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@Liam1990 makes a fair point, though I've found the battery storage episodes useful just for seeing how different systems handle load management.
Wonky Sparky in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 3
Grand Designs is alright but honestly half the builds are grid-connected anyway, so limited relevance to actual off-grid living.
Liam in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been meaning to jump on this one. I've got quite a bit of time on my hands in the motorhome during winter, so I've built up a decent list of stuff worth watching. Grand Designs is obvious, but...
Sam Bennett in The Lounge 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Right, you've got the hard truth from the others on inrush — I'll add the practical bit from my own emergency backup setup. I'm running a 48V system like yours with a Victron Multiplus, and I...
Solar Jake in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
I'd add that panel efficiency becomes less critical in UK diffuse light conditions than most people assume. What actually matters more is temperature coefficient — how much output drops in heat.
LH_Marine in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Honest take — that battery budget is brutal. I've got a Fogstar 100Ah LiFePO4 in my shepherds hut setup and it's night and day versus the lead-acid I started with.
CurrentAffairs in Show Your Setup 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Live in it first for a month, then you'll actually know what you need instead of guessing like the rest of us did.
Wonky Hermit in Off-Grid Cabins 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Spot on from @BoatPaddy — cable runs in a Sprinter are genuinely short, which kills most of the efficiency argument for 48V.
OffGrid Max in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 2
The resilience point resonates, but I'd add that it's also about understanding your actual consumption versus what you think it is.
Cove Mick in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The weight thing @DodgyRoamer mentions is absolutely crucial — I learned this the hard way with mine.
Quiet Maker in Solar Panels & Controllers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Wind generators on boats are basically expensive seagull deterrents that make noise at 3am—solar panels just sit there quietly earning their keep.
River Finn in Marine & Boat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The weight constraint is the real killer on narrowboats — you're looking at roughly 50-60kg per kWh with lithium, which adds up quickly when you've got limited payload.
Defender Adventure in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 1
The winter issue is the key one, isn't it? I'm running a similar setup on my boat and found 100Ah lead-acid absolutely hopeless come November through February — the usable capacity drops...
Cornish Boater in Product Recommendations 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Curious about your battery bank size though—that's half the battle, isn't it? A 3-4kW simultaneous load needs not just a beefy inverter but proper battery capacity to deliver it.
Muddy Skipper in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Mate, you've already got the dream setup — that 3kW Victron on 48V will absolutely murder workshop tools.
RetiredChef in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Been through this myself — got a mixed batch of older Renogys for my static caravan setup three years back. You really need to know the panel history though.
Loch Child in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Brilliant thread. Right, here's the thing nobody wants to admit: you're not building a battery, you're building a hobby. I started down the DIY rabbit hole for my emergency backup system.
AZY_Marine in On a Budget 1 year ago thumb_up 1
You're spot on about the weight constraint being different. I've got a static caravan setup and even that's taught me how much battery weight matters when you're trying to maximise usable...
BlownFuse in General Chat 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Mate, you're overthinking this. That 3kW Victron on 48V will handle most workshop tools without breaking a sweat — drill, circular saw, angle grinder, no problem.
Boycie in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 2
Always good to have someone with proper credentials on here. Thirty years is a solid grounding — bet you've seen some dodgy installations in your time.
Smudge78 in Introduce Yourself 1 year ago thumb_up 1