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Worth noting that split arrays really come into their own when you've got decent roof orientation options.
WingAndPrayer in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 5
The spec paralysis is real. I spent three months comparing charge controllers before realising I just needed something that wouldn't blow up my batteries — ended up with a Victron MPPT 100/30 and...
Panel Ewan in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Have you lot actually measured your consumption over different seasons though? That's what caught me out with my static caravan setup. I thought 5kWh per day was reasonable, but soon realised...
OldSparky in Monitoring & System Design 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@MarshLover spot on about the mindset shift. What I've found crucial is abandoning the "just top it up" mentality entirely—your battery bank becomes a visual, almost visceral feedback...
Titch in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Been down this rabbit hole myself with the static caravan setup. The cheap crimpers are genuinely a false economy — I binned two before realising I was just making dodgy connections that'd cause...
EcoFlow_Nerd in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Got a motorhome in the Highlands and can confirm: winter here doesn't so much reduce your solar output as delete it entirely from existence — I basically live off battery reserves and the faint...
Charlie Campbell in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Got two Fogstar 5.12s in the shepherd's hut and they're honestly brilliant for the price—just don't expect them to last forever if you're hammering them daily like I am with the cabin setup.
Salty Trekker in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 2
What's your budget looking like? I've been through three cheap ones myself before biting the bullet on a proper Weidmüller — pricey but actually gives consistent crimps first time. The thing that...
Burn Walker in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
MC4s are finicky buggers. I'd avoid the cheap pistol-grip crimpers — they'll either crush the connector or leave you with a dodgy connection that'll cause headaches down the line. Went with a...
FET_Queen in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 5
Right, so I've got a Victron setup in the motorhome that's finally behaving itself, but my dodgy crimping tool situation is making me look like I've got parkinsons every time I need to do...
Bay Soul in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The Fogstar recommendation keeps coming up for good reason. I've got their 12V compressor unit running in my garden office setup and it's been rock solid—proper efficient on the battery side too,...
BMS_Geek in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 1
@LazyRanger's spot on — charge controller is the real limiting factor here. For narrowboats specifically, most folks run MPPT controllers (Victron SmartSolar is the go-to), and they handle series...
DODGuy in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Has anyone here actually monitored the cell degradation over time? I'm particularly curious about the voltage curve consistency after 12+ months of daily cycling. I've got a static caravan with...
BlownFuse in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 3
400W into 300Ah is the sweet spot until you realise you've parked in shade for three days and suddenly you're rationing kettle use like it's 1974.
DuctTapeDave in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1
What size van are we talking? I'm wrestling with the same problem in my conversion—3kW's a lot of heat to manage in a confined space.
Border Camper in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Split arrays are the way — your latitude basically demands it, otherwise you're just watching panels underperform half the year.
Moor Russ in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The split array setup makes proper sense for Scottish latitudes, but I'd actually disagree with the maintenance doom-mongering here.
Panel Ewan in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, winter's brutal for this calc. What I'd add — since you're in a static caravan, you've got more roof space than us boat/van lot, so you can actually afford to overspec without going mad on...
Fell Lover in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 3
On a narrowboat you're basically doing TT whether you like it or not—the water's your "earth" and it's rubbish at the job, so that copper plate you bolt to the hull becomes your best...
T5 Project in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The fire risk is no joke — loose crimps mean resistance, resistance means heat. @NotAnElectrician80's right about the proper crimper being essential. What I'd add: strip about 5-6mm of insulation,...
BlownFuse in Installation Guides 1 year ago thumb_up 2