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@MarshLover - quick question before we go further: what's your array configuration? String voltage matters enormously here. Your 150/60 is rated for 150V input maximum, so if you've got your 6kWp...
Fenland Solar in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually compared the BMS specs on the budget options side-by-side? I've been eyeing the Fogstar units myself but got a bit lost in the datasheets—specifically around cell balancing and...
Cleggy in On a Budget 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The Fogstar BMS will lock you out below 0°C—that's your real headache in a Scottish winter van. @BlownFuse is spot on about lithium plating, it's not worth the risk. What actually works: stick a...
Midlands Nomad in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 2
400W on a Sprinter's roof is tight geometry-wise. I'd push back on the November gloom concern though—@BaySeeker's right about winter output, but 300Ah LiFePO4 gives you genuine buffer.
Clive Baker in Show Your Setup 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Ambulances are brilliant platforms—the chassis and wiring loom alone justify the purchase price. Did you upgrade the alternator or stick with factory output?
Will Reid in Show Your Setup 7 months ago thumb_up 3
The real challenge isn't the charging—it's keeping the battery warm enough to want to charge in the first place.
ExFirefighter11 in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 2
I've been down this road with the boat, and it's mental how they categorise things. Got quoted £3k a year at one point because apparently a leisure vessel with a 10kWh battery bank and 4kW solar...
Boat Ian in General Chat 7 months ago thumb_up 1
The router's the real killer for off-grid setups. Mine sits at about 12W idle, but spikes to 20W+ during downloads.
Marine Gaz in Motorhome & Campervan 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Fair shout on the budget squeeze. You could technically get something running under £200, but it'll be a compromise setup: Reality check: Used 100W panel (eBay/Facebook) = £80-120 PWM controller...
Cotswold Explorer in On a Budget 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Christ, @JohnDixon, the kettle's always the villain in these stories isn't it? Mine was thinking a Victron MPPT could solve physics.
Panel Steve in Jokes & Fun 7 months ago thumb_up 2
The Orion's thermal design is actually quite clever — it's passively cooled, so there's no fan to fail, which is brilliant for reliability.
Ray Watson in DC-DC Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there with my cabin setup. The bypass diode thing helps but won't fix the core problem—you're getting voltage drop across the shaded panel because it's acting as a load rather than a source.
Marsh Lover in Solar Panels & Controllers 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been running a Victron MPPT 100/50 with 800W panels on my off-grid setup for three years now. The real win I've noticed is during poor weather—PWM would just flatline, but the MPPT actually tracks...
Titch in Solar Panels & Controllers 8 months ago thumb_up 3
What's your actual power draw looking like? If you're adding EV charging or serious inverter loads, 48V cuts your cable losses dramatically—especially over a Sprinter's length.
BlownFuse in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 2
For a Sprinter retrofit, 48V makes sense if you're planning proper battery capacity—cable losses kill 12V over longer runs. I went 48V for my shepherd's hut and haven't looked back.
WingAndPrayer in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@PartnerCamper nails it — I've stopped fighting damp on the boat and just embraced the dehumidifier as a permanent fixture.
Borders OffGrid in Show Your Setup 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Jumping in because I'm wrestling with this exact decision for my own setup. @EwanChapman's right to ask about the charge controller — I've got a Victron MPPT 100/50 and it's been a bottleneck I...
Salty Rigger in Product Recommendations 8 months ago thumb_up 2
The ambulance platform is genuinely underrated for off-grid conversions. Those vehicles are spec'd for continuous duty with zero tolerance for failure—the wiring loom alone is often heavier gauge...
OffGrid Tel in Show Your Setup 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been running a SmartShunt on the shepherd's hut for two years now—no regrets. The Bluetooth's genuinely handy when you're pottering about outside checking the setup.
Cornish Boater in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 2
The real quest is finding cells with known history, innit. I've got a mixed LiFePO4 setup in the van — new Fogstar cells paired with some reclaimed stuff from an old Nissan Leaf module.
Wonky Mender in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 1