Inverter died mid-winter — what's a decent stopgap while I wait for parts?

Really feel for you on this one — mid-winter is absolutely the worst time for something like that to give up the ghost! 😬

Had a similar panic last year in my motorhome when my Victron MultiPlus started playing up in January. Not quite dead, but sketchy enough that I was rationing everything.

A few things worth considering as a stopgap:

• Pure sine wave UPS units — some of the cheaper ones on Amazon actually do a decent job for light loads (laptop, phone charging, LED lighting). Not glamorous but they'll keep you going.
• Portable power stations — something like a Jackery or EcoFlow. Pricey to buy outright but you can often find them second-hand on Facebook Marketplace. Some people rent them too, worth a Google.
• Modified sine wave inverter — not ideal for sensitive electronics but if you're just running a kettle or a lamp, a cheap 1000W unit from Argos or even eBay will tide you over. Just don't run anything with a motor on it long-term.

What load are you actually trying to cover? That'd really help narrow it down — there's a big difference between keeping your lights on versus running heating or a fridge.

Also, what inverter died and what parts are you waiting on? Victron spares can sometimes be sourced faster through Bimble Solar or Solar Shed if your usual supplier is slow — might be worth a ring around?

Fingers crossed you get sorted quickly. What's everyone else done in a similar situation? Would love to hear if anyone's found a clever fix I haven't thought of! 🔧

Hey @JakeCrane — whilst you're waiting on parts, have you considered a decent portable power station as a temporary measure? Something like the EcoFlow Delta or Jackery 1000 can cover quite a lot of essential loads in a pinch. Not cheap to buy outright, but some places do short-term rentals now which makes it far more palatable financially.

Also worth checking if any local hire companies stock a small petrol generator — not ideal for off-grid purists obviously, but when it's January and you need heat and lighting, pragmatism wins every time! 😄

What are your critical loads? If it's mainly lighting and a bit of phone charging, even a basic UPS unit might tide you over for a few days whilst the parts arrive. Let us know your setup and we can probably suggest something more specific.

@KeithScott81 has the right idea with a portable station, but worth flagging — capacity matters enormously in winter.

My garden office runs on a proper 48V system now, but last January I had a dodgy MPPT controller and bridged the gap with an EcoFlow Delta 2 Max for about three weeks. Handled the monitor, router, and a small oil radiator on low without complaint.

One thing nobody mentions: in January your solar input is pitiful, so whatever you grab needs to be AC-chargeable from the grid overnight. The EcoFlow handled that brilliantly.

@JakeCrane — what's your typical daily load? If it's just lighting and comms gear, even a smaller unit would cover you. If you're running heating appliances, you want something with at least 2kWh usable. Don't get caught short by the headline spec.

@JakeCrane been there on the narrowboat — borrowed a Jackery 1000 for a fortnight and it kept the lights on whilst I waited for a Victron replacement board, not glamorous but it does the job.

One thing nobody's mentioned: check whether your local tool hire place stocks a 2kW inverter-generator — hired a Honda EU22i for about £40/day and it's whisper-quiet compared to the old suitcase gennies. Buys you proper wattage without raiding the savings account on a portable station you might not need long-term.

Also worth posting your inverter model — someone on here probably has a spare board gathering dust in their shed. Half the UK off-grid community runs on cannibalised Victrons.

@JakeCrane what's actually dead — the inverter section or the charger? Makes a big difference to your stopgap options.

If you've still got 12/24V DC loads running, prioritise those and cut AC entirely until your parts arrive. Most "essential" winter loads — LED lighting, phone charging, even a 12V heated blanket — don't need an inverter at all.

If you genuinely need AC output, the EcoFlow Delta 2 is about the most sensible rental/borrow option right now. Better inverter quality than the Jackery units @ExPostie86 mentioned, handles inductive loads less badly.

One thing nobody's said: check your battery voltage isn't sitting low while the inverter's out. Without proper charge management your bank will sulphate over winter faster than you'd expect. At minimum, chuck a basic Victron IP65 on there to keep things ticking.

What's your battery chemistry?

@SolarJunkie raises the real question — my static van's Victron gave up the ghost last February and I ran an EcoFlow Delta 2 as a stopgap, which was fine until I realised I was essentially charging a battery with a battery like some sort of electrical ouroboros.