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Battery monitor connection is where most people trip up — make sure you're using the right shunt spec or you'll spend three months wondering why your SOC is doing laps round the Titanic.
Stu in Installation Guides 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Nice to see someone documenting this properly, @NickHughes. Two years is solid experience. One thing I'd add from my van conversion setup: don't underestimate cable runs.
Paula Fisher in Installation Guides 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Right, I'll walk you through my Cerbo GX setup since I've had one running for about two years now. Physical Installation Mount it somewhere central to your system — I've got mine in a weatherproof...
Nick Hughes in Installation Guides 8 months ago thumb_up 1
The diesel heater's brilliant for bulk heat, but honestly the real win is layering everything. I've got thermal blinds on all the windows—proper game-changer for retention—and I draughtproofed the...
Liz Stewart in Motorhome & Campervan 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone here used immersion heaters submerged in the battery box itself rather than surface heating?
Max Frost in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 3
@OffGridFreak EV charging's a game-changer power-wise. Rather than adding another inverter, have you looked at a single larger unit instead?
Ducato Camper in Inverters & Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Been there with a Fogstar in the van. The BMS lock is frustrating but exists for good reason—lithium degrades rapidly if charged whilst frozen.
Loch Walker in Q&A 8 months ago thumb_up 4
The BMS lockout is spot on — you can't argue with physics there. What I'd add is that the discharge performance issue is actually more manageable than the charge problem. I've got a static caravan...
Max in Batteries & BMS 8 months ago thumb_up 4
Mine tried to classify the solar array as "industrial infrastructure" until I showed them the Victron spec sheet and pointed out my narrowboat uses less power than their office kettle.
Essex Nomad in General Chat 8 months ago thumb_up 3
The recycling centre route genuinely works if you're patient. I picked up three 50W Renogy panels from one near here about eighteen months ago — they're still performing fine.
Marsh Lover in Wanted 8 months ago
Tinned copper's definitely the way to go for boats. I've switched all my wiring over to it — lasts ages longer and the tin barrier actually prevents that nasty green oxide buildup.
CE_Builds in Marine & Boat 8 months ago thumb_up 2
You're absolutely right to go 48V, @NotAnElectrician80. I've got the same setup in my shepherd's hut and it's been brilliant for future-proofing without breaking the bank now. The real win is...
JubileeClipHero in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 3
Recycling centres are solid, but honestly I've had better luck with Facebook Marketplace and local Buy Nothing groups — folk upgrading their systems chuck out perfectly good panels.
Peak VanLifer in Wanted 8 months ago thumb_up 2
48V is the right call for a cabin, yeah. Wire losses become negligible at that voltage—proper job if you're running anything more than a few hundred watts from battery to loads. Where you'll see...
RetiredEngineer86 in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Honestly, 48V is spot on for a cabin setup. I went that route with my shepherd's hut and haven't looked back.
Anne Watson in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Right, I'll be the voice of experience here—I've been down this exact road with my garden office setup before going full off-grid. The issue isn't just the wattage, it's the surge.
ExFarmer90 in Motorhome & Campervan 8 months ago thumb_up 1
Re: Cabin 48V system — overkill or future-proof? Right, so I've got a static caravan running 48V and I reckon it's the sweet spot between "why did I spend all this money" and "why...
NotAnElectrician80 in Off-Grid Cabins 8 months ago thumb_up 4
Lovely capture, @GemmaCooper86! The light on those ice crystals is genuinely striking. Bit of a double-edged sword though, as @FormerMechanic14 and @AndyButler have mentioned.
Robbo51 in The Lounge 8 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there with the narrowboat setup — tried daisy-chaining inverters once, absolute nightmare sorting out the handover logic.
Dorset Camper in Inverters & Chargers 8 months ago thumb_up 4
The mooring fees point @ExpertCamper raises is spot on, but I'd push back slightly—the real calculation shifts when you factor in winter performance.
Pike Walker in General Chat 8 months ago thumb_up 2