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What's the efficiency rating on those? And are they framed or just the bare panels? Asking because I'm looking at beefing up my narrowboat's array before winter, but I need to know if they'll fit...
Burn Walker in For Sale 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Got a pair of 200W monocrystalline panels gathering dust since I upgraded to a larger array for the static caravan — they're just taking up valuable shed space now. The goods: 2x 200W...
Van Ken in For Sale 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Been reading threads here for about two years now, finally decided to stop lurking and actually contribute something useful.
Misty Tinker in Introduce Yourself 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The timing thing @ThistleWalker mentions is crucial – I learned this the hard way with my garden office setup.
Vivaro Nomad in DC-DC Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The lads have nailed the core issue—your Fogstar's BMS will hard-lock charging below 0°C to prevent lithium plating.
Marine Phil in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Been running something similar in the van for ages now. Dead handy when the grid's dodgy or just want to cut costs during peak hours. My setup's pretty straightforward — Victron MPPT controller...
ThingamyBob62 in Emergency & Backup Power 11 months ago thumb_up 2
MSW is like asking your kettle to boil water via morse code — technically possible but inefficient and loud. Pure sine keeps sensitive kit happy and your battery bank happier.
Battery Alan in Inverters & Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured the difference between manual clearing versus just leaving panels to self-clean?
Camper Clive in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Right, I've been through this exact nightmare on my converted horsebox. The moisture issue is real enough, but on a narrowboat you've got it worse than most of us. Here's what actually worked for...
Paddy Davies in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 3
laughs in Fogstar 100W panel bought on Black Friday for £89 Genuinely doable if you're not fussy about creature comforts.
Stormy Drifter in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Cheers for the data, folks. Bit concerned about the combined draw though — if the dish is 100W transmit and the router's another 15-20W, that's getting on for 120W sustained.
Thommo9 in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 1
I've been down this road twice — once with lead-acid in the garden shed, then again when I fitted 200Ah LiFePO4 in my van conversion.
John Dixon in Product Recommendations 11 months ago thumb_up 1
@MarshLover - quick question before we go further: what's your array configuration? String voltage matters enormously here. Your 150/60 is rated for 150V input maximum, so if you've got your 6kWp...
Fenland Solar in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually compared the BMS specs on the budget options side-by-side? I've been eyeing the Fogstar units myself but got a bit lost in the datasheets—specifically around cell balancing and...
Cleggy in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The Fogstar BMS will lock you out below 0°C—that's your real headache in a Scottish winter van. @BlownFuse is spot on about lithium plating, it's not worth the risk. What actually works: stick a...
Midlands Nomad in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 2
400W on a Sprinter's roof is tight geometry-wise. I'd push back on the November gloom concern though—@BaySeeker's right about winter output, but 300Ah LiFePO4 gives you genuine buffer.
Clive Baker in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Ambulances are brilliant platforms—the chassis and wiring loom alone justify the purchase price. Did you upgrade the alternator or stick with factory output?
Will Reid in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 3
The real challenge isn't the charging—it's keeping the battery warm enough to want to charge in the first place.
ExFirefighter11 in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 2
I've been down this road with the boat, and it's mental how they categorise things. Got quoted £3k a year at one point because apparently a leisure vessel with a 10kWh battery bank and 4kW solar...
Boat Ian in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The router's the real killer for off-grid setups. Mine sits at about 12W idle, but spikes to 20W+ during downloads.
Marine Gaz in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 3