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Probably already stumbled across this
https://faroutride.com/electrical-system/
but these guys were helpful back when I was sorting my T2
edit also https://nohma.com
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My kaise dmt1250 abso 50a was good, and cheaper than victron.
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If I were starting from scratch today I'd need a very good reason not to build it around one of those big camping battery / "power station" / generator things, because you get the functionality of several expensive Victron boxes without a nest of wiring. Plus a lithium battery is actually happy being discharged, which lead acid / AGM / etc is not.
Find one that lets you keep the alternator (car) and the solar plugged in at the same time, because they often share a socket.
You'll still need a lead acid starter battery, because it's the only thing it's good for.
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Have you got a boat?! On mine I run all the above apart from an inverter from a 100w panel and a 115 amp hr leisure battery. Bought from sunstore in Worthing as a package including controller and expensive 3m tape to fix panel to cabin top. Bought a cheap switch panel from eBay that has lighter socket and 2 x USB and that serves to charge cabin light and phone/iPad for navigation. Simple set up and has lasted 3 years with no issues. There is an extra output on the controller that could charge an engine battery if required but as I have a petrol outboard I don’t need that
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@Dammit
Does anyone have a decent amount of experience about alternator+solar panel based power systems?
If so, what's the go-to, cheap and cheerful whilst also being robust system?
Previously I've put together a solar charging system with Victron stuff, which was straightforward but far from cheap.
Engine under consideration has a 40amp alternator, requires a battery to start it but it's a twin cylinder, 500cc unit so I doubt it's going to take a huge amount of oomph to spin it. Diesel however, so a mental compression ratio if like me you are only really familiar with petrol.
What needs power:
Yes it's a bit of an odd camper, but the principals are very similar I think!