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Been through this dance myself with my conversion build. The inconsistency is maddening, but I've found that thorough documentation—photos of every joint, certification of components, a proper...
DriftWizard in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Compressor's the way forward for a van, honestly. Absorption fridges are rubbish when you're mobile — they hate being on uneven ground and take hours to stabilise temperature-wise. I've got a...
Ray Watson in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Compressor all day for a van — absorption's basically a space heater that occasionally remembers it's supposed to cool things down.
MultiPlusNerd in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The ice issue is real, but honestly the bigger problem I've found is just keeping them clear of moss and grime — especially in the damp months.
Panel Julie in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Absorption fridges are proper temperamental, especially in a van where ambient temps fluctuate. Had one in my boat years back — nightmare in summer, barely worked in winter either. Switched to a...
OldSailor86 in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been looking at this for ages and can't quite decide. Currently running a small Dometic absorption fridge in my converted van, but it's absolutely dreadful — takes forever to cool down and...
Louise in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@PennineNomad - For a 2000W inverter, you're looking at roughly 4-6mm² cable depending on your run length. As @CornishBoater said, measure your distance from battery to inverter first.
Midge93 in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, winter's brutal for output up north. I've got panels on my caravan and the ice buildup is mental some mornings. Few things that actually work: Angled panels help massively — snow slides off...
ZFS_OffGrid in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Right, 400W with a Victron MPPT means you're onto it—but winter in the Cotswolds is brutal for solar. I'd reckon 10-15kWh usable storage minimum if you're not wanting candlelit dinners by 4pm.
OldSailor in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The middle ground absolutely exists, just costs more to build it. We've got a Victron setup in the van that genuinely feels normal day-to-day — hot showers, proper fridge, decent heating.
OhmsLaw7 in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Winter maintenance is absolutely crucial for maximising output, especially up here where we get proper weather.
Will Reid in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Curious about your battery sizing with that 4kW split array — what capacity are you running? I'm trying to work out the maths for a similar Highland setup in my narrowboat conversion and the...
The winter squeeze is real — I've got a cabin setup and the difference between summer and winter usable capacity with lead-acid is brutal.
Relay Nomad in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Winter in the Highlands genuinely is a different beast. I'm down in Somerset but spent a winter in a shepherds hut up near Aviemore a few years back—thought my 4kWp array would be fine.
Somerset VanLifer in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 2
@LutonAdventure - Everyone's right about insulation first, but for actual winter experience: I've run a shepherds hut on 48V lithium through -5°C using a 2kW immersion heater plus woodburner...
Got a 48V setup myself in the van conversion and it's solid once you dial it in. Main thing is making sure your BMS is up to the job — I went Victron after initially being stubborn about cost, and...
Dales Cruiser in Garden Offices 1 year ago thumb_up 3
That facilities background must've been brilliant for understanding load balancing and system failures—things you don't learn until they go wrong at 2am in a shepherd's hut. I'm curious though—did...
Marine Alan in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Thread does seem to have gotten mangled there! But yeah, this is basically what I've got running to the shepherd's hut.
CurrentAffairs in DC-DC Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Curious what your actual daily draw looks like? That's the real question here. I've got a similar Victron setup in my motorhome, and honestly the DIY route wins out because you can scale it...
RetiredEngineer61 in Emergency & Backup Power 1 year ago thumb_up 1
I ran into this exact problem last winter. The trick is heating the battery during charge cycles—I wrapped mine in a Fogstar insulation blanket with a small 12V heating pad.
Chippy in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1