Solar & Power Systems

Your solar panels might be perfect. Your battery bank might be well sized. But if your MPPT settings are wrong, your system will never perform properly. The solar charge controller is the brain of your narrowboat power system. It decides how and when your batteries are charged. Poor settings can shorten battery life, reduce usable […]

If you are installing more than one solar panel on a narrowboat, you will quickly face a technical decision. Should you wire them in series or parallel? There is a lot of confusion around this topic. Some say series is always better. Others insist parallel is safer. The reality is more nuanced. This guide explains

On most narrowboats, the inverter is one of the biggest hidden drains on the battery bank. Even when you are not actively using 230V appliances, the inverter may still be consuming power. Reducing inverter usage is one of the simplest ways to improve narrowboat energy efficiency. Why Inverter Usage Matters An inverter converts 12V DC

One of the most common debates in narrowboat power systems is whether to use 12V appliances or standard 230V household equipment. The answer is not always straightforward. The key difference lies in conversion losses and how often you run your inverter. Understanding this properly can significantly improve narrowboat energy efficiency. How Power Conversion Works Your

Living on a narrowboat teaches you one thing quickly. Power is not unlimited. Every amp hour matters. Every unnecessary inverter cycle costs you. Every inefficient appliance shortens the time between charges. Narrowboat energy efficiency is not about deprivation. It is about making smarter choices so your system works with you instead of against you. If

If solar panels are the engine of your narrowboat power system, your batteries are the fuel tank. They determine how long you can live comfortably between charges, how much power you can safely use and how often you need to run the engine. Choosing the right narrowboat battery setup is one of the most important

Winter is when your narrowboat solar system proves whether it was sized properly. In summer, almost any setup feels impressive. Batteries stay full, engine hours drop and solar seems effortless. Winter is different. Days are short, the sun sits low and cloud cover becomes normal rather than occasional. If you live full time on a

If you are planning a narrowboat solar setup, one of the first questions you will ask is how many panels you actually need. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on how you live aboard. Two boats can have identical roof space and completely different power needs. Solar should be sized around usage, not

If you are living on a narrowboat in the UK, your solar setup is not a luxury. It is your power station. Solar panels are what allow you to work remotely, run your fridge, charge your devices and get through long summer days without starting the engine. But they are also one of the most