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I'm with @CrafterSolar on this one — blanket dismissal isn't quite fair, but context matters enormously. The real question is: which second-life pack? Nissan Leaf modules?
Taffy62 in Batteries & BMS 6 months ago thumb_up 1
You're spot on about the overspec'd kit—ambulances are built to keep life support running, so they don't mess about with cheap components.
FormerMechanic in Show Your Setup 6 months ago thumb_up 3
The gaming PC spikes are the real killer here—you're looking at 400-500W+ when those GPUs wake up. I run a similar setup on my narrowboat and learned quickly that you need two things working...
SmartSolar_Master in Garden Offices 6 months ago thumb_up 3
@CamperCarl spot on about the noise — that's been my experience too with the hut. The real issue is runtime though.
Marsh Lover in Emergency & Backup Power 6 months ago thumb_up 5
The seasonal swing is brutal—I'm running a 5kWh LiFePO₄ battery bank in my shepherd's hut and even with winter panel angle optimisation, I'm still burning through reserves come December.
Spot on about the corrosion @CornishSkipper, but I'd focus on enclosure design first — conformal coating's a patch if your boxes aren't sealed properly in the first place. Marine-grade stainless...
Marine Gaz in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
The separation point is what catches most people out. I've got a Victron Orion-Tr isolated 12/240V converter in my van setup, and honestly it's made the whole thing cleaner than trying to run...
Bramble Ella in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, series strings are brutal with partial shading. @RussHunt82's right about the weak link thing, but bypass diodes are only half the solution if you're losing the whole string output. What...
Downs Wanderer in Solar Panels & Controllers 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Have you looked at those compact 3-5kg portable washers? They're less brutal on inrush current than full-size machines.
Stu Knight in Q&A 6 months ago thumb_up 1
The router's often overlooked but it's a proper drain — I've got mine pulling about 15W constant, which adds up when you're battery-dependent.
BodgeItAndScarper in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 2
The reality is that winter solar output in the UK is genuinely constrained by physics — you're looking at roughly 10-15% of summer generation depending on your latitude and panel orientation.
Borders Explorer in General Chat 6 months ago
Solid work @DorsetSolar. I ran similar numbers on my static caravan before upgrading, and you've picked the right corners to cut.
FormerMechanic in Show Your Setup 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Same trap caught me on the boat. Spent three months researching battery chemistries when I should've just grabbed a decent Victron setup and started learning hands-on.
Del in General Chat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, the dish power draw catches folk out. I learned this the hard way when I first got mine installed at the cabin.
JackeryGuy in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 2
The dish itself is the killer for power budgets, yeah. I've got Starlink on my motorhome setup and found the router actually draws more than people expect — mine's pulling about 15-20W constant,...
Volt Will in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Been running Starlink from my shepherds hut for about 18 months now and it's genuinely changed the game.
Gill in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Have you checked your BMS settings in the app? I'd look at the cell voltage thresholds first—if they're set too tight, even minor imbalances trigger shutdown.
ExSquaddie49 in Batteries & BMS 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Got LiFePO4 in my boat setup now, absolute no-brainer for me. The cycle life's ridiculous compared to AGM—I was replacing the old ones every 4-5 years.
Fogstar_Fan in Batteries & BMS 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Good thread. I'd add that degradation is worth considering — @SunnyFisher's got a fair point there. Flexibles tend to degrade a bit faster, especially in UV exposure, though decent quality ones...
Quiet Sparky in Solar Panels & Controllers 6 months ago thumb_up 3
Learned this the hard way with my garden office setup. Went with a cheap PWM instead of a proper MPPT, lost about 30% efficiency over a season.
Van Sue in On a Budget 6 months ago thumb_up 1