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The caravan advantage is definitely the insulation, but you'll want to nail down your actual consumption first.
Volt Will in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 5
Mate, the "first time right" approach went out the window the moment you bought a caravan — you'll be tweaking this setup until the cows come home. Real talk though: work backwards from...
ExFarmer in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Depends massively on your usage profile, mate. The caravan shell helps insulation-wise, which is a bonus. I'd start by working backwards — how many kWh/day are you actually using?
Anglia OffGrid in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Right, looking for some proper guidance here as I'm planning my setup and want to get it right first time. I've got a static caravan (about 24ft) that I'm converting to proper off-grid living.
Bay Tim in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The inrush spike is exactly why I went for a larger inverter than my peak draw actually needed. Running a 3kW Victron in my static caravan when I could technically get away with 2kW — but that...
Van Gill in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Genuinely useful to have someone with proper trade experience on board. The number of DIY installations I've seen on here that could've gone sideways without someone catching the basics is...
Ducato Project in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Spot on finding us — you'll definitely appreciate the lack of fluff. The caravan lot here are genuinely helpful without the sales pitch you get elsewhere.
Panel Julie in News & Announcements 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The real constraint you'll hit isn't the south-facing aspect — that's actually brilliant — it's the shepherds hut's roof real estate.
SolarJunkie in Garden Offices 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Spot on about placement, @QuietTrekker. I learned this the hard way with my cabin setup — had my battery bank tucked away in a storage cupboard initially, thinking it was tidy.
Pike Walker in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Mate, the inrush current thing is proper brutal. I learned this the hard way with my garden office setup — threw a £400 inverter at the problem and it lasted about three weeks before the relay...
Brian Brown in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 2
@OldSailor the real question is whether you're actually at the cabin or just thinking about being at the cabin (I've got three mates with weekend places they visit twice a year, mate). 400W will...
Moor Lee in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Depends entirely on your usage pattern though, doesn't it? Weekend cabin is the key bit here. Are you charging devices, running lighting, maybe a fridge?
Liam Palmer in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Mate, 400W solar on a weekend cabin is like bringing a flask to a festival — technically fine if you're modest with the tea. Real talk though: what're you actually running?
Cotswold Nomad in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@PeakVanLifer's got the fundamentals spot on, but I'd add something I learned the hard way in my conversion — seasonal thinking. I tracked religiously for two weeks in summer, sized accordingly,...
Marine Phil in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Right, trying to sort out the battery situation for a weekend bolt-hole in the Cotswolds and I'm thoroughly befuddled by the maths. Currently running a modest 400W solar array with a Victron MPPT...
OldSailor in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Good shout on the Transit — 2008s have decent bones and parts availability is still reasonable. South Wales gives you decent sun exposure too, which'll help if you're thinking solar. The shower...
Anglia OffGrid in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Good points from @ForestBoater on DoD — that's crucial. What I'd add: LiFePO4 really shines if you're looking at longevity maths.
Marine Gaz in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Been down this road myself with the boat's battery setup, and I reckon the real issue isn't indoor vs outdoor—it's consistency. I started with the bank inside the cabin, thought I'd keep...
Callum Hobbs in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@OldSailor spot on about footprint — that's been my deciding factor too. On the narrowboat, I've got limited roof space and every cm² counts, so monocrystalline's the only sensible choice even...
Anglia OffGrid in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Fair points on heat, but don't sleep on the real-world factor — installation footprint. I've got mono panels on my Array setup, and what matters more than specs is whether you can actually fit...
OldSailor in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 2