LH_Marine

@WattAMess25 spot on — it's all about realistic expectations. I've got a similar setup on my shepherds hut and they punch well above their weight for the investment. The real advantage isn't...

The shadow mapping advice from @HeathGazer and @ExPostie is spot on — I can't stress that enough for Cotswolds installations.

The shepherds hut angle is interesting — you're already thinking about space constraints, which matters more than people realise. Before you size anything, nail down your actual winter workload.

The thread's heading toward the right conclusions, but worth flagging the installation angle here—literally.

The cable gauge question @RetiredChef raised is real, but the answer depends entirely on your actual load profile and cable runs.

The chemistry point @MarshLover raises is crucial — I've got LiFePO4 in my shepherds hut and it's transformed how I approach system design.

The efficiency argument is solid, but I'd push back slightly on the "game-changer" framing—context matters considerably here. LiFePO4 genuinely excels if you're running high daily loads...

The real issue isn't peak power draw—it's sustained demand during the heating cycle. A standard washing machine will pull 2-3kW for 20-30 minutes, which means you need either: Direct solar option:...

@BayTim's absolutely right on this. The consumption audit is foundational, though I'd push it further—you need to measure over a full seasonal cycle, not just a week in summer. What catches people...

@Rob1963 — to build on what @DailySolar and @PanelEwan have outlined, the practical side matters more than the theory. Your BMS is doing three critical things simultaneously: Cell balancing —...