What's New

Latest posts across all forums

Latest Threads Unanswered
The inrush is definitely the killer—I learned this the hard way with a compact Beko on my boat setup.
Relay Nomad in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 4
The constraints thing's become clearer to me over time too. Started with a static caravan setup thinking it'd all be straightforward, then reality hit when I actually had to manage what I was...
ExSquaddie in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
@48VQueen's made me laugh — but honestly, I've seen it go wrong. Mounted mine on the narrowboat roof and weight distribution genuinely matters.
Spider in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Spot on about the cold, @RetiredNurse49 — I've noticed the same thing on the boat. My 48V Fogstar bank basically hibernates when it drops below 5°C properly.
Pennine Nomad in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Wood burner's your mate here — nothing drains a battery like electric heating, trust me I've watched my Victron weep watching someone run a 3kW heater.
Smithy in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Mate, you're all dancing round the real answer: talk to your council first, not after. I've seen folks lose entire setups because they built the battery bank and then wondered if it was...
OldSailor in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Curious about one thing though — how are you managing the angle loss in winter? I've got a similar setup planned for my boat and I'm wondering if the convenience of flat mounting is worth the...
Copper Sparky in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Decent thread. Solar's the safer bet on a boat—panels are dead simple, no moving parts vibrating themselves loose, and you've got predictable output on decent days.
Loch Child in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@WingAndPrayer the relay debate here depends entirely on your charging source. Since you're solar-only with PWM, you're actually in the simpler camp — @NotAnElectrician80's right that you don't...
Tracy Allen in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Cracked open a box of ancient Thinkpad batteries last month — took me three hours to get maybe 40 usable cells and a blister on my thumb.
Camper Carl in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 2
@EssexNomad's got a point about the maintenance, though I'd say it's less about moss and more about keeping the angles right through the year.
Cleggy in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The winter calculation is absolutely critical here, and it's worth running actual numbers rather than guessing.
Vivaro Adventure in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Mate, the battery question is spot on from @DefenderAdventure. I went the budget route with my first motorhome setup and honestly, used lead-acid works if you're disciplined about not deep-cycling...
OffGrid Max in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The 200Ah setup you've got isn't overcomplicated if you're actually using it properly — it's just more intentional than a portable unit.
Watt Vicky in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 1
You lot are having a laugh with the tree doom-and-gloom, but @BorderVanLifer's got a point about autumn leaf-fall.
Mountain Hermit in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 2
I've learned this the hard way on the narrowboat. Saved about £60 on a battery monitor from Amazon last year and spent six months chasing support when it started dropping connection.
Craig Cross in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 5
The winter capacity issue is real — I've been there with my shepherds hut setup. Before switching to LiFePO4, I was essentially managing 50Ah usable from a 100Ah lead-acid bank. 200Ah LiFePO4 gets...
Highland Explorer in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Brilliant to see a sparky joining properly — you'll be invaluable for the technical questions that come up.
AGM_Pro in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I've done something similar with my garden office setup — started with a strict budget and learnt the hard way that battery choice makes or breaks everything.
ExFarmer90 in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The issue with just paralleling them like @NotAnElectrician80 suggests is you'll end up with voltage sag across both banks during discharge, especially if they're different ages or capacities.
Pennine Nomad in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1