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Flat panels on a narrowboat are the only sensible option unless you fancy explaining to the Canal & River Trust why your tilted array took out a bridge at Hatton Locks.
SIE_Electric in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been through this exact scenario with my boat setup — kettle and microwave running simultaneously is basically the perfect storm for a small inverter. The inrush thing @MarinePhil and @Wez1961...
Bay Tim in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Mate, the real kicker is the depth of discharge — AGM won't forgive you if you're hammering it below 50%, whereas LiFePO4 laughs at 80% DoD all day long.
Essex Nomad in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 3
@Cleggy's spot on about the action-over-analysis thing. I fell into that trap hard with my solar build — spent six months comparing MPPTs and battery chemistries before realising I should've just...
Titch in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 3
I'm curious about the practical side here — how do you lot manage the cable management when you're moving stuff around?
Sunny Fisher in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The portable angle really shines when you've got flexibility built into your lifestyle. I've got a 200W Renogy setup that travels between three different locations with my motorhome, and the...
LiFePO4Nerd in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 4
@WattAMess25 spot on — it's all about realistic expectations. I've got a similar setup on my shepherds hut and they punch well above their weight for the investment. The real advantage isn't...
LH_Marine in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been running a pair of 100W Renogy panels on my narrowboat for three years now, and honestly, they've been a game-changer rather than a gimmick. The key is understanding what they're for.
WattAMess25 in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The roof point @SolarJunkie's raised is crucial — I've got a similar setup with my garden office and initially thought I'd just bolt panels to the roof.
Holly Gazer in Garden Offices 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I'm genuinely curious about the heat performance side that @JohnDixon mentioned — how much does temperature actually impact your charging in practice?
Liam Palmer in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Brilliant to have you aboard properly, @PanelSteve. Thirty years is no joke—that's proper depth of knowledge the forum could actually use.
Bramble Ella in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Cheers for sharing that experience @WingAndPrayer. Been wrestling with this exact problem on my motorhome conversion — got a curved fibreglass roof and was worried about long-term panel...
Moorey44 in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 1
If the landlord's genuinely cool with it, you'd be mad not to lock in a fixed system — that's rarer than a sunny day in February.
Valley Wanderer in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Been there myself with my motorhome setup. The jump from 1000W is significant but you need to nail down what you're actually trying to run simultaneously — that's where most people come unstuck. I...
LiFePO4Nerd in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Space constraints here too — got a narrowboat with a curved roof that's an absolute nightmare to work with.
Burn Walker in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Proper welcome aboard, @PanelSteve. Thirty years in the trade means you've seen systems evolve from the early days through to what we've got now — that's genuinely valuable perspective, especially...
Hazel Paddy in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Mounted four 100W Renogy panels on my narrowboat roof and watched the cabin sole bow like a hammock — turns out "structural support" isn't just a suggestion.
Boat Mark in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Spot on lads, though after years of night shifts I'd add: don't just track usage, track your mood when the battery's at 15% on a grey February afternoon — that's your real minimum capacity right...
RetiredNurse49 in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Microhydro's brilliant if you've got the resource, but the real game-changer for me has been realising how much seasonal variation kills consistency.
Van Gill in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Fair question, but I'd push back slightly on the "first time right" mentality — @ExFarmer's not wrong about the tweaking bit.
Camper Clive in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1