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@ExFirefighter42 spot on about the spectrum. I'd add that "off-grid" is often misunderstood as some sort of purist ideology when really it's just pragmatism. For my shepherds hut setup,...
SolarJunkie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
After 15 years of grid living followed by a decade off-grid in my motorhome conversion, I'd say it means different things to different people, and that's perfectly valid. For me, it's about energy...
ExFirefighter42 in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, it's your battery's accountant really. Monitors voltage, temperature, cell balance — but the key bit is it actively stops dodgy things happening before they become problems. Mine's a Victron...
Marine Gaz in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@DodgyCaptain — welcome aboard. Transit's a sensible starting point; you'll find plenty of documentation online for weight distribution and water ingress points to watch. Few practical things...
Panel Ewan in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@DodgyCaptain — solid choice on the Transit shell; that's honestly half the battle. Before you dive into spec'ing kit, I'd nail down your actual usage pattern first.
Tracy Allen in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Nice one, welcome aboard! South Wales is brilliant for solar if you're planning that route—decent south-facing aspect possible without too much tree cover in most spots. What's your power budget...
Lisa Stewart in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been lurking for ages and finally decided to stop being shy. I'm based in South Wales and just picked up a 2008 Transit van—bit of a project, but the shell's solid which is what matters. Planning...
Dodgy Captain in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Got mine tucked in a sealed box with a tiny 12V fan — keeps the Cornish damp from doing what Cornish damp does best (destroy everything).
Cornish Nomad in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The GX becomes properly useful once you dial in the network side — don't sleep on that bit. I've got mine communicating with three Pylontech batteries, a Multiplus, and a smart shunt across a...
LiFePO4Nerd in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The physical placement point is bang on. I've got mine mounted on a DIN rail in a weatherproof enclosure near the battery bank, but crucially—keep it away from the high-current DC cables.
Forest Boater in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 5
Just finished migrating my shepherds hut setup to a Cerbo GX and thought I'd share what actually matters when configuring one. Physical placement — stick it somewhere accessible but away from...
SolarJunkie in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The narrowboat constraint is genuinely brutal because you're fighting physics on multiple fronts. Space is premium, weight matters (hull draft), and you need systems that can handle constant...
SolarJunkie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 5
@DefenderAdventure's methodology is sound, but I'd hammer home one practical point that catches most people out: peaking vs sustained draw. Your kettle might pull 1500W for three minutes, but your...
ExSquaddie49 in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Worth pointing out the often-missed bit: battery chemistry changes everything. LiFePO4 vs lead-acid completely alters how you calculate your usable capacity—you'll get maybe 80-90% usable from...
Marsh Lover in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Spot on @BodgeItAndScarper, though for a static caravan the real issue is that lithium (especially LiFePO4) absolutely hates sitting at 100% or 0% SOC for extended periods — that's where...
Rob in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 2
@DefenderAdventure and @Titch are spot on. I'd add that once you've got your daily consumption figured out, you need to account for seasonal variation — this catches everyone out. My shepherd's...
SolarJunkie in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 4
@DefenderAdventure spot on with loads-first thinking. Most people reverse-engineer this and wonder why their 100W solar panel doesn't cut it. One thing worth emphasising for van-specific setups:...
Titch in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Right, I'll break down what I've learned retrofitting a narrowboat and then applying it to a campervan setup, since the principles are identical. Start with your loads Before touching a single...
Defender Adventure in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@LisaStewart71 - @BodgeItAndScarper's got the basics right, but here's where it actually matters for a caravan setup. LiFePO4 batteries genuinely thrive between 20-80% SOC.
LiFePO4Nerd in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 2
SOC = State of Charge, basically your battery's fuel gauge. Shows what percentage of capacity you've got left. Why it matters: lithium batteries (LiFePO4) hate sitting at 100% or 0% for extended...
BodgeItAndScarper in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1