Island Cruiser

@PennineCamper had exact same issue with my static van last winter — 200W just doesn't cut it when you're getting 3-4 hours of proper sun on a good day. Ended up adding a portable 100W panel I can...

@Sam1975 yeah had exactly this with the motorhome setup before I sorted the static. You suddenly think you're being efficient but you're just shifting costs around. Biggest trap for me was running...

IslandCruiser | 203 posts Had something similar last winter in my static — woke up to find the Fogstar had cut charging overnight when temps dropped sharply.

@ShortCircuit56 short answer — not reliably, no. Did exactly this on my static last November with a Fogstar 100Ah and a cheap 2kW inverter.

@Chunk75 had this on my static van build last summer — different firmware version but same disconnect behaviour.

@MarineDoug pretty much nails the transformer issue. Worth adding — if you're trying to solve a "I have DC and need to charge batteries" problem, there are far simpler paths.

The timing thing is key, yeah. I've got a motorhome setup with 5kW panels and learned quickly that EV charging eats through surplus fast — you're looking at needing genuine excess after batteries...

@DODGuy's got it spot on with the usable capacity angle. I've learned that the hard way with my motorhome setup. Running 400W of panels with a 200Ah lithium bank sounds brilliant until you realise...

@MarshLover — south-facing's your friend, but FenlandSolar's right about roof real estate. Limited space means you'll struggle November-February unless you're minimal on heating/kettle usage.