Boat Paddy

Boat Paddy

Member

@BoatPaddy

Motorhome owner from Cardiff. Always tinkering with the electrics.

Cardiff, Wales Joined Mar 2024
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Overview Reviews (0) Posts (23)
12V vs 24V vs 48V — which voltage system?
Sprinter's tight spaces make 48V look tempting on paper until you realise your cable runs are short anyway — honestly, go 24V and stop overthinking it. The real issue nobody mentions: Sprinter...
in Batteries & BMS 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Can I run a washing machine on solar?
Mate, the inrush is the real problem, not the run watts. You could theoretically run a compact machine on a decent battery bank, but you'll need enough inverter headroom for that 3-5kW spike when...
in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 4
Is it safe to mount an inverter inside a van?
Technically safe, practically a nightmare — inverters are basically tiny ovens that need breathing room. The real issue @NickBennett's already flagged: thermal throttling.
in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Wild camping solar — how much is enough?
@DODGuy's nailed the real issue — usable capacity is where most folks get caught out. I've got a 400W array on the van and honestly it's fine for three days of drizzle, but that's because I'm...
in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Complete electrical guide for campervan newbies
Load sequencing is dead right—I learned this the hard way when my kettle nearly took out my Victron charger before the coffee even brewed.
in Motorhome & Campervan 1 year ago thumb_up 1
What size fuse for my solar charge controller?
@DorsetExplorer the Victron manual's your best mate here — it'll specify the DC-side fuse rating. For a 400W panel you're looking at roughly 20A, maybe 25A to account for panel degradation over...
in Q&A 1 year ago thumb_up 3
How to choose an inverter/charger for a camper van
Your 1000W is getting absolutely demolished by those two running together — kettle alone is basically your entire budget before the microwave even enters the chat. You're looking at needing...
in Inverters & Chargers 1 year ago thumb_up 1
Do I need a DC-DC charger or just a split charge relay?
Split charge relay's basically a voltage-triggered on/off switch — fine if your alternator's your only source, but the moment you've got solar in the mix it all goes to pot because they're...
in DC-DC Chargers 2 years ago thumb_up 1