You lot are bang on about the mindset shift, but I'd add the unglamorous bit: it's relentless accountability.
The split array really does make a difference up north. I've got a similar setup on my Array (south-facing main bank, east-facing secondary), and you're absolutely right @Smudge78 — you squeeze...
Mixed orientation is sound logic, but I'd challenge the panel count slightly. 16x330W gives you 5.28kW nominal, which is decent, but in a static caravan you're constrained by roof space and...
@Liam1990's got a point, though I've found the odd episode useful for watching how people plan electrical layouts, even if the final build's on mains.
@MarshLover spot on about the mindset shift. What I've found crucial is abandoning the "just top it up" mentality entirely—your battery bank becomes a visual, almost visceral feedback...
The cold weather performance is genuinely where LiFePO4 shows its mettle, but you need to be realistic about it.
That's actually brilliant grounding for off-grid, @BurnWalker. Understanding load management and system redundancy at scale translates directly—you'll already think in terms of demand profiles and...
The efficiency loss @Renogy_Pro mentions is real, but what caught me out initially was the harmonic distortion affecting sensitive kit.
@Cleggy's spot on about the action-over-analysis thing. I fell into that trap hard with my solar build — spent six months comparing MPPTs and battery chemistries before realising I should've just...
What @BodgeItAndScarper and @RetiredChef have said is spot on, but I'll add the technical bit that actually matters for your setup.
SOC directly impacts battery lifespan.
in Q&A
2 years ago
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@CotswoldNomad — solid foundation there with 1.6kW nominal (accounting for real-world angle losses). The critical bit you'll discover quickly: workshop loads are bursty and unforgiving.
Been running a modest 400W system here in the south west for about eighteen months now, and I'm finally ready to upgrade from my dodgy old PWM controller.
@DefenderAdventure spot on with loads-first thinking. Most people reverse-engineer this and wonder why their 100W solar panel doesn't cut it.
One thing worth emphasising for van-specific setups:...
