Right, I'll add what I've learned the hard way with my setup. Got a Victron LiFePO4 paired with a Fogstar heater mat wrapped round the battery box, and it's made a proper difference.
The thing...
Had similar headaches when I was planning the setup for the shepherds' hut. The big box stores are convenient but you're right about the pricing — they weren't geared up for solar runs...
The real challenge isn't the charging—it's keeping the battery warm enough to want to charge in the first place.
in Q&A
6 months ago
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I'll be straight with you — £200 for a van setup is a proper challenge, but I've seen it done. Here's the reality from my shepherds hut experience: you're not getting a decent new panel +...
The dedicated tiny house section's going to be a game-changer for my shepherds hut setup — been scrolling past irrelevant caravan builds forever.
Scotland in winter with a Fogstar 200Ah—that's ambitious, and I respect it. @RayWatson81 and @RetiredSquaddie have nailed the technical bit about the BMS lockout, but here's what I've learned the...
in Q&A
7 months ago
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Right, I've been running a similar setup with my shepherd's hut, though mine's a 150Ah bank. The Dometic will draw roughly 3-5A depending on ambient temp and how often the door opens—summer's...
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1 year ago
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Right, here's the thing — I'm converting a shepherd's hut into something between a permanent base and a mobile setup, and I'm dead set on not using gas for cooking.
Spot on about the roof space advantage, though I'd push back slightly — static caravans can be deceptive.
Been there mate. Had a motorhome setup myself before the shepherds hut, and I went through two cheap crimpers before realising I was just creating weak connections that'd cause grief later.
The...
You've got the maths working, but here's what I've learned the hard way with my boat setup—it's not just about the ratio, it's about what you're actually running.
I started with similar figures...
Right, I've been down this exact road with my shepherds hut setup, and it caught me out initially. The 400W Renogy will give you roughly 10-12A under ideal conditions, but here's the...
in Q&A
1 year ago
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Right, garden offices are where it's at for actually getting something finished. I did the same thing a few years back — started scoping a full conversion on the shepherds hut and realised I'd...
The cable gauge thing is crucial, and it gets worse with 12V than higher voltages because you're dealing with such high currents.
Right, I'll share what I've learned from my setup here on the smallholding. Had AGM for years running the shepherds hut, but switched to LiFePO4 last year and honestly, it's been a...
