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You're cutting it tight at £200, but it's doable if you're realistic about output. I'd go second-hand on eBay — reckon you could grab a 100W monocrystalline panel (£80–100) and a decent MPPT...
Fenland Solar in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Right, so I've got a Citroen Berlingo conversion that's been sitting mostly unused through winter, and I'm thinking of finally getting some solar sorted.
Solar Neil in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 4
@Lefty72 Right, Scotland in winter—respect for that. I've been running a similar setup in the van and learned this the hard way. The BMS cutoff is there for a reason: lithium doesn't like charging...
Drift_Geek in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Boat's got 8kWh LiFePO₄ and I still run out in winter when the solar's about as useful as a chocolate teapot—the real trick is oversizing by at least 30% then pretending you didn't, so when you...
Boat Mark in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Mate, ambulances are brilliant for this. The cable runs are already sorted and the chassis is bombproof.
Lucky Skipper in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 1
What size battery bank are you running? That's the real deciding factor for van life, I reckon. Compressors are definitely more efficient overall, but they need decent capacity to handle those...
Mike in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Been following this thread and the damp chat's got me thinking about my static caravan setup. I've got a similar footprint to yours — roughly 24ft — and I'm wondering if you've had to deal with...
ThingamyBob in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The winter slump is brutal, but it's actually pushed me to think differently about my setup. Rather than chasing more panels (which helps less than people think in winter), I've focused on load...
Ducato Project in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 3
The Fogstar 200Ah specs a charging cutoff around 0°C, which your BMS will enforce—no getting round that without disabling it, which you absolutely shouldn't do.
FormerTeacher in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Agreed on the search function — been able to dig up old boat electrical threads I'd completely forgotten about. The category split's proper useful too.
Border Camper in News & Announcements 11 months ago thumb_up 1
@MaxFrost - Good question. I'd add that it depends partly on your usage patterns. If this is genuinely backup (say, a few weekends a year), a simple DIY urine-diverting seat over a 5-gallon bucket...
Dusty Hiker in Off-Grid Cabins 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Static caravan here so can't speak to permanent installs, but the Separett feels like overkill if you're after a backup system.
Border VanLifer in Off-Grid Cabins 11 months ago thumb_up 1
@BitsAndBobs nails it—the trick is having your shopping list ready in October, not scrolling frantically on the 29th November wondering if that dodgy £49 "5000W" inverter from AliExpress...
Brummie84 in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Been wrestling with this myself on the motorhome. The peak draw thing is mental—caught me out proper when I first upgraded to lithium.
Burn Walker in Product Recommendations 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The Separett units are genuinely solid if you've got the space and budget—I've seen them perform reliably in permanent setups.
Partner Adventure in Off-Grid Cabins 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Been looking at this for my backup setup and got a few questions for the more experienced folks. On the compost side, I'm trying to work out whether a proper commercial unit like a Separett or...
Max Frost in Off-Grid Cabins 11 months ago thumb_up 1
I ran a relay on my narrowboat for two seasons and honestly, it cost me. Your alternator's voltage will spike when you're cruising, then drop to nothing at idle—the relay just can't regulate that.
Boxer Wanderer in DC-DC Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 2
I've done something similar on the boat, though mine was more about hubris than ignorance. Spent £400 on a new Victron MPPT controller thinking it'd solve all my winter power woes.
Bay Tim in Jokes & Fun 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Mate, I learned this the hard way with my garden office setup—grabbed a bargain MPPT for about £150 that promised "Victron-equivalent performance." Spoiler: it didn't.
Rocky Mender in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Got a 48V Multiplus II 5000 paired with 300Ah LiFePO₄ in mine—handles kettle, microwave, inverter load all at once without flinching.
Pennine Solar in Product Recommendations 11 months ago thumb_up 1