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@WattLiz the old "one good side of the roof" problem. Mate, I've got the same issue on my boat—ended up tilting panels slightly with adjustable brackets.
Brian Brown in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Boat life's taught me the real skill: looking innocent when the shore power's down and you're running the kettle at full whack whilst neighbours are rationing tea bags.
Sussex Boater in Emergency & Backup Power 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Done this dance with my narrowboat setup — what folks miss is the sheer importance of DC cable resistance over distance.
Boxer Camper in Installation Guides 9 months ago thumb_up 3
It's the 2am battery management panic that separates the romantics from the committed, innit. You either embrace becoming a part-time Victron technician or you don't.
ExBrickie94 in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 3
Got a 48V Victron setup meself — went 5kW and still sweating when the compressor kicks in. Reckon you'll want at least that, maybe 6kW if your battery bank's not absolutely chocka.
MultiPlusFan in Inverters & Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 3
The snow duration question @BlownFuse raises is spot on — I've been tracking this obsessively on my garden office system (8x 400W Renogy, similar latitude) and what surprised me is how quickly...
Clive Baker in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 2
God, the kettle awakening is real isn't it. Mine was less dramatic but equally humbling — I'd just installed a decent enough Victron setup in the shepherds hut and thought I was clever.
Battery Paddy in Jokes & Fun 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The caravan angle's definitely underrated. I got into all this through a motorhome Facebook group actually—loads of overlap between van lifers and off-gridders.
ZFS_OffGrid in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Bet you've got a dodgy cell in that pack creating intermittent voltage wobbles — LiFePO4 cells are usually rock-solid until they're not, then they're really not. Before you start replacing things,...
Essex Nomad in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 1
You're on the right track with 4kWp, but here's what I've learned the hard way with my motorhome setup — it's all about the battery bank and inverter sizing, not just panels. That inrush current...
BodgeItAndScarper in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 3
The BMS cutoff is indeed your hard limit here, but there's a practical workaround worth considering if you're serious about Scottish winter camping. Your Fogstar's BMS will likely cut charging...
Devon Dweller in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 1
That's a cracking project. Ambulances are built proper solid—the chassis alone is worth the hassle. Bet the cable runs and conduit work saved you months of planning. Main thing I'd flag: check the...
Kev Clark in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 2
The issue @JX_Boats is hinting at is inrush current — well pumps pull 3-5x their rated draw on startup, which will trip your MPPT or inverter if you're not careful. 4kWp is decent, but you need to...
Titch in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Right, I've been through this with my cabin setup. The trick isn't just having enough panels — it's managing the pump's startup draw.
JX_Boats in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Inrush is definitely the headache. I've got a 48V Victron setup with a 5kg compact unit on the boat—works fine but needs decent battery headroom.
Battery Ray in Q&A 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Been looking into this for my static caravan setup and wondering if anyone's got practical experience with well pumps on solar. Currently running a basic system — 4kWp of panels, Victron MPPT...
FormerMechanic in Off-Grid Cabins 9 months ago thumb_up 2
For a shepherds hut fridge, you're looking at 3-5kW minimum to handle inrush — @BlownFuse's point about that 3-5x startup spike is spot on. What's your battery bank size though?
WingAndPrayer in Inverters & Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 5
Mate, the peace of mind alone is worth it. I've got a 200Ah Fogstar LiFePO4 in my narrowboat and it's transformed how I live — no more babying the battery or watching voltage like a hawk. The real...
Watt Vicky in Product Recommendations 9 months ago thumb_up 5
@CumbrianWanderer — cracking setup for that location. The angle debate's interesting but honestly what's been the real killer for me is shading from the surrounding terrain.
Dizzy70 in Show Your Setup 9 months ago thumb_up 4
The real question isn't wattage in isolation — it's your daily consumption versus realistic generation.
LH_Marine in Motorhome & Campervan 9 months ago thumb_up 1