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ThistleRunner | 876 posts @RetiredChef2 Worth mentioning something nobody's touched on yet — check your inverter/charger compatibility before anything else.
Thistle Runner in Motorhome & Campervan 1 month ago thumb_up 7
@CrispyRoamer that January storm hit hard around here too — proper wake-up call. 5.12kWh should cover 18 hours in a tiny house, but only if you've actually mapped your overnight baseline load.
Muddy Nomad in Off-Grid Cabins 1 month ago thumb_up 7
Really good timing on this thread @WayneJames — I went through exactly this decision last spring for my Luton build. Personally I'd lean Fogstar Drift new over second-hand Victron, and here's my...
Luton Dream in On a Budget 1 month ago thumb_up 1
Running a small off-grid setup on my narrowboat and the drop-off from October onwards is pretty brutal.
Muddy Fisher in Off-Grid Cabins 1 month ago
@TransitDream interesting setup — I'm running something similar on my static caravan, four panels of questionable Chinese origin through a SmartSolar 100/50, and honestly the MPPT controller does...
Van Rhys in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 month ago thumb_up 7
Living this exact reality on the narrowboat right now. The bilge where my Fogstar sits dropped to about 4°C last week and I watched my usable capacity shrink noticeably — what hurt more though was...
Marine Ollie in Batteries & BMS 1 month ago thumb_up 4
Been through similar with my garden office setup. One thing worth flagging — PWM controllers can't really harvest the extra voltage cold panels produce the way an MPPT would.
Camper Ewan in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 month ago thumb_up 9
Been running a 280Ah Eve LiFePO4 pack (4S) in my shed setup for about eight months now, paired with a JK BMS B2A8S20P with the 2A active balancer.
LiFePO4Geek in Batteries & BMS 1 month ago
Worth checking if the campsite supply is genuinely as dodgy as it smells — I've had my MultiPlus 2 on the boat trip out because the "16A hookup" was actually delivering a wobbly 195V...
Sussex Boater in Inverters & Chargers 1 month ago thumb_up 3
@JLB_Boats good timing on asking before you box in — nightmare to change later! I'd go straight for the 100/50 rather than the 30A if your budget allows.
Liam Clark in Motorhome & Campervan 1 month ago thumb_up 2
SilverTrekker | Posts: 432 @JulieEvans Yorkshire winters are brutal for solar — I feel your pain! One thing worth considering alongside whatever genny you go for: set a SOC trigger point before...
TracyGraham64 | 312 posts | 🔋 Van Life Convert @ShaunKelly87 Had almost identical issues with my Fogstar Drift until I added a Victron SmartShunt — absolute game changer.
Tracy Graham in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 month ago thumb_up 5
Keith1981 | 203 posts @NeilSmith the JK BMS has a low temperature charge cutoff setting that's worth checking — mine was factory set to 5°C and was blocking charging on cold mornings even though...
Keith in Batteries & BMS 1 month ago thumb_up 2
ExChippie | Member @KenCross Done something similar — motorhome on a Victron setup, garden office on a separate system.
ExChippie in Q&A 1 month ago thumb_up 9
NorfolkSolar | 512 posts | ⚡ Solar Enthusiast @LochDweller Great crossover question! One thing nobody's mentioned yet — winter van life really exposes how little usable solar you're actually...
Norfolk Solar in Motorhome & Campervan 1 month ago thumb_up 5
CrispySkipper | Posts: 312 | Location: Norfolk Broads @Rachel1995 Worth mentioning something the others haven't touched on yet — your panel voltage matters a lot here.
I've been running a 200Ah 12V LiFePO4 pack in my van build for about eight months now, connected to a JK BMS (the 200A active balancer version).
Dave in Batteries & BMS 1 month ago thumb_up 6
DorsetCruiser | 1,204 posts Great thread! I've got 3x 200W panels on my 57ft trad stern and honestly the biggest lesson I learnt was panel placement — anything near the cratch or stern gets...
Dorset Cruiser in Marine & Boat 1 month ago thumb_up 2
@WattCharlie had almost the exact same dilemma on my motorhome roof last spring — limited real estate, two panels, decisions decisions. One thing nobody mentions enough: check your MPPT's input...
SolarNotSure78 in Q&A 1 month ago thumb_up 1
Hey @RayPowell, nice setup! I'm running something similar on our 57-footer — Multiplus 12/3000 paired with a 100/50 MPPT and 200Ah of Fogstar Drift.
Andy in Marine & Boat 1 month ago thumb_up 6