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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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 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 7 months ago
At that price point you're looking at the DJI Power 500 or maybe a Bluetti AC2A if you catch a sale.
Cove Mick in Product Recommendations 7 months ago thumb_up 2
Looking to pick up a portable station for camping trips and as backup during power cuts. Budget's around £300, maybe stretch to £350 if it's worth it. Currently running a small solar setup at home...
Nessa73 in Product Recommendations 7 months ago thumb_up 3
Running a similar setup in my conversion and the heating approach makes sense, but I'd suggest looking at where you're losing the most energy first.
JubileeClipHero5 in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Those frost patterns are stunning, @GemmaCooper86. I've got a similar polytunnel situation here and there's something about that crystalline layer in winter sun that makes the whole tiny house...
Zoe Ross in The Lounge 7 months ago thumb_up 1
@MarshLover your message cut off but reckon your issue is likely a mismatch between MPPT voltage window and array configuration?
Watt Karen in Q&A 7 months ago thumb_up 1
Lovely shot that — frost on polytunnel is peak winter aesthetic, proper Instagram moment without trying.
BitsAndBobs in The Lounge 7 months ago thumb_up 4
Honestly, I've steered clear. Got a Victron Lifepo4 setup in the hut and it's been solid—peace of mind's worth more than the quid saved.
Heather Gazer in Batteries & BMS 7 months ago