How does a Victron Energy MPPT Solar Charge Controller work?

[@shuhel02]

Need more of these videos. 👍

[@VictronEnergyBV]

You got it!

[@noccis3448]

That was one of the better expiations on the net. The Victron app is great too.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

😎

[@brucefay5126]

In case some viewers don’t know the abbreviations: PWM = Pulse Width Modulation, MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking, PV = PhotoVoltaic.

[@ThanosSustainable]

Funny thing is, MPPT controllers also utilize PWM methods!

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@ThanosSustainablehmmm … not all …

[@UKsystems]

@@ThanosSustainable they can in someways however Victron ones tend not to modulation is definitely something that happens in switching power supplies in a way but that’s just a given due to the function

[@WillProwse]

Could you build an all in one inverter like the 6000xp? Getting tired of wiring up your modules. Would be nice if you guys made something competitive for the hybrid and off-grid market. Takes an hour to mount an 18kpv. Even midnite has one now. You guys are the only company not building them.

[@gubbernl]

Will, we are waiting for the HS19 multi ! (3 phase, 3x 5000va inverter/ charge controller with 4x MPPT, high voltage, 19inch) Ps. Love your channel😀

[@returner323617]

Hello Will. A fan of your channel, obviously, and I'm commencing a residential Canal Boat design (think, House Boat with a 240VAC grid connection) that will include the max solar and battery that I can reasonably accommodate (probably 4kWh and 20kWh, respectively). My starting premise is Victron, LiFE batteries, bifacial panels, galvanic isolator, etc. Can you suggest anything else that should go into the equation..?

[@andreaskoumides9599]

They have multi rs 6kva. Not sure if it’s available in 120V yet

[@frostyfroze7352]

For the love of North America make a single device with split phase

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@frostyfroze7352I coming ! 😊

[@RoelWerkman]

Love the Victron stuff in my campervan and the MPPT is great. Never used a P double-U M controller

[@83kaszas]

When i listen to You i have a phisics teacher explaining things to me vibe:) I love how you explain,even tho i know everything you said,it just soothing to listen to You explaining much better then i could explain for exemple :) I would love to work at victron energy,design systems,and implement solar energy solutions,on various places,and then marvel how it works like magic:) I did so for my self,my old papa helping with hard work,like welding,and panelling,and drilling,and also for a friend,tho for him we did it with a Growatt inverter,him having a lower budget for the system.Anyways,i love Your videos! Blue energy for all:)

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Thanks !

[@tomaskey6844]

Love Victron! Going to be buying more devices to fit out a van I just bought.

[@tjairicciardi9747]

excellent technical video

[@Drone360pilot]

Respect Victron ! Great explanation. Willstick to your products. Pls keep up with educational materials!

[@sonnen-strom]

Victron SmartSolar MPPT are excellent devices. I hope that in the future all Victron devices will have VE.Can. I don't like VE.Direc at all and it should be abolished. I'm happy to pay 20 euros more if the device has a CAN bus.

[@Camh1968]

What is VE.Can and VE.Direc? What is difference? Why do you believe VE.Direc should be abolished? How do I know if a VICTRON MPPT that I buy has VE.Can or VE.Direc? Thank you - Cameron

[@UKsystems]

@@Camh1968 the VEA ones have VEC boards they are physically different and the model name will tell you if you look at the data sheet

[@UKsystems]

Terrible idea because in many scenarios you have to pay about 100 for an adapter to USB in this case which is definitely not affordable the director suitable for lots of things it makes sense both but not to get rid of the direct

[@junkerzn7312]

Honestly I'd prefer that everything just be bluetooth, like the SmartSolar stuff. Except even there controlling the shunt requires wiring and creates ground-path problems. I hate the mess that all the data wiring causes.

[@Camh1968]

@@junkerzn7312 is this Bluetooth smart solar stuff on the Redarc system and not victron?

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Excellent training video for excellent products! From the video it looks like a buck type converter. Will the controller software limit the current down to a few watts of power to keep voltage above minimum threshold? Is there a min amperage cutoff as well as the Vmin of 14.8+5vDC? Example MPPT is keeping voltage at 20vDC but current flow at that voltage will only be ~100ma, so ~2watts. Is this possible? or will the cut-off be higher, perhaps 5?10? 20watts?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

No, the output will continue to work It what is doing till the low voltage will stop the unit from working. Cut off is Vbat+1Vdc ( as the pv is already lowered in voltage because of the load)

[@retrozmachine1189]

Normally you'd want the charger to provide all the current that is needed to satisfy the load however you can program a limit if you need to in several ways. VE direct hex protocol commands allow you to manually set charge current limit down to 100mA (steps of 100mA) and it can be a dynamic setting rather than written to eeprom saving write cycles. If you stop sending the commands (< 30 second interval) the charger will revert to normal operation again. Of course if your load is demanding less current at a given voltage the actual current will be under 100mA. Likewise you can set the output voltage anywhere within the specified full range of voltages the charger supports.

[@alanblyde8502]

As always well explained 👌🇦🇺

[@johannesboonstra6917]

😎

[@tendaichimbarara5824]

Well explained

[@jcgcs]

Nice video!

[@petertomas3665]

We love Victron 💪

[@winterburan]

😀the best MPPT charge controllers on the market, in a comparison video they were found to be more efficient than the others even if only slightly, I don't think there is anything better on the market today.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Agree !

[@UKsystems]

@@davefroman4700 you need to realise that your comment is quite pointless. You’re saying how inefficient they are on a comment stating how they have improved efficient the brand you are talking about has no approval ratings anywhere in the world and it’s not even registered as a company just look on Google Victron parts are high-quality a lot of their components cost more than cheap ones. They are quality if you think you’re no name random one is better. You need to provide actual information and comparisons in detailed documentation with thousands of pages.

[@Ilnostroamicosole-Casa-offgrid]

Good morning, could I have your official answer to show to Italian users on why it is important to charge LFP batteries with a nominal voltage of 51.2V to values ​​of at least 55.4/55.8V? I would really appreciate your feedback.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

I am sorry, what do you mean ? You need to charge the LFP on a cell voltage of 3.5-3.55 to be full, so then depending on that there will be a endvoltage for absorption.

[@Ilnostroamicosole-Casa-offgrid]

@ thanks for the answer, but I would like to explain why it is important to bring the cells to a high voltage such as 3.5V, what happens at that voltage in the battery pack? Is cell balancing activated by any chance? thank you, you were very kind, you are my hope to make these concepts understood in my country, Italy.

[@gio4447]

Hi, I have a Victron 150/85 regulator and I would like to use the relay to control a 220 volt contactor to turn on a diesel generator. Is this possible?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

yes, if its a low current signal thats fine

[@mflo1970]

Hola una pregunta: en un sistema donde un regulador mppt, un inversor, un cerbo y un monitor de baterias se puede configurar para que la carga de la bateria sea gestionada exclusivamente por el shunt o monitor???

[@johannesboonstra6917]

No, the shunt is not a controller, But another charger (like in a Muli) can sync all other charge sources (as an MPPT), thats done with DVCC

[@mflo1970]

​@@johannesboonstra6917hola lo digo para que en vez del victron ,la carga se pueda efectuar mediante el soc que calcula el shunt

[@dirksteinkopf]

Why do the MPPT have regular Voltage drops about every 10 Minutes? Do they try out if other voltages fit better?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Its doing this more often then 10min by the way, but yes thats to check if there is a better powerpoint to be found (Only in bulk phase )

[@johnkerrgew]

When 250/70 MPPT charge controller. The spec say Normal PV 12V 1a,b is 1000W. Does mean you can have two arrays each contain 1000W?

[@none0049]

Assuming its a victron charge controlla, Acording to the data sheet on there website its stated Max. PV short circuit current is 35amps Absolute maximum input! so how you do you're setup, Do not exceed "Maximum PV open circuit voltage coldest conditions" and Max. PV short circuit current

[@fransdecock7999]

Ondersteunt victron energy installaties met loodaccu’s

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Ja zeker ! dat is nog steeds de default setting zelfs. verschillende presets voor LA accus kunnen geselecteerd worden.

[@boatman323]

I have a Victron MPPT 100/20, and when it is charging I see a low level of noise on the battery side, about 100-200mV at ~30kHz, on top of the DC. From you video I guess that this may be related to the FETs switching, but is this normal?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

yes thats possible. good wiring and ferrite may reduce this

[@boatman323]

@@johannesboonstra6917 Thanks!

[@jaredlau2829]

does victron solar charge controllers have reverse polarity protection

[@brucefay5126]

You indicated that the MPPT is looking for the “max sum” of the voltage and current. Power is the product (V x I) of voltage and current, not the sum. Did you mis-speak, or is the MPPT really looking for the sum? Or do the sum and product happen to maximize at the same point? If the later, is that coincidental, or is there a more fundamental, underlying reason for this? I always enjoy your short, technical videos, so this is something I would really like to understand. Thanks you.

[@ThanosSustainable]

Obviously misspoke

[@johannesboonstra6917]

i meant the sum as Volt x Amps, sorry that its not 100% according to the grammar.

[@danielmeyer6082]

So with an mppt controller can you wire your panels in parallel.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

As you want a high PV voltage , t=yuo choose serial ( till about the Max controller voltage -10%), on PWM often the panels are parallel

[@UKsystems]

It’s important to know wiring panels in parallel or series doesn’t depend on the controller type. It depends on the total voltage and current as different brands of panels have different voltage and current anyway.

[@keithwingo514]

Johanes - Why is series better than parallel? Isn't the wattage the same or better in parallel (less shading effect)?

[@UKsystems]

Shading is not affected by the electrical connection. It is affected by the physical shade being put on the panel series is good because you minimise wire size but if you put them in parallel suddenly you need bigger wires there is more current and therefore more losses

[@EngineerMikeF]

Ditto ejaculated DKS said, higher volts in series =smaller wire size, save on copper, use smaller amp fuses (but rated for the higher volts)

[@flatfoot]

Is there current limiting? Clearly you can't apply too much voltage in cold weather etc - but if you have the potential of a higher current than the nominal max of the MPPT, does the controller current just get held at a certain current regardless of the capacity of the PV array. I appreciate that it can't survive a reverse polarity connection at higher currents. Also acknowledge that it should be appropriately fused where paralleling strings.

[@junkerzn7312]

Victron's charge controllers have always had current limiting on the output, and you can configure the maximum output current. They don't particularly have current limiting on the input and Victron doesn't like people connecting up low-impedance sources like batteries and power supplies... but its so dang useful to do that, I wish Victron would fix the algorithms to work with those sources more smoothly.

[@keswickadventure]

Why is it critical to disconnect solar panels before disconnecting battery? Many people have master battery isolators that they will operate without isolating solar charge. Thanks

[@retrozmachine1189]

To avoid voltage spikes on the charger output if there is high current flowing. Knowing Victron they do have a protection diode or other component to clamp the output voltage but you still shouldn't do it.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@retrozmachine1189 this is correct !!

[@ttkddry]

As I understand, the max V of the string of PV pannels cannot exceed the max rating of the MPPT, especially taking in account when it is extremely cold, as then the voltage can peak. It is frustrating to see cloudy days and not much beeing produced (one would be inclined to put more pannels in series). Can you explain the benefit of putting strings in parallel, does it help in winter conditions by modifying the power curve up (and still protect your setup by limiting the max voltage) or are you better off keeping individual strings and adding more MPPTs?

[@anzzgar]

during winter time, even 1 or 2 more panels will bring you about 1% or so more yield during the day compared to a moderately sunny day. During those cloudy sun-poor times you have to just simply rely on something else, if you need more, you could just parallel a few more strings together, that would nearly double your output without raising your voltage too high. So TLDR: If you need more solar power, try paralleling more strings, but for winter, there will just never be enough solar to get through it

[@83kaszas]

I can tell you here that it will not help much.If the sun energy is weak,it means it just cannot convert much amps from it,even if you have an mppt.I have a string on an RS inverter charger,who can take up to 450 volts from panels,and got 400v open circuit connected,around 350-375 mppt point,and another string that has 100 volts only,on a 48v battery systems.They start charging mostly at the same time always,displaying same amount of power from respectiv amount of panels all the times.I also have a 24V batery system with a 60V mppt range and does the same.Even in low light the voltage doesnt dropo much from the panels,but just gives much less amps,if any...You just cannot convert sun energy if there is no sun.And let me tell You victron at least has a 97% efficiency-tested-i used epeever,and some chinese stuff,that had waaaay worse performance....for me victron is no brainer,its one of the best.

[@ttkddry]

@anzzgar yes but my question was either keep the individual strings on each MPPT or parallel all of them onto one MPPT. I guess you could have a PV string combiner box with a winter and summer setting

[@83kaszas]

here is my setup-12 panels,each with 50v open circuit voltage.4 panels series 2,and paraleled for 100v on a blue solar mppt having now in uber cloudy day 88V/2A/202W,and the other 8 panels on the rs inverter,doing 357V/1A/370w. So the high voltage does slightly even worse xD So from 5600w panels i have 561 at this moment.

[@83kaszas]

@@ttkddry no need to do anything like that,You have to remain always in the mppt`s voltage and amperage limit that it can take,if the sun comes out for even 1 moment,so it wont fry any of your systems components.

[@margarita8442]

good video, buy once, cry once

[@michaelberdan5385]

Thank you , So why cannot we develop an algorithm or firm ware update to make this work with wind power. We can control the wind output with rectifiers and Capacitors to smooth the DC and use the controller to respond at a much faster rate to output to a battery from a wind system. I would think this would be a simple task for your team to offer a wind firmware update for the MPPT charge controller . this way we can take advantage of all your technology to support both wind and Solar.

[@ThanosSustainable]

I never understood why Isc matters and under which circumstances the controller may “short the input”, in which case too much of a Isc would kill it.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Well if there would be a too high battery voltage (which can be dangerous) and the charge controller has a hardware defect so that the PV power flows free to the battery, you need to act, Then the incoming PV is short circuited with a circuitry to try blow a fuse and stop the power from flowing .

[@ThanosSustainable]

@@johannesboonstra6917ok… in that case though, since the CC would already “have a hardware defect”, you wouldn’t care about maximum Isc, since the CC would be already defective, right?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@ThanosSustainable no not right , because then the ov energy will remain flowing into the dc system You want to to stop the PV , so want to blow a fuse

[@ThanosSustainable]

@@johannesboonstra6917I understand what you are saying. However, my objection is on the maximum Isc and why we have a maximum Isc on the CCs on the first place: what if you short an array that had a 10x Isc than the maximum Isc of the CC? What would happen then? Wouldn’t the shorting of that array kill the solar fuses or blow the CC completely, hence cutting the charging of the batteries?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@ThanosSustainable if the panels give more Isc then the circuitry can handle, the circuitry to short-circuit the panels would get defected. Note that the short circuit protection is parallel on the pv terminals, so if it fails to blow the fuse, the PV will remain flowing to the battery

[@flybywire5866]

The MPPT looks for the highest PRODUCT of voltage and current, not the sum. Watt = Volt x Ampere, right? I never regretted building a 23 kWp home solar power 3 phase ESS with victron components, 2x RS450/200 MPPT, 3x Multiplus II 15kVA, Cerbo, Lynx DC bus, 6 x Liontron LX48-100 5 kWh batteries.

[@takismenexes6131]

Does it have a transformer?

[@ThanosSustainable]

Transformer is an AC (alternative current) thing. PVs and batteries are DC.

[@takismenexes6131]

@ThanosSustainable ok Then how it converts excessive voltage to amperage?

[@johannesboonstra6917]

@@takismenexes6131 thats what I tries to explain in the video, by switching FET's and transferring energy trhough a coil.

[@egbertegberts5384]

​​@@takismenexes6131it contains a DC-DC converter which in fact is an adjustable digital transformer which can easily be controlled by a micro processor. So yes it contains a transformer but it isn't a traditional one and it can handle DC.

[@UKsystems]

@@takismenexes6131 it uses a switch my power supply using an inductor. It is kind of like a transformer with one winding but it does not have AC but pulse DC and the waveform is not AC.

[@junkerzn7312]

We need more 48V gear, Victron! Come on, split-phase 48V Multiplus II please! And better small form-factor charger and DC-DC options. The DC-DC gear is so friggin old-school, its getting annoying. And maybe you could improve the terrible terminals on the 100/20 that can't even accept ferruled 10 AWG cable. And it would be nice if you fixed the charge controller algorithms to work smoothly with power supplies and batteries on the input. There is no reason to put the input through the broiler on startup that exceeds the output current limit setting. Your charge controllers make better DC-DC chargers than your charge controllers in numerous situations. Your battery protects are terrible. The leakage current is horrible and they burn out easily. Please at least add a large resistor to ground on the output so it doesn't constantly float up to the input voltage when off. Add a diode to shunt reverse current back to the battery instead of blowing the FET up, and fix the ridiculously too-sensitive short-circuit protection that constantly trips on simple things like charging inverter caps when re-engaging a breaker. Bluetooth with remote access to the viirtual load output of other charge controllers would be nice too, so we don't have to physically wire it. -Matt

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Haha, you make it seems we are laying backwards and rest ;-)

[@brownnoise357]

Actually in Testing, if Solar Panels are not affected by Shading, such as them on an Aft Cockpit Solar Arch, then you can get exactly the Same Output from PWM Charge Controllers - wgichbare very Cheap - as you get from MPPT Charge Controllers. If the Panels get affected by Shade such as Flexi Panels on Boat decks, then there is no alternative but to use MPPT Charge Controllers for those. 🤔 Best Wishes. Bob. 👍🌟🌟🌟⛵️

[@83kaszas]

If you test this with a victron pwm,maybe you can have such result,try comparing another cheap pwm,and u loose 50% power compared to a victron mppt:)) mppts not that expensive to not worth over a pwm for serious system...If u charge like a single battery,with like a single panel for exemple for a gate opener eelctronics than yeah,its fine to cheap out,for house systems,RV,or even a boat...naaah...

[@UKsystems]

You need to realise that shade is affected quite a lot

[@brownnoise357]

@UKsystems I did acknowledge that is the case with poorly positioned Solar Panels such as flexi panels that get shaded. This Shading problem does not affect Rigid Solar Panels mounted on Aft Cockpit Sloops, which have an Aft Cockpit Solar Arch. Sloops also have the potential for added Solar Panels that can have minimal Shading loss so can have real benefits from MPPT Controllers. But you can save a heck of a lot of Money by using PWM Charge Controllers with Panels on that Rear Arch. Ketch Rig and Centre Cockpit Monohull Sailboats are an absolute pita to get enough Solar Power on Frankly, as are Narrow beamed Classic Sailboats. The Test Findings for PWM Charge Controllers, still stand if you can avoid Shading effects- and that can be helped quite a bit by specifying a shorter Boom for the Mast- whi h need not significantly affect the achievable Cruising Speed of a Cruising Sailboat. Yes, you won't win any Sailboat Races, but who ares about that as a Cruiser. 🤔

[@brownnoise357]

@83kaszas Pick the Right Cheap Chinese PWM Charge Controllers, and you get exactly the same output as from Any Well Made MPPT Carge Controller - Victron are Not the Only Makers of good equipment, far from it, though I do like their Products, as they work well, are reliable, and have long service Lives. Good Testing demands acquiring Results from a wide range of what at first glance appears to be Worthwhile Products, and you test to Co firm what you actually get for your Money. Unfortunately today, far too many products are chronically Overpriced Wxpensive Crap, that Struggles to work for its warranty period. I Do Not Like zseeing People Ripped Off like That. Some Stuff ? A bloody Liability, like the Blender my Father bought, which burst into Flames on the Kitchen Woek Top, the first time he switched it on. Luckily I was in the House to deal with it. 🤔

[@83kaszas]

@@brownnoise357 Yes i know that,but a normal person who DIY cannot know which chinese brand can be trusted.Victron just works as intended.I am from Romania,and even here i could afford going with victron gear.

[@peterasquith6942]

We are on a sailing catamaran. We have 4 x 400 watt panels and each has its own 12v 30 amp MPPT. All e years old. They are the Blue MPPT’s . Am I better off having individual MPPT’s on a bigger one that can handle all four in series? We have 1200 Amps of Lithium batteries. I’m going to Smart MPPT’s because the Blue do not have Bluetooth and getting new higher output panels down the track, still only 4. Clever marketing NOT.

[@johannesboonstra6917]

depends on the orientation of the panels and expected shade. if all equal as fas as sun and angle, then yes , otherwise a mppt per panel is OK.

[@UKsystems]

You’re complaining about their marketing but you also bought the products which were from a victor dealer that offer support and advice on purchasing the products to ensure they are correct. The only confusion here is you somehow getting confused by marketing that is not confusing.

[@peterasquith6942]

@@UKsystems No. I ordered the boat from Australia pre Covid. Then the Solar was done separately post factory. I ordered 4x 400 Solar panels and MPPT’s. I trusted them cause they were aligned with the Boat Builder. When we arrived in La Rochelle it was all installed with 12v 100 x 30 Blue MPPT’s. I knew buggerall about Solar back then but what I wanted to see was the output from each panel. I paid for a Cerbo and Itouch to be installed. Done, Oh where’s the panels. Oh, you need to buy Bluetooth dongles to see that on your phone. I did, why can’t I see on my Itouch. Oh, you need Snart controllers for that. Bloody French. F/wts. I faulsely assumed if you call an MPPT Blue then it would include Bluetooth. No, only Smart has Bluetooth. Live and learn. Thankyou for your responce. I’ll buy Smart now because I want to make use of the Smart Networking that uses B/T to do so.

[@UKsystems]

@ I would recommend asking the fake car dealer about products if you are unsure moving on its way to prevent that you can monitor devices from your phone using the GX device

[@larsfilusch8705]

Especially on a sailboat it makes sense to have one mppt per panel because of you have a lot of partial shading coming from the sails, mast and rigging. If you have one mppt per panel the mppt can finde the best maximum power point per panel, the max power point is different when one panel is shaded and the other one is in full sun. If you have only one mppt the mppt has to find the average maximum power point of the shaded and the none shaded panels. And this average power point is not the best you can get from your panels. So you will get more energy from one mppt per panel. And if you have high voltage panels it gets even better. 17V low voltage panel are pretty “old technology” that came from the old PWM charge controller era. You also have some kind of backup. If you have only one mppt and that one is broken you have no more PV at all. If you have 4 mppt and one is broken you still have 3/4 of the PV. And there is an other advantage having one controller per panel. If a panel die’s, maybe in a few years, you can more or less buy any new panel and connect it to the mppt. If you have only one mppt you have to finde the exact same panel again. And after a few years you wouldn’t finde the old panel you have on your boat. So if one panel dies you have to buy 4 new ones even though 3 are still ok.

[@brotherkith]

Why do you call a PWM controller a PVM controller when it stands for Pulse WIDTH Modulation??

[@AndrewSparkfish]

Its a language thing. In Dutch the W is pronounced V....

[@johannesboonstra6917]

I know … learned that a bit after filming 😅

[@johannesboonstra6917]

Next time I pronounce it better I my defense … the native English camara man didn’t correct me 😂

[@UKsystems]

Can you speak Dutch? I can guarantee you you won’t pronounce many things correctly and it was still understandable.

[@winterburan]

I see from the comments below that they are all lazy and love all-in-one systems, they are made for Apple people, so in case of MPPT failure you are left without an inverter and in case of inverter failure you are left without the possibility of charging the batteries, I prefer everything single and separate, and the market evidently loves the sol-ark style, then in case of problems the battery bank remains.