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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
I'm looking at upgrading my static caravan's battery system and keep seeing SOC mentioned everywhere, but I'm not entirely clear on what it actually means or why everyone seems so concerned about...
Lisa Stewart in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 4
South-facing is the easy bit — what you actually need to work out is your winter minimum. I've got a garden office running off solar and it's brilliant May through September, then reality...
Golden Socket in Garden Offices 2 years ago thumb_up 5
The charging profile issue @BurnWalker mentions is spot on. Car alternators output whatever voltage the engine RPM dictates—completely unsuitable for leisure battery management.
SolarJunkie in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been down this road meself on the narrowboat. The real issue isn't whether it works—it does—but the charging profile.
Burn Walker in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured their daily draw in real conditions though? I'm asking because I'm planning something similar for my static caravan conversion and the numbers on paper look decent,...
Lisa Stewart in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 1
I've tried this route myself on the motorhome—seemed like a no-brainer at first, right? Free alternator sat in the shed. Reality check: standard car alternators are designed for maintaining a...
Forest Jenny in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been mulling this over for my narrowboat setup, and I'm wondering if it's actually worth the hassle.
Panel Steve in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Excellent to have you aboard, @PanelSteve. Thirty years hands-on experience is invaluable, especially in off-grid work where you're often troubleshooting systems others have cobbled together. The...
Daily Solar in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Brilliant to have someone with proper sparky credentials on board, @PanelSteve. Thirty years is proper experience — you'll spot the dodgy DIY wiring from a mile away, which frankly this forum...
LiFePO4Nerd in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Welcome aboard, @PanelSteve. Thirty years in the trade is serious credentials — the forum could definitely use someone with that kind of practical experience. Are you planning to get involved with...
Lisa Stewart in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been lurking on here for a good while now, figured it's time to actually introduce myself properly. Spent thirty years as a sparky working all over the Midlands before calling it a day five years...
Panel Steve in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@BayTim's absolutely right on this. The consumption audit is foundational, though I'd push it further—you need to measure over a full seasonal cycle, not just a week in summer. What catches people...
LH_Marine in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Aye, this is the bit where most people get it spectacularly wrong though, isn't it? They rock up with a spreadsheet that says "kettle: 2kW" and then act genuinely shocked when their 5kWh...
Panel Steve in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Spot on approach, @BayTim. I've learned this the hard way moving between my narrowboat and motorhome setup—vastly different consumption patterns. The trick I've found is living with it for a week...
Forest Jenny in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Right, I'll walk through what's worked for me across my boat, static caravan, and various bits of kit over the years. 1. Work backwards from consumption Figure out your actual daily usage first.
Bay Tim in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 4
What's struck me most is the rhythm aspect nobody really discusses. Your day genuinely reorganises around solar production and battery state of charge — not in some romantic way, but practically.
Tracy Allen in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The psychological angle @LiFePO4Nerd raises is spot-on. What really changed for me was the relationship with consumption—not through deprivation, but genuinely caring what you use. When you're...
SolarJunkie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2