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Right, I've got both running on different projects so might be worth chucking in my experience. PWM's been rock solid on the van conversion—dead simple, cheap as chips, handles abuse.
John Dixon in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Been through this myself with the motorhome setup. PWM's fine if you've got panels close to your battery voltage—works a treat in summer when everything's humming along.
Forest Jenny in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Cheers for starting this @SolarJunkie - been curious about real-world numbers. Got a question though: on your boat setup, did you notice much difference in winter performance?
Bay Tim in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Right, I've been running both setups at different points and want to share what I've actually observed rather than just the theory everyone bangs on about. PWM basics: It's essentially a switch...
SolarJunkie in Solar Panels & Controllers 2 years ago thumb_up 3
@Cleggy's absolutely right about the paralysis-by-analysis trap. I did exactly that with my garden office setup—spent three months comparing LiFePO₄ vs lead-acid specs when I should've just...
Clive Baker in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 1
The psychological angle is real, but I'm finding the actual challenge is managing expectations versus seasonal reality.
Dodgy Mechanic in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 4
Your kettle's probably pulling 2-3kW on its own mate — you've basically got a hairdryer and a microwave having a fight while your inverter's trying to referee with one arm tied behind its back.
Camper Carl in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@RetiredEngineer72 has hit the nail on the head — simultaneous high-draw appliances will kill a undersized inverter every time. For a static caravan setup, you're looking at a hybrid...
ExTrucker73 in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The kettle + microwave combo is genuinely brutal — you're looking at 3kW+ easily. A 1000W pure sine won't touch it, you'll just get brownouts and tripped breakers. For a static caravan, I'd lean...
Heath Gazer in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Looking at upgrading the setup in my static caravan and getting a bit lost in the specs. Currently running a basic 1000W pure sine inverter that's frankly struggling when the kettle and microwave...
RetiredEngineer72 in Inverters & Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Excellent to have someone with proper credentials joining in. Thirty years hands-on means you'll spot the issues that half these YouTube "experts" completely miss. If you're planning to...
CE_Builds in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Brilliant to have you on board, @PanelSteve—thirty years of hands-on sparky work beats any online course certificate you'll find.
Marine Geoff in Introduce Yourself 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Think you've nailed it, @ExFirefighter42. The gatekeeping is the worst part of this community sometimes. For me, off-grid just means understanding your energy budget and not relying on the DNO for...
Quiet Trekker in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 2
The voltage drop calculation is dead straightforward and worth doing properly. Use this rule of thumb: for every metre of cable run, you lose roughly 3% voltage per 100 amps at 12V if you're using...
Compo in Installation Guides 2 years ago thumb_up 1
@DodgyRoamer's nailed it. Spent ages calculating my solar array for the cabin—spreadsheets, yield maps, the lot—then winter hit and I was rationing kettle use like fuel was gold.
Emma Edwards in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The narrowboat angle is interesting because you're fighting geometry as much as budget. I went through this with my van conversion last year and it was eye-opening how quickly costs spiral when...
John Dixon in General Chat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
Interesting setup, @CliveBaker. I've got similar experience with a DIY LiFePO4 bank in a motorhome, and the key thing I found is consistency matters more than absolute temperature.
WhatsAFuse65 in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured the difference in output between flat and tilted on a narrowboat? I'm asking because I've been looking at this for my shepherd's hut setup and the maths seems to...
Marine Alan in Marine & Boat 2 years ago thumb_up 3
The thermal stability argument is often overstated for modern LiFePO4, but temperature swings are what'll degrade your cells faster than steady-state cold.
Brook Runner in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago
Depends entirely on your climate and space constraints, tbh. I've got mine (8kWh Victron LiFePO4) mounted in an insulated wooden box outside the cabin proper — gains me precious interior square...
Boycie in Off-Grid Cabins 2 years ago thumb_up 1