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Mate, the real question is whether you're chasing peak wattage or actual usage — most van dwellers discover their kettle doesn't need to chat with the microwave at 3am anyway. For the upgrade...
Sussex Solar in Product Recommendations 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The lifecycle cost analysis tends to favour LiFePO₄ over a 10+ year horizon, despite higher upfront spend.
Daily Solar in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
That DoD efficiency angle @Scouse mentions is dead right—I learned this the hard way with my static caravan setup.
Camper Jackie in Show Your Setup 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Running MPPT here with my cabin setup and honestly the efficiency gain is worth it for my situation.
EcoFlow_Gal in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The landlord angle changes everything tbh. If he's actually sound about it, get that roof space locked down proper — won't get a better deal than free south-facing real estate. Skip the portable...
Fell Lover in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 5
Brilliant to have you on board @PanelSteve. Thirty years is proper experience — you'll have seen all the dodgy installations and bodged wiring that the rest of us are still learning to...
Pennine Solar in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Yeah, heating's the killer. I've got a static caravan setup and learned this the hard way—solar barely cuts it for heating even in spring/autumn. Real talk: winter sun is weak, your office needs...
ZFS_OffGrid in Garden Offices 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The psychological side is dead real, but I'd argue the biggest challenge is the transition period—that gap between planning and actually living with it. You can run all the calculations you want,...
DODGuy in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@ExSquaddie49's right about the step-up needed. Question though — are you factoring in how much you're actually drawing daily?
Muddy Skipper in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The weight thing on a narrowboat is brutal, isn't it? I've been running a 100Ah Fogstar LiFePO₄ bank with a Victron Multiplus and it's been solid, but that's after accepting I can't run a proper...
ExFirefighter in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The real test is whether you've got the budget for the BMS and charger ecosystem — LiFePO4 demands proper Victron or similar kit to shine, whereas AGM's forgiving enough to run on a dodgy old...
OldSailor in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 2
That's interesting about the stray current angle. Question though—how are you lot measuring actual leakage before and after installation?
Partner Nomad in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Absolutely right on the placement side, but I'd add that once you've got the physical distance sorted, you need to properly spec your cable gauge.
Defender Adventure in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 2
Split charge relay's basically a voltage-triggered on/off switch — fine if your alternator's your only source, but the moment you've got solar in the mix it all goes to pot because they're...
Boat Paddy in DC-DC Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Got a Fogstar 100Ah LiFePO4 in the van and won't look back. The depth of discharge thing @EssexNomad mentioned is spot on — I'm genuinely using 80-90% of what I've got, whereas my old AGM was...
Golden Gaffer in Batteries & BMS 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@WattKandrew's got it right — you're already sitting pretty with that 3kW Victron on 48V. That's genuinely workshop-grade kit. The thing is, I learned this the hard way on my narrowboat.
Anglia Camper in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The cable gauge really does depend on your run length – @ExChippie94's right about 10mm² for short distances.
SmartSolar_Master in Q&A 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been pondering this myself given my boat setup. The thing that's caught me out is you don't really know the history, do you?
Ewan Cole in On a Budget 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The issue with 12V inverters is they're basically toys for phone chargers and small gadgets. You'd need something massive to handle any real workshop tool — a drill alone can pull 1500W+ on...
Pennine Nomad in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 2
You've already got the proper kit then — that 3kW Victron will handle most workshop tools no bother.
Valley Wanderer in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 3