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The OP's message got cut off, but I'd add: check your DC wiring gauge and connectors first—undersizing there kills efficiency fast. Also, what's your array voltage hitting?
Yorkshire VanLifer in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 4
@OffGridFreak, I'd push back gently on the cheap Chinese route, especially with EV charging in the mix.
Oak Tom in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Your Fogstar will absolutely refuse to play ball below freezing—that BMS lockout is there because lithium plating is basically the battery equivalent of a bad divorce, expensive and messy.
Bay Soul in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I've been down this road in the van conversion. Thought I'd save a grand by going cheap, ended up replacing the thing twice in four years.
Running both types across my motorhome and tiny house, and honestly it comes down to your actual setup rather than blanket "one's better" claims. The efficiency gap is real though —...
OffGrid Max in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 3
@Nobby, you'll notice the difference straightaway compared to AGM—the usable capacity is genuinely reliable, and you won't be faffing about with water top-ups.
Dale Seeker in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The sentence cuts off mate, but if you're consistently undershooting even accounting for the 150/60's limits, check your string voltage—if it's sagging below the MPPTs operating window, you'll...
Kev Watson in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Worth noting the angle of incidence factor that doesn't get mentioned often enough. Rigid panels on a static caravan or garden office are brilliant because you can angle them properly toward...
The PSU efficiency angle is worth digging into properly. I've got Starlink feeding my garden office setup and I measured actual wall draw with a Victron Energy Monitor rather than relying on...
Andy Robinson in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Got one powering my emergency backup array too. The MPPT algorithm is genuinely clever — pulls more juice from cloudy days than my old PWM ever did.
Cliff Gazer in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Running one on the van conversion and can't fault it either. Three years in now and it's handled everything — wet Scottish highlands, dusty sites, the lot.
Van Anne in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The real question is whether you're actually drawing 200Ah or if undersizing your charger is the bottleneck.
Dodgy Roamer in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The startup surge is real, but if you've got decent lithium like yours, a properly sized diesel heater won't tank your voltage.
John Baker in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The payback window's genuinely compressed now, but nobody talks about the hidden costs properly. I've got a hybrid setup across two boats and a cabin, and the maths work if you're realistic about...
Boycie25 in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Your 400W solar array is basically a motivational poster at this point, mate. Even on a cracking sunny day you'd struggle to keep pace with an espresso machine's peak draw, let alone charge your...
OffGridGeek in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Spot on what @Titch says—measure first, guessing'll cost you. I went same route with my shepherd's hut, thought I knew what I needed. Winter draw was nearly double my summer estimate.
Battery Tim in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
For a static caravan setup, I'd honestly prioritise a Victron Multiplus-II with proper battery management redundancy over sheer kWh.
Compo in Jokes & Fun 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The 50% rule is exactly what caught me out with my static caravan setup. Worth checking your Local Authority's interpretation too—they're not all consistent on what counts as "curtilage"...
SmartSolarNerd in Garden Offices 1 year ago thumb_up 1
You're fighting physics here, not just watts. That 1200W espresso machine needs roughly 3kWh of battery capacity to run for even 15 minutes without destroying your system—most van setups have...
Battery Tony in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Mate, you're facing the classic van dilemma—espresso machines are power vampires. That 1200W draw will absolutely tank a 400W solar array, even with batteries in the mix. Here's what actually...
Marine Phil in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2