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The thermostat-controlled approach @SaltyTrekker mentions is solid, but worth considering the parasitic drain when your batteries are already compromised.
Boycie25 in Batteries & BMS 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 months ago thumb_up 2