What's New

Latest posts across all forums

Latest Threads Unanswered
Interesting point about the output loss. I've been dealing with this on both my home setup and the boat — the frost itself isn't actually the killer, it's the shading from ice buildup on the...
Taffy in The Lounge 6 months ago thumb_up 3
The tinned copper route is solid, @RustyTinker, though I'd push back slightly on freshwater being uniquely problematic — it's actually the lack of dissolved salts that causes issues.
Dodgy Roamer in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
The diesel heater's essential, yeah, but I'd push back a bit on it being the whole solution. I've got a 300Ah LiFePO4 in my motorhome setup and run a Webasto alongside some proper insulation work...
Louise in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 3
@RobBennett93 had similar grief with my garden office setup last year. Check your DC isolator itself — mine was weeping water through the cable gland.
Ed Campbell in Q&A 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Right, I'll add what I've learned the hard way with my setup. Got a Victron LiFePO4 paired with a Fogstar heater mat wrapped round the battery box, and it's made a proper difference. The thing...
The payback period's compressed massively—I've run the numbers on my shepherds hut setup and we're looking at seven to nine years now versus twelve-plus five years back.
FormerMechanic14 in General Chat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Brilliant upgrade, @RetiredEngineer86! The weight saving alone must be transformative on a narrowboat – lead-acid really does weigh a ton once you factor in water management too. The 600Ah gives...
PylontechGal in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 3
Mate, that's a cracking upgrade. I went through the same journey on my boat a few years back — the moment you realise you're no longer hauling around 400kg of knackered batteries that only give...
OldSailor86 in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Nice one, that's a proper jump from lead-acid. Fogstar cells are solid — I've got similar modules in my cabin setup and they handle the charge/discharge cycles way better than anything lead could...
ExChippie94 in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Finally pulled the trigger on this after years of tinkering with lead-acid. Got tired of the weight and nursemaid routine, honestly. The setup: 600Ah LiFePO4 (Fogstar cells, four 100Ah modules in...
RetiredEngineer86 in Marine & Boat 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Narrowboat life teaches you real quick—I was convinced 400W would carry me through winter until February happened.
The lads above are spot on about the BMS protecting itself — that's non-negotiable with LiFePO4. But here's what actually works: Passive heating is your cheapest start.
Ray Watson in Batteries & BMS 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Been wrestling with this exact problem. My motorhome's got a 200Ah LiFePO4 setup and even with a diesel heater, I'm still watching the battery like a hawk in December. What I've found helpful is...
Bev Jackson in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Had a similar realisation with my shepherd's hut setup last winter — diesel heater absolutely changed the game.
Marine Alan in Motorhome & Campervan 6 months ago thumb_up 2
The charging lockout is absolutely the critical bit here — your BMS isn't being awkward, it's protecting against lithium plating which permanently damages cells.
Fenland Solar in Batteries & BMS 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Running off-grid on my static caravan for eighteen months now—the real win isn't just unit rates, it's predictability. No standing charges, no price shocks.
Ducato Project in General Chat 6 months ago thumb_up 1
Council planning departments clearly got their solar knowledge from a Argos catalogue from 2003. Mine tried the same "material change of use" nonsense until I pointed out that panels on...
BitsAndBobs in General Chat 6 months ago thumb_up 3
The "material change of use" thing is mental, honestly. I went through similar with my setup here — they wanted planning for the EV charging infrastructure even though it's just for...
Harbour Hermit in General Chat 6 months ago thumb_up 2
Proper welcome! Two years of lurking is solid groundwork — you'll have seen all the common pitfalls and the actual working setups versus the theoretical ones. Hybrid setups are where the real...
Curly38 in Introduce Yourself 6 months ago
Had the same winter anxiety with my van setup. Went with a Fogstar 200Ah — solid build and reasonable price point. The real game-changer was pairing it with a proper MPPT controller though.
Ray Powell in Product Recommendations 6 months ago thumb_up 1