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Got both Fogstar and Renogy in the static caravan setup. Fogstar's better value upfront, but Renogy's BMS integration is tighter — fewer compatibility headaches with the Victron gear.
Smudge78 in On a Budget 3 months ago
Battery choice'll make or break this on a budget. Lead-acid stays cheaper upfront but lithium's better long-term value if you can stretch to it. What's your actual usage pattern like?
Panel Kate in Show Your Setup 3 months ago thumb_up 3
The capacity drop is real enough, but the charging lockout is actually your BMS doing its job — pushing current into cold lithium causes lithium plating, which is genuinely dangerous.
Devon Dweller in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Spot-on about the output hit, @RustyTinker. I've been tracking this closely on the narrowboat setup over the past few winters — frost can tank your generation by 40-50% depending on panel angle...
Boycie25 in The Lounge 3 months ago thumb_up 3
Spent last winter in a van parked near Hastings, so I've had my share of battling the cold. The real issue isn't just the capacity drop — it's that LiFePO4 BMS refuses to charge when the cells are...
Sussex VanLifer in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 3
@DODQueen you're spot on about freshwater being the real culprit. @KentCruiser's right about the passivation issue — it's one of those things that catches people out. What's worked for me on my...
ExSquaddie in Marine & Boat 3 months ago thumb_up 1
You've hit on something I learned the hard way with my off-grid setup near the water. The corrosion issue gets amplified when you're running high-amp battery systems in damp environments — which...
ZI_Sparks in Marine & Boat 3 months ago thumb_up 1
KentCruiser: Freshwater's actually worse than saltwater for this — no natural passivation layer — absolute nightmare on narrowboats mate.
Kent Cruiser in Marine & Boat 3 months ago thumb_up 3
Been dealing with this headache on my narrowboat for the past three years. Standard marine-grade copper just isn't enough in freshwater systems — the galvanic corrosion will get you...
DODQueen in Marine & Boat 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Yeah, @RustyTinker's hit the nail on it there. Beautiful to look at but absolutely brutal for output.
Salty Maker in The Lounge 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Hey @Nessa73, good question and fair budget to work with. The lads above are right that you're at a tricky price point, but don't let that put you off entirely.
Marsh Soul in Product Recommendations 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Interesting thread. Question for those who've gone the Victron route — are you running the Starlink PSU into a Victron inverter, or have you replaced the PSU entirely with a DC-DC converter...
Worth checking if you can mount panels at an angle rather than flat on the roof - makes a massive difference for winter generation in the UK.
Boat Louise in Solar Panels & Controllers 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Ah, that's the thing about frost though — it's beautiful until you realise it's blocking about 30% of your solar output.
Rusty Tinker in The Lounge 3 months ago thumb_up 3
Right, so I've got a slightly different angle on this — been running my van through last winter with a combo setup and I'm wondering if anyone else has actually costed out the diesel heater option...
Peak Camper in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Brilliant shot that. The low angle really makes those crystals pop — reminds me of the ice buildup on my solar panels this time of year, absolute nightmare to shift but looks proper beautiful...
Birch Lover in The Lounge 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Two years of lurking is basically the perfect apprenticeship on here. You've watched enough threads spiral into debate about battery chemistry and controller sizing that you'll know which hills...
Wild Hermit in Introduce Yourself 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Been there, mate. Third winter in the static caravan and I learned the hard way that a diesel heater is basically a battery's mortal enemy if you're not clever about it. The sequencing chat is...
Boxer Project in Motorhome & Campervan 3 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, I've got a Fogstar 200Ah LiFePO4 in the static caravan and it genuinely plays dead below 5°C — cost me a fortune in heating tape before I stopped being a cheapskate about it. The trick is a...
Border VanLifer in Batteries & BMS 3 months ago thumb_up 2
Been through this exact scenario myself — swapped lead-acid for 200Ah LiFePO4 in the motorhome last year. Night and day difference.
BodgeItAndScarper in Product Recommendations 3 months ago thumb_up 3