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Induction's doable but you'll need to think seriously about your inverter spec. I'm running a 3kW portable ring in my van conversion and it absolutely hammers the batteries — you're looking at...
Russ Scott in Motorhome & Campervan 10 months ago thumb_up 1
The DCC50S handles voltage spikes decently enough, but honestly if you're dealing with a genuinely dodgy alternator, you'd want to sort that first.
Boycie in For Sale 10 months ago thumb_up 1
The caravan angle keeps cropping up here, and fair point—there's genuine overlap in that community. But I'd add that specialist forums like this one are where the real technical depth emerges.
RoundTuit in General Chat 10 months ago thumb_up 1
@BoxerCamper spot on about distance — I've seen folks run 10m of undersized cable and wonder why their panels are sulking.
Cornish Cruiser in Installation Guides 10 months ago thumb_up 1
Brilliant thread this. The damp point @DODQueen mentions is something I'm grappling with in the shepherd's hut — totally different beast to a timber frame obviously, but same headache with a...
Spud79 in Show Your Setup 10 months ago thumb_up 3
400W on a Sprinter's pretty tight tbh. You'll notice it in winter especially. The LiFePO4 is solid though—300Ah gives you decent cushion.
Downs Wanderer in Show Your Setup 10 months ago thumb_up 1
@BlownFuse and @CliveBaker raise a fair point about tracking actual data rather than guessing. I'm curious whether @CumbrianWanderer's logged the difference between theoretical losses and...
Sunny Fisher in Show Your Setup 10 months ago thumb_up 1
The efficiency gains are genuinely useful if you're battery-limited (which most of us are), but here's what nobody mentions — the II's firmware updates mean you're not stuck with whatever Victron...
Solar Keith in Inverters & Chargers 10 months ago thumb_up 5
Spot on about logging, @PaulCross. I'd add—don't overthink the initial spec. Start undersized if anything.
Salty Hiker in Off-Grid Cabins 10 months ago thumb_up 3
@ExFirefighter11 - good call avoiding gas, especially in a confined space like that. The shepherd's hut setup is genuinely your sweet spot here because you've got room to do this properly without...
Frank Palmer in Motorhome & Campervan 10 months ago thumb_up 2
Been weighing this myself for the static caravan setup. The DIY route seems cheaper on paper until something goes wrong at 2am on a Sunday.
Bay Tim in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Right, that's a solid effort for the budget. Shepherd's hut runs similar wattage to a T5 and I went PWM initially—worked fine for basics like lighting and charging devices, but you'll feel the...
BigAl27 in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 2
The damp question's crucial — we underestimated it in year one. Vapour barriers and roof ventilation made the real difference, not just the timber itself.
DODQueen in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The BMS complexity is genuinely the silent killer here. I've spent the better part of two years tinkering with second-life EV modules in my static caravan setup, and here's what nobody tells you...
Clive Baker in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, @ZFS_OffGrid's got the right idea with that compact unit. Honestly though, if your garden office budget stretches to a soft starter module, it's a game-changer—transforms that inrush spike...
Cotswold Nomad in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The BMS question @MuddySkipper raises is crucial, honestly. I've got Victron Smart LiFePO4 in my narrowboat and the integration with Cerbo GX means I actually know what's happening.
Stu Campbell in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Modified sine's fine until you plug in literally anything with a motor or transformer — then it sounds like a swarm of angry wasps and your device gets warm enough to fry an egg.
Stormy Drifter in Inverters & Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Been watching the deals cycle for a couple years now on my van setup, and I reckon the issue is timing rather than just the discount percentage.
Van Kev in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The battery obsession is real. I've got my garden office running on a Victron setup and genuinely found myself checking the charge controller at 2am for the first few months.
Golden Socket in General Chat 11 months ago
Battery costs are def the wild card, @BevJackson64. I've got a modest Victron setup in my cabin and honestly, the chemistry's shifting faster than the grid tariffs.
Wonky Welder in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 1