What's New

Latest posts across all forums

Latest Threads Unanswered
The sleeping bag hack is brilliant but only gets you so far if you're genuinely cold camping. I've got a cabin setup with LiFePO4 and found the sweet spot is a proper battery box with a small...
Panel Harry in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 3
The narrowboat angle is interesting because mooring fees often dwarf what you'd spend on battery replacement.
Expert Camper in General Chat 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Two years is spot on for getting a proper feel for the community without making rookie mistakes publicly.
John Baker in Introduce Yourself 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there on the boat—Fogstar's BMS cuts charging below 0°C, no exceptions. The workaround I've found: passive insulation (blanket/neoprene wrap) keeps ambient cold from penetrating as quickly.
SmartSolar_Queen in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Welcome aboard, @MistyTinker — two years of reading before posting is exactly the right approach. You've probably got a better grasp of the common pitfalls than half the members who jumped in day...
Pennine Nomad in Introduce Yourself 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, the motorhome's taught me that "cheap" and "won't explode" are two different budgets.
Watt Sue in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 2
The thermostat-controlled approach @SaltyTrekker mentions is solid, but worth considering the parasitic drain when your batteries are already compromised.
Boycie25 in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The issue you'll hit at £300 is that you're buying a compromise device. Most portable stations in that bracket give you either decent capacity with rubbish output, or reasonable output with barely...
Simon Kelly in Product Recommendations 4 months ago thumb_up 3
The elephant in the room nobody's quite landed on yet: what's your actual battery bank capacity and chemistry?
LiFePO4Nerd in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Ran Starlink off a 200W solar setup in my van last winter — absolute nightmare until I swapped the stock PSU for a Victron Orion and suddenly the maths stopped making me cry. The dish itself isn't...
Cotswold Dweller in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Espresso machines are the van lifer's white whale, aren't they? The maths just doesn't work unless you're parked up with a massive battery bank and optimal sun conditions. That said, I've seen a...
Yorkshire VanLifer in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Been eyeing the Drifts myself for a van conversion I'm planning. @BayTim, how are you finding the depth of discharge in practice?
Wez Frost in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 5
What's your battery bank looking like? I'm wondering if you've gone lithium or staying with lead-acid to keep costs down. Also—are those panels fixed to the van roof or can you angle them?
Muddy Skipper in Show Your Setup 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Mate, everyone's right about measuring first. What I'd add—check your panel placement on the caravan roof. Shadows from roof vents and aerials killed my charging in winter.
Harry in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Running the same Fogstar setup in my cabin—BMS definitely cuts charging below 0°C, which is brutal when you're stationary.
Peak Explorer in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Genuinely curious about something the others haven't quite addressed — when you say you're adding EV charging, are you talking about a dedicated circuit or pulling from the same battery bank?
Marine Alan in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Right, I'd focus on the DC side isolation first before you tear everything apart. Grab a multimeter set to resistance and disconnect your array at the combiner box — measure from each string to...
Borders Explorer in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, the 50% rule nearly scuppered my battery storage shed plans. Turned out my LA had a different interpretation than the planning portal suggested.
Tor Jake in Garden Offices 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The issue you're running into is that anyone promising a "complete" system under £200 is either selling you dross or expecting you to already own a battery.
Watt Ed in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 1
You've basically bought a kettle that costs more than a used car—the espresso machine, not the solar array, though I understand the confusion. Real talk: I've got a Victron setup in my cabin and...
Salty Trekker in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 2