Victron SmartSolar 150/85 MPPT

In this video we look at the Victron SmartSolar 150/85 MPPT solar charge controller
SMARTSOLAR MPPT 150/85-MC4 VE.CAN (12/24V):
www.invertersupply.com/index....
NON MC4 version:
www.invertersupply.com/index....
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CONTACT: [e-mail]
Business/Collaboration only. Please do not contact me for for personal project help, or advice.
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DISCLAIMER: These videos are documenting my own projects, and experiences. These projects, and activities can be dangerous. Do not try any of this at home, doing so will be at your own risk.

[@OffGridBasement]

It so true that once you have Victron, you never want anything else! I've got 3 charger controllers and a smart shunt all connected to the VRM via a Rasp pi. Works great! Have fun!

[@BradCagle]

Hah! yes, I'm totally catching that vibe.😁

[@HansKeesom]

Still it is great to hear a first time Victron owner be so enthousiastic about them ;-) One get's used quickly to this quality!

[@cosmokhap3263]

Huge fan😎

[@matthewknight5641]

Dude.. thats a nice meter too

[@Project2505]

In the manual, it states you cannot hook up multiple Bluetooth devices to it can only be one at a time

[@panospapadimitriou3498]

this fluke is dope... bought my first uni T .. nice one but wish i bought clamp meter one!!!!! maybe next year!!!!

[@matthewknight5641]

Im looking into getting some more panels really soon. I have 8 sharp brand 235 watt panels but they have some kinda coating on them like a light diffuser coating. Im not sure if thats a good thing or not but im gonna buy another 8 or 10 panels soon. Looks like santan solar has some good deals but if you know of anywhere else thats better than santan let me know please

[@BeeneEnergy]

Good on you actually buying good equipment. One day I will too ;). I'd love to know what the efficiency is like under full load. I've noticed with the cheapo powmr it might be 85-90% at half load and 75% at full load (over paneled so it's current limiting). At 3% losses your Victron is only having to dissipate about 17 watts! Crazy.

[@BradCagle]

Yeah, i'll try to get it over paneled soon, and pull the full 85amps. But thus far I can totally see why people are into Victron.

[@matthewknight5641]

@@BradCagle I bought 2 more victron charge controllers and a DC to DC charger. I figured the DC to DC would let me hook the leaf pack to the lifepo4 pack. I set it up where the leaf battery puts 12 amps into the new battery all night then they are both being charged again when the sun comes up. I got 6 of the 280 trina panels from a guy in Nashville and they seem to be ok but I'm seeing the deals on new panels now and thinking maybe the 310 watt ones from the solar store in Clarksville will be the next thing I buy

[@BradCagle]

@@matthewknight5641 Sweet, i have a new victron video coming. I really want to try their dc/dc

[@matthewknight5641]

@@BradCagle I saw videos where the DC DC got really hot and throttled down and all kinda crap but the 2 times I've used mine it ran over 12 hours each time and was doing the 12 amps the whole time and yeah it got a little warm but never hot. I could see it wouldn't be great in a confined space but it's actually kinda great. I love charging my lifepo4 all night from the leaf battery because it's just like a solar charge in the dark lol.

[@matthewknight5641]

@@BradCagle hey Brad what do you know about cells that get frozen over and over? I'm rarely home but I know it's been down around 5 degrees and my cells are frozen solid for sure. I'd hate to ruin my batteries ya know. I've only got 4 completed cycles on them and I'll warm them up before I use them but im wondering how much damage I'm causing them by letting them freeze

[@Theoppositeofchaos]

I noticed you placed a fuse right at the end of your wire run and I also understand that this is a test setup but you supposed to place it at the beginning of the circuit

[@BradCagle]

True, that fuse was just left over from a different project.

[@carmelomarino1986]

Did I get it right? You can connect no. 3 groups of solar panels (3 x 100V/30A)....

[@BradCagle]

Yes, well over 100v actually, but never exceeding 150v. I would make sure to stay a good margin under 150v

[@FabiodeSaldanha]

I also have one with mc4. do i need to connect a fuse or just like u plug the mc4 cable from the panel directly into the mppt?

[@yumurta63]

Did you find the answer ? I need to know also//

[@FabiodeSaldanha]

@@yumurta63 yes, plug solar into the MPPT. You only need fuse between MPPT and battery/busbar

[@yumurta63]

​@@FabiodeSaldanha thank you ! but I was thinking... if the fuze blows, the mppt would be disconnected from the battery and the mppt would be connected only with the solar pannels, but I heard this case is really not recommended and could destroy the battery...

[@FabiodeSaldanha]

@@yumurta63 if the MPPT is only connected to solar and not to battery this could damage the MPPT but from what I have heard only older charge controllers. Newer MPPT and especiallyvictron should have a protection for this. You don’t need fuse between this victron MPPT and solar panels because it has a fuse inside the MPPT. Also would be so annoying if we would have to cut the MC4 solar cables and put a fuse in especially since this unit shown in the video comes with mc4 ports…

[@HighDefDude]

Hi Brad, very nice and educational video you made there. I just received the 100 Amp version of that same model, and have a question: There seem to be no clear “+” or “-“ markings on the MC4 connectors (or did I miss something?) I also find the male/female part a bit confusing: From the outside, the ‘less bulky’ connector, whith the smaller end, would seem the male connector (in my mind), but is stated to be the female, which is only logical when you take a peek inside. I noticed on the web, that the average solar panel has the, officially called “female”, as the positive “+” connector. Now can I assume that, on the Victron, the connectors are configured in the logical way, that the female one from the solar panel should be connected to the male connector on the Victron? Thanks, and best wishes for the holyday’s.

[@BradCagle]

The top "less bulky" MC4 connectors on the controller are (-) Neg, the bottom are (+) Pos. Which is opposite on PV panels, it must be otherwise they would not connect.

[@BradCagle]

If you want to be extra sure, use a meter to test continuity from the battery negative terminal to the top "less bulky" MC4 connectors. The negative is common on these so you should get continuity. You cannot do the same on the positive, but one side is all you need to test.

[@HighDefDude]

Thanks for the very quick reaction Brad, so it is what I already assumed. Of course, with these things, you cannot be too careful, so I definitely am going to measure things as well. Best wishes.

[@BradCagle]

@@HighDefDude Anytime!

[@dimasanascimento3563]

Please, MC4 input, what are the positive and negative cables connected to smartsolar?

[@BradCagle]

The Male (thin) MC4 connectors are Negative, and the Female (thicker) MC4 connectors are Positive. This is just the opposite of PV panels, obviously so they can be connected together.

[@matthewknight5641]

I just ordered the victron 150-70. Im putting it on my 8 panels that are 235 watts each. I have 2 other charge controllers but they are not so great. My others are a powmr 100 amp and my other is a all in one powmr unit but wont handle much either. Hopefully this victron i just bought will do what i need ya know. So do you still use thos victron and if so what you think about it?

[@BradCagle]

Let me put it this way, when you start using your new Victron, you'll look at the others in discust 😆Yes I use it everyday!

[@matthewknight5641]

@@BradCagle I'm so glad to hear that. The 100 amp powmr I bought was kinda expensive but it.. actually both my powmr controllers.. they both kinda shut down and seem to turn their self on and off back and fourth after clouds go over and in order to get them operational again I have to unhook the battery then they work good again but each day they do that atleast once so it makes my system not able to stay running while I'm gone. Hopefully this victron .akes it where my system can keep running while I'm away. Thanks man

[@BradCagle]

@@matthewknight5641 You will not have that goofy problem with the Victron.

[@jackmehoffer7819]

That’s a bit too much power for a 150/70

[@matthewknight5641]

@@jackmehoffer7819 I went by the victron calculator but I should have bought the 250/70 for those old sharp panels because in 4s2p I'm seeing 147 volts sometimes and that is awful close to the 150 limit. I bought a couple small victron charge controllers and I think I'll split the sharp panels into to smaller controllers

[@justinmitchuson8992]

I'm gonna order one today, are you still happy with yours?

[@BradCagle]

Yes. It's great

[@michaeld4502]

Cost?

[@BradCagle]

Sorry forgot to post the link. $454.75 total Shipped. link is in the description

[@dernachfrager9346]

There are 3 pairs of MC4 connectors at the device. Can you connect 150V on each of these pairs, or only 50V on one pair?

[@BradCagle]

You can connect 150v on each. BTW 150v is the absolute max, you'll want to have some margin under that.