Why Fogstar and Victron?

[Jim]

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Testing. QWERTYUIOP. My keyboard is OK, yours appears to have a stuck key.

 

[LiFePO4Convert]

OK. I will try and explain it another way.

I want equipment which has a web server built into it, like my temperature montors at home.

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[Jim]

I want equipment which has a web server built into it, like my temperature montors at home.

I want world peace

 

[Just smiffy]

I just want my stuff to work and so far they’re doing their jobs nicely, I’ve had them all well over a year now so the probably useless warranty has long passed….

 

[Just smiffy]

I want world peace

Your delusional…..

 

[Jon and Shell]

I want world peace

If only Trump would offer the Iranians Fogstar batteries, solar panels and a load of blue boxes, their nuclear ambitions would be quashed and World peace would ensue...

 

[LiFePO4Convert]

I want world peace

Yes. But that is outside of the scope of this forum.

 

[enark]

Testing. QWERTYUIOP. My keyboard is OK, yours appears to have a stuck key.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog


1234567890

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[eddie]

When I started Van Bitz in 1990, there were no "influencers" but self important "freeloaders still existed

Pompous self important (usually little men with taller preening wives) would appear at the Van Bitz (now WattGuardz) stand at shows, present a home laminated collage, the original 'cut and paste' press card

It would seem, that if I were stupid enough to give them something, for free the would review it in " MMM"

Now apart from their homemade " MMM" logo cut from the front of the magazine being a giveaway, the fact it said "Mike Hunt Contributor" which basically meant he wrote to, and had letters published by MMM

I knew the journalists that were actually journalists, they wanted content, stuff they could fill the pages of magazines with, they needed us

Don't get me wrong, they still needed feeding and plied with alcohol, lots of alcohol and they never expected to pay for anything, but, the return was two, three sometimes four pages of glossy pictures and effusive writing.

Now we have the internet, where everyone can be a star, in their own minds. Personally I preferred Andy Warhol's idea, famous for five minutes, but we have these narcissistic characters, who think that they are a cross between Andy Willman and Steven Spielberg, and that them boiling water is interesting, consequently deserving different camera shots, rigged lighting and the obligatory wife, distorting her face in a grotesque fashion, pretending to be more shocked than Macaulay Culkin was on the poster for "Home Alone"

This may sound a tad harsh, but, I retired in 2022 and the last show I did, virtually every every second person I spoke to was on the make, asking, virtually demanding free product in return for a favourable review, many getting stroppy and arsey when told "no"

Once the refusal was given, the attitude often changed, "Do you know who we are" "Deluded tossers on the scrounge" as an answer never endeared us to them, but who cares

One of the people I did meet, went on the be the most important internet person in our industry, Jim He was originally a customer way back in the Naughties, and we always got along well, then he started MHF, and we, like a few other businesses supported MHF because of Jim, never ask for anything for himself, happily and blatantly persuaded us to do stuff for "his members" nothing for himself

I knew he was in the market for a decent in dash camera/navi head unit, I sent him a Alpine state of the art job, a grands worth of kit, Jim put it in the raffle he was running for charity and, simply said Van Bitz had donated it to the raffle

Over the following couple of decades, Van Bitz has done loads of work on Jim's motorhomes, all paid for at Jim's instance.

Yes we have applied "mates rates" he is a mate, but I can 100% guarantee Jim could go to many many dealers, and in return for "censorship" and clever editing of posts to improve bad reputation for poor workmanship or shit customer service, get work done for free and more

 

[Just smiffy]

When I started Van Bitz in 1990, there were no "influencers" but self important "freeloaders still existed

Pompous self important (usually little men with taller preening wives) would appear at the Van Bitz (now WattGuardz) stand at shows, present a home laminated collage, the original 'cut and paste' press card

It would seem, that if I were stupid enough to give them something, for free the would review it in " MMM"

Now apart from their homemade " MMM" logo cut from the front of the magazine being a giveaway, the fact it said "Mike Hunt Contributor" which basically meant he wrote to, and had letters published by MMM

I knew the journalists that were actually journalists, they wanted content, stuff they could fill the pages of magazines with, they needed us

Don't get me wrong, they still needed feeding and plied with alcohol, lots of alcohol and they never expected to pay for anything, but, the return was two, three sometimes four pages of glossy pictures and effusive writing.

Now we have the internet, where everyone can be a star, in their own minds. Personally I preferred Andy Warhol's idea, famous for five minutes, but we have these narcissistic characters, who think that they are a cross between Andy Willman and Steven Spielberg, and that them boiling water is interesting, consequently deserving different camera shots, rigged lighting and the obligatory wife, distorting her face in a grotesque fashion, pretending to be more shocked than Macaulay Culkin was on the poster for "Home Alone"

This may sound a tad harsh, but, I retired in 2022 and the last show I did, virtually every every second person I spoke to was on the make, asking, virtually demanding free product in return for a favourable review, many getting stroppy and arsey when told "no"

Once the refusal was given, the attitude often changed, "Do you know who we are" "Deluded tossers on the scrounge" as an answer never endeared us to them, but who cares

One of the people I did meet, went on the be the most important internet person in our industry, Jim He was originally a customer way back in the Naughties, and we always got along well, then he started MHF, and we, like a few other businesses supported MHF because of Jim, never ask for anything for himself, happily and blatantly persuaded us to do stuff for "his members" nothing for himself

I knew he was in the market for a decent in dash camera/navi head unit, I sent him a Alpine state of the art job, a grands worth of kit, Jim put it in the raffle he was running for charity and, simply said Van Bitz had donated it to the raffle

Over the following couple of decades, Van Bitz has done loads of work on Jim's motorhomes, all paid for at Jim's instance.

Yes we have applied "mates rates" he is a mate, but I can 100% guarantee Jim could go to many many dealers, and in return for "censorship" and clever editing of posts to improve bad reputation for poor workmanship or shit customer service, get work done for free and more

Yes its good to help people that appreciate it for what it is but unfortunately some take the piss and want more for nothing…

 

[Nomadics]

I want world peace

I agree Jim. World peace is the ultimate goal.

In the interim, we are faced with a narcissistic leader of the USA, interested mainly in serving his own interests over serving the people of the US. This is isolating USA from its allies, who now are sometimes on the receiving end of US hostilities.

So, until this administration is done, where there is an option, I personally will not be contributing to the US economy through tourism or purchasing goods from companies like US HQ’d Renogy.

I realise my approach is limited in impact as an individual, and can limit my options, but thankfully for electrical tech equipment, there is exceedingly good equipment available from Dutch based Victron and UK based Fogstar. (I also like Fogstar’s ethical basis on which the company was founded: to ensure genuine high quality Lithium battery cells were supplied in their products, where fake claims by others were previously prevalent).

We as individuals cannot end wars, but we can choose where we spend our money and it doesn’t always have to be with the warmakers.

 

[MisterB]

Influencers? .... They've got nothing on my wife, she can get me to do anything with just a look that says 'do it and do it now!'

 

[AdrianChen]

Thats great, my Victron interface needed me to be two foot from it.

Yes the low power bluetooth just about covers front to back of our van - but it does feed into the vans WiFi so a few hundred feet, if there is a Cell connection at the van then the info is available globally.

I think Victron are spending more time on the "Off Grid" home stuff these days, and so making less progress on the mobile gear. Still too many interfaces, and products that are behind the latest offerings....

 

[Eno]

Renogy and Eco-worthy for us, no issues with 9 months continuous use, including down to -15 for about a week.

 

[Raul]

I think Victron are spending more time on the "Off Grid" home stuff these days, and so making less progress on the mobile gear. Still too many interfaces, and products that are behind the latest offerings....

This is the latest development at Victron, I think is world first type of system. And the beauty? All the existing gear is compatible, if you upgrade the firmware xxx540 up.
No other manufacturer has come up with such type of integration as far as I know.

Introducing Victron Microgrid - Victron Energy

What if you could build large off-grid systems with the same simplicity as small ones – just by adding more independent units, increasing reliability, and scaling total capacity as you grow? Large off-grid systems have traditionally been complex to build and difficult to change; Victron...

www.victronenergy.com

 

[eddie]

I agree Jim. World peace is the ultimate goal.

In the interim, we are faced with a narcissistic leader of the USA, interested mainly in serving his own interests over serving the people of the US. This is isolating USA from its allies, who now are sometimes on the receiving end of US hostilities.

So, until this administration is done, where there is an option, I personally will not be contributing to the US economy through tourism or purchasing goods from companies like US HQ’d Renogy.

I realise my approach is limited in impact as an individual, and can limit my options, but thankfully for electrical tech equipment, there is exceedingly good equipment available from Dutch based Victron and UK based Fogstar. (I also like Fogstar’s ethical basis on which the company was founded: to ensure genuine high quality Lithium battery cells were supplied in their products, where fake claims by others were previously prevalent).

We as individuals cannot end wars, but we can choose where we spend our money and it doesn’t always have to be with the warmakers.

So what has Politics got to do with anything?

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[MisterB]

So what has Politics got to do with anything?

You definitely get my vote !!

 

[AlanandMayya]

OK, I've just watched the Radfords add 1200Ah of 24V batteries, loads of blue boxes, a roof full of solar panels and half a tonne to their van.

I've also noted a loyal following to the above brands in the forums.

Now, with me being a skinflint and having upgraded our van with a second-hand Sterling Combi S Inverter/charger and B-B charger servicing 2x 280Ah 12V Eco-worthy low temp protected BMS Bluetooth batteries, I think the Radfords have been ripped off.

Should I have a locker of blue boxes and these Fogstar batteries? Will my van burn to the ground because I haven't?

Have I missed something?

Another approach is to use domestic kit, not camper van or boat kit. I did a calc 3 years ago when I built our van and found that a 3.6kW hybrid solar inverter (so, 4.5kW MPPT charger, 3.6kW 230V pure sine wave inverter and 3.6kW battery charger from mains) plus a 5kWh LiFePO battery and 1275 Watts peak of panels (all of this domestic kit); plus a 2kW 12V-230V inverter for charging from the alternator cost quite a bit less than doing it all with any of the standard camper / boat components. Also a lot easier to install as all the functions (except the 12V-230V inverter) are in one box, with a single control, reporting and protection system for all the functiopns, so no fuse boxes, isolators, busbars. And no need for thick 300A cables from your 12V battery as the battery is 50V. The reason for the lower price is that this market is huge - hundreds of times bigger than the van or boat market - so there is enormous economy of scale and market competition. And quality is a lot higher because they have to comply with Building Regs, Distribution Network Operator and insurance company requirements in all their target markets at once - so, EU-wide as well as UK, USA, Japan, etc. I finished the build in November 2023 and we've used it heavily, tens of thousands of km, many months, winter and summer, for long off-grid stays and its worked as designed. I cant understand why people still stick with all these little boxes and 12V batteries.

 

[Raul]

That is all good if, you have the space for a large solar array to give you 90V plus so yiu can charge the 48V bank. Some inverters wont even start charging if voltage is not within mppt range; some are 120V up. You need minimum 3 panels in series with 45-50v per panel.

What I'm more intrigued is this

plus a 2kW 12V-230V inverter for charging from the alternator

Tell us more, or link an example if you know.

 

[Just smiffy]

So what has Politics got to do with anything?

Yes because Renogy and fogstar components probably all come from china….

 

[2bob]

and he’s constantly excited about getting excited

Must be very tiring day after day

may be it the only excitement he gets as she always cooking

 

[AlanandMayya]

That is all good if, you have the space for a large solar array to give you 90V plus so yiu can charge the 48V bank. Some inverters wont even start charging if voltage is not within mppt range; some are 120V up. You need minimum 3 panels in series with 45-50v per panel.

What I'm more intrigued is this

Tell us more, or link an example if you know.

Exactly right! Finding 3 panels with higher-than-average Voc that would fit on the roof was my biggest problem. I found Trina Vertex did one that was a bit shorter than the usual 2m, and a bit more than the usual 40V, so used those. On the alternator charge, I wanted to avoid an expensive B-B charger and long 100A cables, but needed about 1kW charge rate to fill a 5kWh battery on the road. I mounted a cheap 12V-230V PSW inverter right next to the battery (under driver's seat), so very short cables, and sent the 230V to the hybrid inverter's AUX port, which can be configured to receive a generator input. It works great. I set the hybrid inverter to draw max 1kW from this inverter (to save my alternator being overloaded) and the hybrid inverter supplies all loads, takes charge from the panels, and takes up to 1kW from the alternator to charge the battery. Nice thing is, if my panels are giving, say, 900W it only takes 100W from the alternator, saving me diesel. I did try it with a MSW inverter but my hybrid inverter wouldnt take that into the AUX port so I had to fork out for a PSW one.

 

[Lenny HB]

I just want my stuff to work and so far they’re doing their jobs nicely, I’ve had them all well over a year now so the probably useless warranty has long passed….

Your Victron has 5 year warranty and Fogstar 10 years.

 

[AlanandMayya]

In fact you can see the panels in my profile photo. Just the same width as the van, overhang the back of the roof to match the edge of the bumper, almost stay on the flat roof at the front.

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[2bob]

did any one see motorhome matt vlog with blue fix and ele person about power banks bit much for my brain

 

[sfrain145]

OK, I've just watched the Radfords add 1200Ah of 24V batteries, loads of blue boxes, a roof full of solar panels and half a tonne to their van.

I've also noted a loyal following to the above brands in the forums.

Now, with me being a skinflint and having upgraded our van with a second-hand Sterling Combi S Inverter/charger and B-B charger servicing 2x 280Ah 12V Eco-worthy low temp protected BMS Bluetooth batteries, I think the Radfords have been ripped off.

Should I have a locker of blue boxes and these Fogstar batteries? Will my van burn to the ground because I haven't?

Have I missed something?

I have some blue boxes and a Fogstar battery and yes it’s good stuff I’ve had renogy and yes it’s ok and I’ve had cheaper but I thought we was in this camping game to enjoy the thrills of going away living off the bare essentials but the radfords have just taken their house and stuck some wheels on it he has spent thousands on the levelling and suspension etc and I don’t think he even likes the van. I can’t understand how that poor little 2.2 engine and gearbox copes with it all. I honestly think it’s a bit showy offy and the yoga isn’t working or they are just big eaters

 

[Just smiffy]

but I thought we was in this camping game to enjoy the thrills of going away living off the bare essentials

So why are not in a tent, I have a full facility van as I like my home comforts, I don’t criticise people on here for having a £300,000 mobile Morelo palace….

and the yoga isn’t working or they are just big eaters

That’s a bit personal when you don’t know them, she has a medical problem….

 

[Raul]

Exactly right! Finding 3 panels with higher-than-average Voc that would fit on the roof was my biggest problem. I found Trina Vertex did one that was a bit shorter than the usual 2m, and a bit more than the usual 40V, so used those. On the alternator charge, I wanted to avoid an expensive B-B charger and long 100A cables, but needed about 1kW charge rate to fill a 5kWh battery on the road. I mounted a cheap 12V-230V PSW inverter right next to the battery (under driver's seat), so very short cables, and sent the 230V to the hybrid inverter's AUX port, which can be configured to receive a generator input. It works great. I set the hybrid inverter to draw max 1kW from this inverter (to save my alternator being overloaded) and the hybrid inverter supplies all loads, takes charge from the panels, and takes up to 1kW from the alternator to charge the battery. Nice thing is, if my panels are giving, say, 900W it only takes 100W from the alternator, saving me diesel. I did try it with a MSW inverter but my hybrid inverter wouldnt take that into the AUX port so I had to fork out for a PSW one.

That is a nice idea, feeding a inverter from the alternator, then feed that 230 to a auxiliary or even AC In of a multiplus. I salute you for that, even with double conversion DC-AC-DC its still appealing over an expensive 48V second alternator. I'm set to 24V and get 680-700W with one orion XS 1400. My panels are Panasonic 50VOC, but you can't get them anymore. They are 1.05x1.47m very compact at 300W each.

 

[splitfirebus]

So why are not in a tent, I have a full facility van as I like my home comforts, I don’t criticise people on here for having a £300,000 mobile Morelo palace….


That’s a bit personal when you don’t know them, she has a medical problem….

It did make me giggle though

 

[sfrain145]

It did make me giggle though