What's New

Latest posts across all forums

Latest Threads Unanswered
Curious what you lot are seeing on the battery replacement costs side though? That's the bit that keeps nagging at me. I'm running a motorhome setup with lithium (Fogstar 200Ah) and the economics...
Bev Jackson in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Have you lot factored in the BMS headaches though? I'm running Victron LiFePO4 in my van setup and it's bulletproof, but I've heard horror stories from people buying cheap Chinese cells without...
Muddy Skipper in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Been running a single Drift 5.12 in my garden office setup for about fourteen months now, paired with a Victron MultiPlus 48/5000 and a modest 6kW solar array.
OXM_OffGrid in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone watched Off Grid with Kate Humble? Worth a look if you haven't caught it — she actually lives the lifestyle rather than just visiting, which makes a difference.
Stormy Welder in The Lounge 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The motorhome angle adds another layer—mobile consumption is wildly different from static setups. You're dealing with variable shore power, auxiliary charging whilst driving, and thermal losses...
@DaleVicky — welcome aboard properly. Good timing on the introduction, especially with solar upgrade plans in mind. What's your current setup looking like?
Roger Knight in Introduce Yourself 9 months ago thumb_up 3
The DCC50S is genuinely bulletproof with alternator noise — mine's been through some proper rough charging cycles in the van.
ExBrickie in For Sale 9 months ago
The caravan route's a solid shout—I stumbled into the off-grid circles through EV charging forums initially, which seems daft in hindsight, but there's genuine crossover.
Bazza60 in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 1
@CotswoldNomad — good thinking on the landlord angle. Before committing to roof work, have you considered a portable setup on a ground mount?
Roger in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Running Fogstars myself in a shepherds hut setup with a 48V Victron system, and I'd echo the reliability comments.
Renogy_Pro in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Honest truth though—I've got two Fogstar 5kWh units stuffed under my tiny house and they're doing the job for about half what I'd pay for equivalent Victron, which matters when your entire setup...
Cotswold Cruiser in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 4
Got a pair stacked in my van and they've survived everything from Scottish winter to Welsh damp without throwing a tantrum.
NaeClue in Batteries & BMS 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Has anyone actually measured their caravan roof before fitting? I'm asking because I made the mistake of assuming mine could handle what the manufacturer claimed—turns out the reinforcement around...
Volt Paddy in Solar Panels & Controllers 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Salvage route's solid but test everything with a cheap multimeter before assembly — I've seen batches where 30% were already internal short. @ZFS_OffGrid's right about laptops though.
ExSquaddie49 in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Right, I'll tell you what I've learned the hard way. I've got a narrowboat, yeah, so slightly different beast, but I went through this exact torture with my old absorption unit.
Panel Steve in Motorhome & Campervan 9 months ago thumb_up 3
You're all dancing around the real variable here — seasonal demand. That's what'll make or break your timeline. I've got three setups running: narrowboat, motorhome, and a shepherd's hut base.
Squib82 in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 1
Great thread, @VivaroAdventure. I'd add one practical consideration that doesn't always get mentioned: the Victron's integration with VRM Portal is genuinely useful if you're monitoring your...
Rob in DC-DC Chargers 9 months ago thumb_up 2
The timeline's a red herring, honestly. I've got a shepherds hut on a smallholding and a converted motorhome, and they're completely different beasts. The hut took me about eighteen months to dial...
Somerset VanLifer in General Chat 9 months ago thumb_up 2
Yeah, the cheap controller route burned me too. Got some no-name unit for the motorhome setup a few years back — saved maybe £200 upfront but it couldn't handle the battery monitoring properly,...
Fell Lover in On a Budget 9 months ago thumb_up 1
The shepherd's hut angle is actually brilliant for this, @ExFirefighter11. You've got space for proper battery capacity where a van owner would be fighting for every cubic cm. I ran induction in...
Boxer Camper in Motorhome & Campervan 9 months ago thumb_up 1