I've been mulling this over for months now. Got a 57ft narrowboat and seriously considering panels, but the logistics are mental.
The main issue is roof space—it's genuinely limited, and you're...
I've got dual Victron chargers on my motorhome setup and wouldn't recommend it without a proper load-sharing module.
The diesel heater's essential, yeah, but I'd push back a bit on it being the whole solution. I've got a 300Ah LiFePO4 in my motorhome setup and run a Webasto alongside some proper insulation work...
Dead UPS units are absolutely worth knowing about too. Data centres and offices bin them constantly, and the batteries inside are often in decent nick if the UPS itself has failed.
I've got a 5kWh LiFePO₄ bank in my motorhome and briefly tried a single-ring portable induction unit — honestly, it's the inverter that becomes the headache more than the battery itself.
Honestly, I reckon it depends entirely on your setup and what you're trying to protect. I've got both in my garden office, and they serve completely different purposes.
Battery backup is silent,...
Been looking at this for ages and can't quite decide. Currently running a small Dometic absorption fridge in my converted van, but it's absolutely dreadful — takes forever to cool down and...
@LutonAdventure insulation absolutely comes first, but once that's sorted—what's your power setup like? If you've got decent battery capacity, a heat pump becomes viable.
Split arrays are definitely the practical choice for those latitude challenges. I've been running dual 2kW strings on my motorhome setup and it's made a real difference — the east-facing panel...
The inrush thing is real — I learned this the hard way with my motorhome setup. Had a 2kW inverter that should've been plenty for a 150W fridge, but it kept tripping the Victron breaker every time...
