Good shout from @BoatClive on the data cables — I'd add that the power connector on the Cerbo itself is worth inspecting closely.
Had exactly this with my garden office install — spent a genuinely embarrassing amount of time staring at it before realising the battery voltage was the culprit.
Yeah, this is a proper headache isn't it. I deal with this constantly with my motorhome — summers away, system sits idle.
The bit @FormerCop and @BlownFuse haven't touched on is the parasitic...
The weight-to-output ratio on 200W is spot on for portability. What's your battery setup though? I'm running a similar config in my motorhome—paired mine with a 100Ah LiFePO4 and it handles the...
@MuddySkipper raises the right question. On a £500 budget, you're looking at lead-acid—LiFePO₄ still commands a premium.
The PSU efficiency angle is worth digging into properly. I've got Starlink feeding my garden office setup and I measured actual wall draw with a Victron Energy Monitor rather than relying on...
I'd actually push back gently on the second-hand panel route here. Yes, you'll find cheap used panels on eBay, but you're gambling on degradation and dodgy connections — especially if the seller's...
Worth noting you'll want to test it under load before shipping — even units in storage can develop capacitor issues if they've been sat idle for 12+ months.
Your facilities background is genuinely a massive advantage, @BurnWalker—but not necessarily in the way you might think.
The degradation curve is the real wildcard here. Those Canadians @CotswoldNomad picked up are solid panels, but you're essentially gambling on their history.
Right, I've been down this road with the motorhome setup, though obviously boats present different challenges.
@EssexNomad, that cuts off mid-spec which is frustrating! But 12m² garden office is a decent size to work with.
Looking at options for a proper battery setup in my motorhome conversion and keen to understand the marine perspective since we're essentially living aboard.
Currently running a 100Ah LiFePO4...
