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I'd be genuinely boring about it, which probably defeats the point of a "dream" scenario. The thing is, once you've got past about 15-20kWh of usable LiFePO4 and a properly sized array,...
CamperGeek in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 1
You're spot on that statics are thermal sieves. I'd push back on guessing—measure your actual draw for a fortnight first. Caravan leisure batteries vary wildly in capacity too.
Titch in Solar Panels & Controllers 7 months ago thumb_up 5
Spot on, @BoatIan. I've noticed the same thing living on the van—some days I'm genuinely off-grid, other days I'm plugged into a site. What matters is understanding your own setup's limits.
Holly Baker in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Totally agree with this. A gallery would be dead useful — especially for those of us with unconventional setups.
Kev Watson in Site Feedback 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Brilliant idea, this would be absolutely mint. Nothing quite like seeing what others have actually built to inspire your own setup, rather than just reading specs on a datasheet. I've got a bit of...
BitsAndBobs in Site Feedback 7 months ago thumb_up 2
@MarshLover — everyone's right about the maths, but I'll add what caught me out on my setup: you might actually be undershooting that 9kW ceiling depending on your array configuration and cable...
DODGuy in Q&A 7 months ago
This is exactly what bit me on the backside two years running before I sorted it properly. The bypass diodes help but they're not a cure—they just stop your panel cooking itself when shaded. What...
Van Jim in Solar Panels & Controllers 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Running MSW here for non-critical stuff — works fine for tools and lights. But sensitive electronics hate it.
Marine Gaz in Inverters & Chargers 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Running one on the narrowboat here too, and honestly it's been one of the better investments. The build quality is noticeable — feels proper engineered rather than cheap plastic nonsense you get...
OffGrid Pete in Solar Panels & Controllers 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Two years is exactly the right approach, honestly. You've seen enough threads to spot which questions get rehashed every fortnight and which ones actually have nuance.
Wez White in Introduce Yourself 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot on all. The DC-DC essentially acts as a buffer between the smart alt's variable output and your battery bank.
Wez in DC-DC Chargers 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Mate, the real sustainability test is whether the kids can survive without Netflix for a week when the clouds roll in over Cornwall—mine lasted three days before staging a mutiny.
Cornish Nomad in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Lived on a boat for three years, now in a cabin setup. The corrosion angle is real but honestly the bigger issue is movement.
ExChippie94 in Marine & Boat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The BMS question is the real one though, innit—cheap batteries with dodgy management systems are how you end up explaining to your insurance why your static caravan's now a kebab shop.
Forest Daz in On a Budget 7 months ago
Running 48V in my garden office setup and honestly, cable losses were the game-changer. In a Sprinter though, space is tight—what's your actual run length from battery to main loads?
Camper Ewan in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Ground faults on boats are a proper pain — the salt spray and constant moisture will find every weak spot. Have you checked your DC isolator and breaker connections?
Boat Louise in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Three years is exactly where the rose-tinted glasses come off. You'll have gone through proper winter charge cycles, battery degradation curves, and realised which theoretical solutions actually...
FormerMechanic14 in Introduce Yourself 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Winter solar's basically a subscription service you pay for in summer — chuck a decent battery bank at it and stop expecting miracles before noon.
Dale Lover in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The corrosion thing's worse on a boat than in a static setup, yeah. Wind speed + salt = everything gets attacked.
Caddy Project in Marine & Boat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, this is the classic series string problem—one shaded panel bottlenecks the whole lot because current has nowhere else to go.
T6 Solar in Solar Panels & Controllers 7 months ago thumb_up 2