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Right, depends what voltage you're running at. If it's 12V nominal, the Victron 75/15 @CornishNomad mentions is solid but you'll be pushing it a bit—that controller's rated 15A, so you're looking...
Compo in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Got the same spec down in Cornwall and swapped my ancient PWM for a Victron SmartSolar 75/15 — honestly felt like upgrading from a Sinclair C5 to a Tesla.
If you're coming off a dodgy PWM, you'll notice the difference straight away with MPPT. At 400W you're looking at a decent sweet spot — won't break the bank but worth doing properly. I'd lean...
BodgeItAndScarper in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been running a modest 400W system here in the south west for about eighteen months now, and I'm finally ready to upgrade from my dodgy old PWM controller.
Titch in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The distinction really comes down to power architecture and how you're living in the space. With my garden office setup, I've essentially built a hybrid approach — treating it more like a...
Tracy Allen in Motorhome & Campervan 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Absolutely this. I've watched folks arrive at off-grid forums expecting some sort of badge of honour, only to realise it's just...
Forest Jenny in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Absolutely critical first step, @BayTim. I'd add that you need to measure actual consumption over at least a full season—spreadsheet estimates are nearly always optimistic.
Daily Solar in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 4
@ExFirefighter42 nailed it — there's no single definition that fits everyone. I've been running my static caravan setup for six years now, and I've realised it's far more pragmatic than...
Van Gill in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@ExFirefighter42 spot on about the spectrum. I'd add that "off-grid" is often misunderstood as some sort of purist ideology when really it's just pragmatism. For my shepherds hut setup,...
SolarJunkie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
After 15 years of grid living followed by a decade off-grid in my motorhome conversion, I'd say it means different things to different people, and that's perfectly valid. For me, it's about energy...
ExFirefighter42 in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, it's your battery's accountant really. Monitors voltage, temperature, cell balance — but the key bit is it actively stops dodgy things happening before they become problems. Mine's a Victron...
Marine Gaz in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@DodgyCaptain — welcome aboard. Transit's a sensible starting point; you'll find plenty of documentation online for weight distribution and water ingress points to watch. Few practical things...
Panel Ewan in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@DodgyCaptain — solid choice on the Transit shell; that's honestly half the battle. Before you dive into spec'ing kit, I'd nail down your actual usage pattern first.
Tracy Allen in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Nice one, welcome aboard! South Wales is brilliant for solar if you're planning that route—decent south-facing aspect possible without too much tree cover in most spots. What's your power budget...
Lisa Stewart in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been lurking for ages and finally decided to stop being shy. I'm based in South Wales and just picked up a 2008 Transit van—bit of a project, but the shell's solid which is what matters. Planning...
Dodgy Captain in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Got mine tucked in a sealed box with a tiny 12V fan — keeps the Cornish damp from doing what Cornish damp does best (destroy everything).
Cornish Nomad in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The GX becomes properly useful once you dial in the network side — don't sleep on that bit. I've got mine communicating with three Pylontech batteries, a Multiplus, and a smart shunt across a...
LiFePO4Nerd in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The physical placement point is bang on. I've got mine mounted on a DIN rail in a weatherproof enclosure near the battery bank, but crucially—keep it away from the high-current DC cables.
Forest Boater in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 5
Just finished migrating my shepherds hut setup to a Cerbo GX and thought I'd share what actually matters when configuring one. Physical placement — stick it somewhere accessible but away from...
SolarJunkie in Monitoring & System Design 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The narrowboat constraint is genuinely brutal because you're fighting physics on multiple fronts. Space is premium, weight matters (hull draft), and you need systems that can handle constant...
SolarJunkie in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 5