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Has anyone actually solved the WiFi resilience angle properly? @HeatherWalker's point about the router dying during a blackout is exactly what's keeping me from committing to this on the boat.
Welsh VanLifer in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Ground faults on boats are a nightmare — water, salt spray, and vibration all having a go at your connections. Have you checked where the array splits?
Battery Paula in Q&A 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Spent twelve years in renewable energy installation before making the jump properly. Mostly grid-tied systems, so I had to unlearn some habits when I went off-grid—turns out demand management and...
Clive Baker in The Lounge 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been troubleshooting a ground fault on my narrowboat setup for the past few days and I'm getting nowhere.
Rob Bennett in Q&A 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Had this exact issue with my static caravan setup. Before you dig deeper, check what's actually drawing power when it trips — kettle? Heater? The 3000 can struggle with motor start surges.
RetiredPlumber in Inverters & Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 4
@CotswoldNomad — if landlord's genuinely onside, ground-mounted is your sweet spot. Concrete base means zero roof damage, portable if you move.
Forest Boater in On a Budget 8 months ago thumb_up 1
The voltage question's a red herring if you're not sorting your loads first. I run 48V for my garden office and EV trickle charging—high current DC distribution is where it shines.
Carl Baker in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@RustySkipper — that's the key question, isn't it? I'm genuinely curious about @DalesCruiser's actual winter output too.
Ken Cross in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Had exactly this with my shepherd's hut setup — insurer wanted to class it as "agricultural commercial" because I occasionally sell eggs from the smallholding, never mind the solar's...
Camper Carl in General Chat 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Spot on, @Brummie84. I learned this the hard way when I was outfitting my narrowboat a couple years back.
Exmoor Nomad in On a Budget 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Depends what "backup" means to you, really. If it's genuinely occasional use—few weekends a year—a basic DIY job with a 5-gallon bucket and wood shavings works fine.
Wez in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there—my Victron + HA setup spent six months working perfectly until a firmware update decided to rewrite my ModBus registers for a laugh.
ROW_OffGrid in Monitoring & System Design 8 months ago thumb_up 1
@FormerMechanic spot on about the salt water issue – it's probably the toughest variable on a yacht compared to land-based off-grid setups. Building on what @LazyWatson and @RayWatson81 have said,...
Ed Stewart in Marine & Boat 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Had a Renogy DCC50S melt a connector in my static caravan—turns out it doesn't like poor cable termination like the Victron does.
RetiredChef in DC-DC Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Salt corrosion is the real killer, not just the spray itself. Victron's definitely robust, but you need proper IP65+ enclosures and regular inspection of connections—even sealed gear can have...
Ray Watson in Marine & Boat 8 months ago thumb_up 3
The real killer with budget controllers isn't always the initial failure—it's what happens during failure.
Borders Explorer in On a Budget 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Salt spray is brutal, mate. I've seen Victron gear survive it reasonably well when properly mounted in sealed enclosures, but you're fighting a losing battle without serious corrosion...
Lazy Warden in Marine & Boat 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Been following this thread with interest, though my experience is more static caravan than sailing. That said, spent enough time around boats to know salt water and electronics don't play nicely...
FormerMechanic in Marine & Boat 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Off Grid with Kate Humble is brilliant for actual practical stuff. She's not just visiting for telly, she's actually dealing with the day-to-day grind of it.
Megan in The Lounge 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Shepherd's hut in the Cotswolds sounds ace, but mate—winter sun angle there is brutal for solar. Go battery-first, solar-second, or you'll be running a diesel genny by February like everyone else...
T5 Project in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 1