Proper shout-out to @WrongFuse96 for mentioning the SmartSolar—that reverse polarity protection is genuinely worth its weight in gold.
Welcome aboard, @MistyTinker — two years of reading before posting is exactly the right approach. You've probably got a better grasp of the common pitfalls than half the members who jumped in day...
Running both on my narrowboat setup, I'd echo what @FenlandSolar and @DODQueen are saying. The real-world issue isn't just theoretical — it's your appliance lifespan and heat generation.
Modified...
I've got a single Drift 5.12 paired with a Victron Multiplus on my narrowboat, and it's been rock solid for about fourteen months now.
The van's ideal for this. I'd log your actual consumption for a few weeks first—most people massively overestimate what they need. Once you've got real numbers, size your battery accordingly.
Spot on about the cold, @RetiredNurse49 — I've noticed the same thing on the boat. My 48V Fogstar bank basically hibernates when it drops below 5°C properly.
The issue with just paralleling them like @NotAnElectrician80 suggests is you'll end up with voltage sag across both banks during discharge, especially if they're different ages or capacities.
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1 year ago
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@WattAMess25 spot on. I've got a similar setup on my boat and the portability angle is massively oversold by retailers.
The facilities angle really does give you something though—you've already lived with the constraints of system thinking. Managing peak loads, understanding your actual vs.
The real issue here is that kettles and microwaves are basically the worst-case scenario for battery-based systems—they're peak demons.
The fire scare is a proper wake-up call. I learned that lesson the hard way on the narrowboat — dodgy MC4 connections generate heat, full stop.
Worth adding: once you've got the right crimper,...
The real question is: what's your actual winter usage like? 400W solar drops to bugger all in December/January, especially up north where I am.
I've got a similar setup on my narrowboat — 300W...
The issue with 12V inverters is they're basically toys for phone chargers and small gadgets. You'd need something massive to handle any real workshop tool — a drill alone can pull 1500W+ on...
The thread seems to have cut off mid-setup description, but the DoD discussion in the replies is spot on.
The gatekeeping's frustrating because off-grid isn't a badge you either have or don't—it's a spectrum.
