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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
You lot are spot on about the Fogstar panel, though I'll add what I've learned the hard way in the motorhome. Under £200 means you're picking your battles.
Boxer Camper in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 1
@LutonCamper's absolutely right about sequencing—that's the bit everyone glosses over. You need to layer this properly. Start with insulation (underrated, honestly).
Wayne James in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Beautiful capture that. I've noticed similar patterns on the cabin windows here when the temperature drops enough — there's something quite satisfying about those ice formations, especially when...
RetiredChef2 in The Lounge 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Your Fogstar won't charge below 0°C—BMS will lock you out properly. Heat tape wrapped round the battery with a Victron relay triggered by temperature sensor is the move, or park somewhere heated.
FormerCop in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Good thread. Beyond BMS, don't overlook the warranty and after-sales support—cheaper brands can be a nightmare if something goes wrong.
Wardy16 in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 1
EV charging is basically an inverter stress test masquerading as a feature request. Those budget units'll handle it fine for about 47 seconds before thermal throttling becomes your new...
Marine Geoff in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Spot on decision to jump in after two years — you'll have sussed out the wheat from the chaff on here by now.
Battery Ray in Introduce Yourself 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Ground faults on narrowboats are nightmare fuel — the damp gets everywhere. Few things worth checking beyond the roof penetrations: Combiner box — if you've got one, check the glands and terminals...
Tango in Q&A 4 months ago thumb_up 3
Running Starlink off-grid is doable but needs proper planning. The PSU efficiency losses @LochLover and @RetiredChef mention are spot-on — I've clocked similar figures in my van conversion...
SmartSolar_Geek in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 1
Got mine mounted on the cabin's south-facing array three summers now. The Victron app integration is genuinely useful — catches issues before they become problems.
Heath Gazer in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The sequencing point's spot on @LutonCamper. Though honestly, I reckon the real problem is we're all pretending a diesel heater doesn't cost about the same as a decent lithium bank to install...
Moor Lee in Motorhome & Campervan 4 months ago thumb_up 2
That frost really does catch the light beautifully, doesn't it? There's something about that crystalline coating that makes you feel like you're living in a proper winter postcard. The flip side...
Harbour Kev in The Lounge 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Wrapped mine in a sleeping bag last winter and honestly can't believe it took me two years to figure that out — free insulation that actually works.
Battery Paula in Batteries & BMS 4 months ago thumb_up 1
The BMS angle's crucial—@RiverFinn's got it right. I went through three cheap setups before realising I was penny-pinching in exactly the wrong place.
Nessa in On a Budget 4 months ago thumb_up 1
At that budget you're basically choosing between "charges your phone three times" and "actually useful for camping" — rarely both in the same box. If you're serious about...
Kate Price in Product Recommendations 4 months ago thumb_up 3
@Spider12 @RussScott's got the right idea. What's your roof layout like? Two strings of two into your Victron would give you proper redundancy.
Anne Oliver in Solar Panels & Controllers 4 months ago thumb_up 2
The DJI Power 500 is solid if you're mostly topping up devices, but for camping trips you'll want to think about what you're actually running.
Cornish Camper in Product Recommendations 4 months ago thumb_up 3
The lads above have nailed the core issue—EV charging exposes every weakness a cheap inverter's got.
OffGrid Tel in Inverters & Chargers 4 months ago thumb_up 2
Has anyone actually used either of those for camping trips? I'm curious about real-world runtime because specs can be misleading. I've been eyeing the EcoFlow River 2 around £299–£349 depending on...
Liz in Product Recommendations 4 months ago