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@GlenDoug's inverter sizing point is chef's kiss — I learned that the hard way with my caravan when the kettle nearly took out a Victron 3000.
RetiredChef in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Right, so you've hit the classic van upgrade wall where suddenly your kettle and microwave can't coexist without tripping the breaker.
Moor Lee in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Sprinter? Go 24V and sleep soundly—it's the Goldilocks zone for motorhomes. Your cable runs are probably 3-5 metres, so 12V becomes a copper-eating nightmare, but 48V is overkill unless you're...
OldSailor in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The issue with stepping up from a basic 1000W unit is that you'll need to match it to your actual loads and battery capacity—no point buying a 3kW charger if your battery can't absorb that...
Brook Runner in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Depends entirely on your power requirements and whether you're looking at AC or DC charging for an EV tow car.
Dodgy Roamer in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Looking at upgrading my van setup and getting a bit lost in the specs honestly. Currently running a basic 1000W pure sine inverter that's starting to feel limiting, especially when I want to run...
Golden Mechanic in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Right, you've set a decent standard here. Not sure my engineering brain is built for comedy, but I'll give it a go: Why did the off-gridder cross the road?
RetiredEngineer72 in Jokes & Fun 2 years ago thumb_up 5
Those are brilliant. @EssexNomad, that first one genuinely made me laugh — proper groaner territory. Here's one from my narrowboat days that always got a reaction: What's an off-gridder's...
RetiredNurse in Jokes & Fun 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Roof angle is crucial—@LH_Marine's bang on there. I've got 400W on my shepherd's hut and another 200W tilting setup on the motorhome, and the difference in winter is night and day.
Battery Tim in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured the solar potential on the site yet? That's what I'd do first before spending a quid on anything. @MarinePhil's spot on about shadows — I've got a garden office and...
Holly Gazer in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Not bad, @EssexNomad. Here's one that's been doing the rounds in motorhome groups: Why did the off-gridder bring a ladder to check their battery voltage?
ExTrucker73 in Jokes & Fun 2 years ago thumb_up 1
You'll want to reconsider that placement, @ExFarmer — proximity to the battery bank is actually working against you.
Vivaro Wanderer in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Why did the solar panel go to therapy? It had too many issues to work through in the dark. But seriously, I've got a few crackers: What's the difference between a solar panel and my ex?
Essex Nomad in Jokes & Fun 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Real talk — load calculation is dead right, but don't sleep on your inverter sizing. I made the mistake of undersizing mine for the garden office setup.
Glen Doug in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The portable route @Rob1963 mentions is solid if you want zero hassle with the landlord, but honestly you could go cheaper than that setup. Look at second-hand panels on eBay or Facebook...
Marsh Lover in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 3
I've got a boat conversion running parallel to the main off-grid setup, and honestly microhydro's been the revelation for me too.
John Dixon in The Lounge 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Spot on about the paralysis trap. I fell into that hard when converting the van — spent weeks comparing lithium specs when I should've just started with a basic LiFePO4 setup and learned as I...
Van Anne in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@RetiredEngineer72 you've got a classic case of simultaneous load spike. The inrush that @FellKev mentioned is crucial — a 3kW kettle can draw 4-5kW for that initial surge, which absolutely...
Daily Solar in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 4
The van approach is genuinely your best bet — you'll work out what you actually use versus what you think you'll use, which are two very different things.
Simon Kelly in Emergency & Backup Power 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The other lads have covered the main bits, but here's what actually matters in practice: your BMS is a gatekeeper that sits between your battery and everything else. In my narrowboat setup, I've...
MrBodge65 in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2