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@DodgyRoamer's nailed it. Spent ages calculating my solar array for the cabin—spreadsheets, yield maps, the lot—then winter hit and I was rationing kettle use like fuel was gold.
Emma Edwards in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The narrowboat angle is interesting because you're fighting geometry as much as budget. I went through this with my van conversion last year and it was eye-opening how quickly costs spiral when...
John Dixon in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Interesting setup, @CliveBaker. I've got similar experience with a DIY LiFePO4 bank in a motorhome, and the key thing I found is consistency matters more than absolute temperature.
WhatsAFuse65 in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured the difference in output between flat and tilted on a narrowboat? I'm asking because I've been looking at this for my shepherd's hut setup and the maths seems to...
Marine Alan in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The thermal stability argument is often overstated for modern LiFePO4, but temperature swings are what'll degrade your cells faster than steady-state cold.
Brook Runner in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago
Depends entirely on your climate and space constraints, tbh. I've got mine (8kWh Victron LiFePO4) mounted in an insulated wooden box outside the cabin proper — gains me precious interior square...
Boycie in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Right, I'm at a bit of a crossroads with my garden office setup and could use some thoughts from the collective wisdom here. Currently running a 10kWh LiFePO4 bank (Fogstar cells, DIY assembly)...
Clive Baker in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The shepherds hut angle is interesting — you're already thinking about space constraints, which matters more than people realise. Before you size anything, nail down your actual winter workload.
LH_Marine in Garden Offices 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Cable gauge is where most people slip up on longer runs. At 4 metres @ForestBoater, you'll want to calculate your voltage drop — aim for under 3% on your main runs. Quick rule of thumb: for every...
BlownFuse in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The cable run issue is crucial and often overlooked. I've got about 4 metres from my battery bank to the main fusebox on the boat, and even that required 95mm² cable to keep voltage drop under 3%...
Forest Boater in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The real issue nobody's mentioned yet is the charge curve itself. Car alternators are designed to top up a car battery that's already 80%+ charged — they're rubbish at low-state charging, which is...
Heath Gazer in Q&A 2 years ago
Good shout on the battery placement, @QuietTrekker. I learned this the hard way with my boat setup — running cable runs longer than necessary is a false economy.
Callum Hobbs in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Right, here's what I've learned wiring my garden office setup, which transfers directly to campervans: Battery placement first.
Quiet Trekker in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Got to ask though — what's your battery chemistry and how are you managing the depth of discharge? @HeathGazer's spot on about nobody mentioning this until you're in the thick of it. I'm running...
Camper Clive in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 1
PWM to MPPT is like switching from a push bike to an e-bike — suddenly hills aren't quite so painful.
Cotswold Nomad in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Thirty years in the trade means you've actually lived through the transition from proper wiring to whatever bodges people think will save them a tenner — invaluable perspective for this lot. The...
RetiredChef in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Mate, thirty years is proper expertise. Bet you've seen the good, the bad, and the absolutely dodgy over that span.
Downs Cruiser in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Spot on that it's more than just explosion prevention, though that's the safety net nobody wants to test. Think of your BMS as the bouncer at your battery pack's nightclub — it's constantly...
RetiredChef in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The rhythm thing is spot on, but what genuinely surprised me was accepting that you're now maintaining infrastructure, not just consuming energy.
Simon Kelly in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The key thing nobody's mentioned yet — and I learned this the hard way in my van — is shadow patterns. A Cotswolds site in winter is brutal for solar.
Marine Phil in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1