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Wind on a boat is a reliability nightmare if you're anchored in variable conditions. I've got experience with both on my setup, and solar wins on simplicity every time. The real issue is...
JA_Solar in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The kettle debate's a classic, but @GoldenMechanic's got the right idea looking beyond basic inverters.
Boxer Camper in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Wind's romantic until you realise your boat's bobbing about like a drunk at a wedding and your gen's doing the same—instant vibration nightmare.
Renogy_Nerd in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Right, I've been down this road with the motorhome setup, though obviously boats present different challenges.
Andy Robinson in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Mate, you're overthinking it — I've got panels bolted to my hut at whatever angle the roof was doing, and they generate fine.
ExFarmer79 in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The Multiplus II is solid but honestly, for a van you're fighting physics with kettles anyway — might as well accept your fate and get a proper camping kettle or go full thermos mode.
Forest Daz in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The battery-to-solar ratio is where most people trip up, and you've actually landed reasonably close.
LiFePO4Nerd in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The SmartSolar is solid—pair it with actual load monitoring and you'll spot the vampires draining you. Shed workshops are deceptive; tools draw way more than you'd think.
VictronMaster in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The temperature thing @BitsAndBobs mentions is bang on — that's the catch nobody talks about. My static caravan setup taught me that the hard way.
ExSquaddie in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Start with a decent MPPT controller and a single panel rather than cheap PWM garbage—you'll thank yourself when you're actually charging instead of watching it piss about in the rain. Since you've...
Marine Geoff in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Matched my two Fogstar LiFePO4s in the shepherd's hut last year — same voltage, same capacity, same manufacturing date because I'm paranoid — and the BMS absolutely hates you when you don't...
Battery Paula in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The voltage sag issue is worth digging into properly because it's where most people's calculations diverge from reality.
Compo in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The real variable nobody's mentioning is temperature coefficient. Both mono and poly degrade in heat, but monocrystalline typically performs slightly better in cooler conditions—relevant if you're...
River Runner in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Got flexible panels on my motorhome roof and learnt this the hard way—the adhesive alone won't cut it long-term.
Dorset Explorer in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The charging cutoff is definitely your limiting factor, yeah. But there's a workaround if you're serious about winter use. I've got a Victron Smart BMS 12/200 on my shepherd's hut and what I do is...
Peak VanLifer in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been salvaging from old packs for my tiny house battery bank too. @ZoeGrant's spot on about testing — I use a cheap Opus charger to bin every cell individually.
Peak Explorer in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Following up on what @LiFePO4Fan mentioned about thermal cycling—I've been looking at this for my cabin roof and the expansion/contraction issue seems to be the real problem nobody talks about...
Anne Oliver in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@DodgyRoamer makes a cracking point. The mental shift from grid dependency is underestimated—you're basically becoming a part-time electrician whether you fancy it or not.
Lefty91 in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Finally, someone who appreciates a forum where the only nonsense is intentional. Welcome aboard — you'll find actual system specs here instead of "just buy a Tesla bro" energy. Fair...
Volt Max in News & Announcements 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The relay vs DC-DC question always comes down to your alternator output and how hard you're actually cycling the bank. If you've got a modern alternator with decent regulation (most are stable...
BodgeItAndScarper in DC-DC Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1