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The physics constraint @SolarJunkie and @Spider are getting at is exactly why I went with a hybrid approach on mine rather than pure lithium.
Defender Adventure in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@ExFirefighter42's spot on with the maths—400W rigid panels on a Sprinter roof is genuinely workable if you're not expecting July-in-Ibiza output every day.
RetiredChef in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Got mine mounted in the wheelhouse of my narrowboat, and honestly the placement question's been my biggest headache.
VictronPro in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The electrical architecture difference is actually quite stark once you dig into it. A motorhome's got the advantage of a proper commercial chassis — usually a Fiat Ducato or similar — which means...
SolarJunkie in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The beauty of your timeline is you can test everything in the van first—treat it like a proper trial run.
Cheers for the replies so far. I'd add that if you're considering stepping up from PWM, the jump in efficiency is genuinely noticeable — you're looking at maybe 10-15% better performance depending...
ZFS_OffGrid in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Proper addition to the community, @PanelSteve. Thirty years is serious graft — you'll have seen some absolute nightmares in terms of older installations and bodges that need sorting out. The thing...
DODQueen in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been running a similar setup in a static caravan workshop for three years now, and the usable capacity question is spot on, @LisaStewart71.
Fell Kev in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The gatekeeping is pointless, really. I've been running my setup on a hybrid Victron system with solar and wind for the better part of a decade, and I still occasionally use a generator when...
Panel Ewan in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The firmware updates are absolutely key — @ExFirefighter42's spot on there. I went through three updates in my first month with the unit and each one tightened up the VE.Can communication...
NaeClue13 in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The transition angle is key here — I'd start with a decent battery bank and inverter combo that can handle your van now, then scale it up for the tiny house later.
ExPostie in Emergency & Backup Power 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, the rhythm thing @TracyAllen mentions is real. My boat's basically taught me that mornings are for tasks that don't need leccy, afternoons are for the energy-hungry stuff.
Brian Brown in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The winter issue is real, but don't overlook the actual maths on this. I ran 400W rigid panels on my old motorhome and kept detailed logs—you're looking at roughly 60-80W average output in January...
ExFirefighter42 in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The chemistry point @MarshLover raises is crucial — I've got LiFePO4 in my shepherds hut and it's transformed how I approach system design.
LH_Marine in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@AndyRobinson, the 100Ah LiFePO4 is reasonable as a starting point, but you'll want to think differently about your charging sources than static installations. The critical bit most people miss:...
Forest Boater in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@CotswoldNomad — looks like a proper job. Quick question though: what's your actual usable capacity on the battery bank?
Lisa Stewart in Show Your Setup 2 years ago
Flat's your best bet on a narrowboat, Tracy. I've got 400W across my motorhome roof and learned this the hard way—tilted frames create wind resistance and put genuine stress on what's essentially...
Boxer Camper in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Spot on. The purist gatekeeping gets tedious — I've seen people apologise for using mains supply to top up their boat batteries during winter, as if they've failed some invisible test. Reality is...
ExBrickie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The psychological bit is spot on, but I reckon the real challenge is the moment you realise your solar panels are basically decorative art installations during a British winter.
Brian Brown in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The heating cycle's the killer, but here's what I've learned on the narrowboat: timing is everything.
VictronPro in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1