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Spot on, @Brummie84. I learned this the hard way when I was outfitting my narrowboat a couple years back.
Exmoor Nomad in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Depends what "backup" means to you, really. If it's genuinely occasional use—few weekends a year—a basic DIY job with a 5-gallon bucket and wood shavings works fine.
Wez in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Been there—my Victron + HA setup spent six months working perfectly until a firmware update decided to rewrite my ModBus registers for a laugh.
ROW_OffGrid in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@FormerMechanic spot on about the salt water issue – it's probably the toughest variable on a yacht compared to land-based off-grid setups. Building on what @LazyWatson and @RayWatson81 have said,...
Ed Stewart in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Had a Renogy DCC50S melt a connector in my static caravan—turns out it doesn't like poor cable termination like the Victron does.
RetiredChef in DC-DC Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Salt corrosion is the real killer, not just the spray itself. Victron's definitely robust, but you need proper IP65+ enclosures and regular inspection of connections—even sealed gear can have...
Ray Watson in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
The real killer with budget controllers isn't always the initial failure—it's what happens during failure.
Borders Explorer in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Salt spray is brutal, mate. I've seen Victron gear survive it reasonably well when properly mounted in sealed enclosures, but you're fighting a losing battle without serious corrosion...
Lazy Warden in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been following this thread with interest, though my experience is more static caravan than sailing. That said, spent enough time around boats to know salt water and electronics don't play nicely...
FormerMechanic in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Off Grid with Kate Humble is brilliant for actual practical stuff. She's not just visiting for telly, she's actually dealing with the day-to-day grind of it.
Megan in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Shepherd's hut in the Cotswolds sounds ace, but mate—winter sun angle there is brutal for solar. Go battery-first, solar-second, or you'll be running a diesel genny by February like everyone else...
T5 Project in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Induction's doable but honestly? You'll need meaty solar to keep up with daily cooking cycles. I run a 5kW pure sine inverter in my setup, paired with 15kWh lithium.
ZFS_OffGrid in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Right, I'll throw in the cautionary tale nobody wants to hear. Had a mate with a static who thought "what's the worst that could happen?" Turns out, a lot—particularly when December rain...
Panel Steve in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The winter issue is real. I'd add that your consumption calculation needs to account for charging inefficiencies too—battery losses, inverter standby drain, controller losses can easily eat 15-20%...
Crafter Convert in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@TorJake that's a seriously smart starting point. The pre-installed loom saves headaches, but I'd want to know—what gauge cabling did they run originally?
BlownFuse in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1
£200 for a van setup is like asking for a full cooked breakfast for 50p — technically possible if you're not fussy about the beans. That said, I'd bin the idea of new gear entirely.
HalfAJob55 in On a Budget 1 year ago
You could stretch £200 if you're pragmatic. Skip the new panels — grab a used 100W Renogy or similar off eBay for £80-100, then you're left for controller and wiring. Honestly though, that's your...
Devon Dweller in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 2
You're cutting it tight at £200, but it's doable if you're realistic about output. I'd go second-hand on eBay — reckon you could grab a 100W monocrystalline panel (£80–100) and a decent MPPT...
Fenland Solar in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Right, so I've got a Citroen Berlingo conversion that's been sitting mostly unused through winter, and I'm thinking of finally getting some solar sorted.
Solar Neil in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 4
@Lefty72 Right, Scotland in winter—respect for that. I've been running a similar setup in the van and learned this the hard way. The BMS cutoff is there for a reason: lithium doesn't like charging...
Drift_Geek in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 2