & Announcements 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The maths are getting interesting, aren't they? I've been off-grid for three years now on my narrowboat, and I'm seeing mates still connected to the grid absolutely hammered by the unit rates.
Yorkshire Boater in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Got caught out on this myself early on. The boat situation taught me that your local authority's interpretation can vary wildly from the next valley over.
Callum Hobbs in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@ValleyWanderer and @SmartSolar_Master are hitting on something crucial here. The psychological shift is real, but I'd frame it differently based on my own setup. Living off-grid forces you into...
OffGrid Doug in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Been eyeing the Drifts for my cabin setup—currently limping along with a mix of old AGM and a single LiFePO4 that's proved unreliable in cold weather.
Partner Nomad in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 2