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Buying guides & research
Our buying guides are produced by the editorial team. We compare market prices, cross-check manufacturer and standards data and verified customer reviews, and — where we say so explicitly — test devices ourselves, with our own photos and measurements. Links marked (*) are affiliate links; purchases help fund our work without influencing our recommendations.
12V or 24V for a 2000W inverter? We compare current draw (~170A vs ~85A), cable size in mm², cost and efficiency — and when 12V is fine vs. when 24V is the clearly better choice.
28 May 2026
What cable size for a 2000W inverter? At 12V the real draw is ~180–200A — we show why 50 mm² is the bare minimum (70 mm² is safer), how to size the fuse and voltage drop, and how to avoid cable fires.
28 May 2026
MPPT or PWM? We explain the difference, the efficiency (PWM roughly ~70% vs. MPPT up to ~98%) and when the pricier MPPT controller is worth it — including the important V_OC × 1.25 sizing rule.
28 May 2026
Octopus Agile explained: prices change every half hour, the 4–7 PM peak can top 30p and overnight can go negative. We show how the tariff works and how a plug-in battery profits from the swings — realistically.
28 May 2026
My 2000W DIY solar setup with LiFePO4 leisure battery, Victron MPPT charge controller and a 400 W foldable panel for around £1,050 — built for more usable capacity and expandability than a similarly-priced pre-built, not for beating one on a 2 kWh sticker price. Complete UK bill of materials, step-by-step wiring, and an honest side-by-side with EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus and Jackery Explorer 2000 v2.
21 May 2026
How my ~£530 portable battery + Tapo smart-plug setup uses Octopus Agile's overnight cheap rates (sometimes negative pricing) to shave my electricity bill by roughly 10–15% — no DNO paperwork, no MCS installer, no G99 application.
21 May 2026
The best budget smartphones under £400 for 2026 in the UK: Google Pixel 10a, Nothing Phone 4a Pro, Samsung Galaxy A56, Xiaomi Poco X8 and Motorola Moto G compared.
22 Apr 2026
The best espresso machines of 2026 in the UK: Sage Bambino Plus, Sage Barista Express Impress, De'Longhi La Specialista and Gaggia Classic Evo compared — with pro tips and FAQ.
22 Apr 2026
The best robot vacuums of 2026 in the UK: Roborock Saros 20, Dreame Matrix10 Ultra, Eufy Omni and Shark PowerDetect compared — with FAQ and pro buying tips.
22 Apr 2026