Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller - worth it? (2023 review)

Are you looking for a solar charging solution that is efficient, easy to install, and comes with a smartphone app? Look no further than the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller.
Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller.
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In this review, we will take a close look at the 30 amp version of the Victron Smart Solar Controller, which features MPPT control, Bluetooth functionality, and a maximum voltage of 100 volts. We will discuss the pros and cons of this solar charger, including its ease of use, durability, efficiency, and compact size. We will also explore some of the drawbacks, such as limited Bluetooth range and lack of built-in display. Finally, we will share our overall experience with this solar charging device and help you decide whether it's the right investment for your needs.
Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller.
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[@joseluisherreravillavicenc2143]

What does the 100 and the 30 mean? What is the difference between a controller 100/30 and 100/50?

[@stokcan]

100V/30A and 100v/50A.

[@MississippiHomesteadJourney]

100 volts max in, 30 or 50 amps max out.

[@bigman-adv]

Regd temp - put a Victron shunt on the battery (negative terminal) and hook them up to a private bluetooth network. Then the shunt will tell the MPPT charge controller about telemetry, including temperature.

[@OperationCamp]

Hey buddy just from the small glimpse I got of your setup. I hope you are running a fuse/circuit breaker of some sort. Just looking out mainly because I've seen inverters fail internally and burn up wiring.

[@pattokuyama]

Thanks for looking out for me! I do have a fuse and circuit breaker installed to protect my equipment from power surges and shorts.

[@jime9305]

The controller you are reviewing is the smart solar model....the blue solar model does not have Bluetooth but requires an external module to use Bluetooth

[@pattokuyama]

The Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller does not come with Bluetooth, but an external module can be added. The Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller comes with Bluetooth built-in. The choice depends on user needs and preferences.

[@robmills7453]

The smartsolar chargers do not need a temperature or voltage port. Out of the box they are auto-sensing for both, however if the charger is far away from the batteries, you can get a voltage sense device from Victron that communicates via bluetooth

[@pattokuyama]

Thanks for the information, I'm aware that the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller is auto-sensing for both temperature and voltage out of the box, but it's good to know that a voltage sense device is available for longer distances.

[@joeboxter3635]

@@pattokuyama how does it sense battery temperature remotely without external sensor. And if it's relying on its own temperature, they can get pretty hot thus hiding a condition when temp is too low to charge. I'm very skeptical of manufacturers claims. And I find it suspicious they don't publish a MPPT tracking spec for different battery voltages: 12v, 24v at a minimum should be an NEC requirement.

[@douglasrobbie9998]

A few comments- I believe you said "so I can add more panels and have up to 30 amps going into it" The 30 amps only relates to the output of the solar charge controller to your batteries not incoming PV amps. Most MC4 cables (like 10 gauge) are rated for max 15 amps. Lets say you want to have 600 watts of pv panels ( in series so voltage goes up but amps don't exceed MC4 wire rating) going into this controller- how will the controller handle this power? (600w/13.5 volts going into bats= 44.4 amps which is 50% more than the rated output amperage). Yes Victron controllers can handle more than its rating , but 50% more and for how long or does it just derate? Based on this calc method, the most PV power you should send to controller is 400w with a 12v battery bank. Don't get me wrong- I like Victron products even if they are quite expensive comparatively. For those on a tight budget, I think EPEver and Make Sky Blue (I've used) MPPT controllers are lower cost reasonably reliable alternatives.

[@pattokuyama]

Thank you for sharing your insight regarding the capabilities of the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller. It is important to consider the limitations of the equipment when designing and installing a solar power system to ensure optimal performance and safety. As you mentioned, while the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller can handle up to 30 amps of output to the batteries, it is important to consider the maximum amperage of the incoming PV panels and the rating of the cables. Using your example of 600 watts of PV panels in series, the resulting amperage would be 44.4 amps, which exceeds the rated output amperage of the controller. While the Victron controller can handle more than its rating, it is unclear how long it could sustain such a high load or if it would simply derate. Given these considerations, it may be worth reconsidering whether the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller is the best fit for your specific solar power system needs. While it is a high-quality product, it may be overkill for a system that requires less power or is on a tight budget. As you suggested, there are other lower cost MPPT controllers such as EPEver and Make Sky Blue that could be reliable alternatives for those on a budget. Ultimately, the decision of whether the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller is worth it will depend on the specific needs and constraints of your solar power system, and it is important to consider all factors before making a purchase.

[@olayinkaolatunde3028]

I have this for my setup - 2.5KVA (24v) luminous pure sine wave inverter - 2*220Ah luminous tubular battery. - 80A Felicity Solar charge controller 145VDC, - I got 4*350W Felicity panels which the Vmp is 37.3v & Imp is 9.38A. I plan on connecting the panels in parallel mode. Would this work out fine without any issues? Thanks

[@douglasrobbie9998]

@@olayinkaolatunde3028 Hooking up all 4 panels in parallel is not a good idea. Here's why- when you hook panels in parallel the voltage (37.3 v ) stays the same and the amps add up ( 9.38+9.38+9.38+9.38= 37.52 amps) which exceeds the amperage capability of 10 gauge MC4 wire. You should have 2 sets of 2 panels in series (37.3v + 37.3v= 74.6v and at 9.38amps for each set) . So you would have 2 positive wires from the panels and 2 negative wires from the panels. Both positive wires go into a 2 into 1 Y positive connector (available pre-made). Both negative wires go into a 2 to 1 Y negative connector (available pre-made). Then you will have a single positive wire go to you charge controller and a single negative wire go to your charge controller. These wires will carry around 75v and 18.76 amps (9.38+9.38= 18.76 amps which 10 gauge wire can handle relatively well as at very upper range of most MC4 wire amperage rating). In reality your panels may not produce 350w and 9.38 amps, probably more like 300 watts and your controller will search for best MPPT voltage like 37v x 2= 74v. (300w+ 300w)/74v= 8.1 amps and with 2 sets in parallel, the amps will be more like 16.2 amps (8.1 x 2= 16.2). You cannot put all 4 panels in series as voltage would be too high ( 37.3v x 4=149.2v) for your controller and maybe higher panel voltage for open circuit voltage. Assume you will be putting two 12v batteries in series to make a 24v battery for your 24v inverter to use. Your 80A output charge controller may effectively be able to handle 1920 watts of incoming solar panel power (80amps x 24v battery = 1920watts), but the controller manual should list maximum solar wattage it is designed for. Good luck

[@olayinkaolatunde3028]

@@douglasrobbie9998 Thanks very much for this l. I believe the bottleneck is amperage capacity of the MC4 wire. If I connect the panels to have two string of 350W, will the total Watts still be 350*4 = 1440W or it’ll be 350*2 = 700W? As for the max input for the controller, the 24V can accommodate 2200W.

[@douglasrobbie9998]

@@olayinkaolatunde3028 You will get 1440W (I think you mean 1400w as in 4 x 350w = 1400) but this assumes perfect solar conditions. Watts = Volts x Amps. 2 panels in series is 74.6 v x 9.38amps = 700watts so two of these is 1400W max solar input to controller from your 4 panels. If your controller says it can handle 2200w of solar input that means you can add up to 800w more of solar power before reaching controller's maximum. Depending on your location and temps, it is better to send less power to controller as it will run cooler and last longer. I am assuming that your controller is MPPT type so it can reduce the incoming 74v down to the est 30 v your batteries require for charging. If your controller is PWM type then you would be better to run just 37v thru wires with 2 panels in parallel, have 2 sets of these and run 4 MC4 wires (2 positive, 2 negative) from panels to location close to PWM controller then join positives together to a thicker Positive wire, join negatives together to a thicker Negative wire. Then these two thicker wires are connected to your PWM controller. Why- PWM will waste the voltage potential of panels in series (panel 74 v minus 30v needed for battery charging = 47.4v or power wasted) Better to have just 37v coming from panels for charging batteries at 30 volts, much less power wasted. Also panels' fames should be attached to a single wire (copper preferred) and that wire is attached to a metal stake driven into ground. This is for lightening protection- lightening strike voltage/power goes into ground, not into your house. That's all I can/will say about this.

[@photog1529]

I'm building a battery box to house the components (battery, MPPT, inverter, DCDC charger, etc) for use in my vehicle, so space is at a premium. I originally looked at Renogy, Rich Solar, and EPever for the MPPT but decided to go with the Victron 100/20A MPPT due to its surprisingly small footprint. I'm using an SOK 12V/100Ah battery and a single 175W panel. The Victron app is pretty good once you set it up, but I may add a battery monitor as well for immediate feedback.

[@intech7863]

Hello I have 12v battery and still dont have solar and mppt solar charger .I know this 100/30 will work with 4x 100w panels but my goal is to get one 400-470w solar panel .Do you know this will work at all for 12v ? 😊

[@pattokuyama]

Yes, you can use a 400-470W solar panel with a 12V battery system. However, you will need to choose a compatible charge controller that can handle the higher-wattage panel. The Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller is designed for up to 100W panels, so you would need a different model like the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 150/35 Charge Controller, which can handle up to 500W.

[@brianolowo7]

Yes it will work. According to victron datasheet, the 100/30 mppt can handle 440, 880w array on a 12v, 24vsystem respectively

[@markeh1971]

@@pattokuyama hi the 100 refers to the max input voltage. Take care M

[@tranquello.alfredmusekiwa3319]

The limit for a victron 100/30 is 440 Wats on a 12v system and 880w on a 24v system,100 stands for voltage and 30 for amps

[@jerrylee1977]

Is it 100/30 working on 48v battery system ......because it's just say 12/24v if not should i go getting 150/35 mppt(I know i have 100/20, it is working on 48v but wire connection holder is so narrow, not fit for 10awg with chrimping ` Tokuyama please let me know

[@autarko]

What is your pv system voltage? I find my panels doubled up range from 40v to 78v so obviously 40v would not be enough to run the 48v victron (or absorption charge my agms at 58.6v)

[@MrJellybean101]

Do you know if you can set the output to cut off at a certain low voltage and turn on again when a certain voltage is reached?

[@bianchispurs]

I have several Victron charge controllers' , use them 24/7 and love them.

[@miguelsalami]

Looks Perfect Thanks!

[@brucetyron]

Hi, does the app show any info about what is coming out of the battery? Draw?

[@bansheerider619]

you need a shunt for that, or batteries with built in bluetooth.

[@ltorresm86]

Hello, datasheet says charge current is 30A but it doesn't mention discharge current, do you know if it is 30A too or how Amps is it ?

[@pattokuyama]

Since this is a Charge Controller it does not have a discharge function. Therefore, it does not have a discharge current rating. Its maximum charge current rating is 30A which means the Amperage is below or at 30A tops.

[@freeranger1677]

Some versions have a load output which will be limited also to the rated amps but this model does not have a load output so there is no limit. The easy way to tell is the ones with load outputs have 6 terminals and the ones without have 4 terminals.

[@joeboxter3635]

You assume it is mppt, so it must be very efficient. But not all mppt is alike. Some dont track to the best point because the software inside is not done right or as well as others. Vic. doesn’t publish the data on this like other manufacturers. Unless someone does a proper test, we dont know. And one number, eg 98% is bogus. Any test can be contrived to get 98% even for a PWM.

[@shogunwarrior3737]

Just found your video....got a large motorhome that has 6 new FLA batteries on a generator setup currently. So with google and research....victron systems would be able to use the fla setup. So if i wanted to use 2x400w panels....what controller etc would i go for?

[@pattokuyama]

As far as I know, you can use the MPPT 100/30 controller for that too!

[@markeh1971]

Hi you can set up the charging profile to whatever you like using the app and blue tooth - within reason. You can also over panel the controllers for dull days! Remember the batteries like it long and slow - sounds so bad! Probably have a 10A limit on charging per battery. Can use a single 60A or a couple of 30's or any combination in a network. Just remember they will get hot and cooling - snail fan may be required if they get hot. Remember big wires and quality fuses. A shunt is also a good thing to have and blue tooth lets you see it all happening! Take care M

[@MississippiHomesteadJourney]

The 100/30 charger can take a max of 440 watts solar input for a 12 volt battery and 880 watts for a 24 volt battery.

[@DuTangTheCryptoSurfr]

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@matyasvandijke1852]

Do the charger make noise when he is working hard?

[@pattokuyama]

Yes, the charger may make a low level of noise when working hard due to its cooling fan, but it should not be a cause for concern.

[@zakisoufi9011]

Inverter where is cable from

[@pattokuyama]

Can you elaborate which cable? I generally used the OEM cables that come with the Equipment.

[@Flash1857]

Thanks

[@pattokuyama]

Welcome

[@imdo301]

Yes

[@pattokuyama]

❤️

[@ometofu]

That’s 3000 watt charger! Way to much for DIY small projects…

[@pattokuyama]

It's true that the Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 Charge Controller has a 3000-watt charging capacity, which may be Overkill for what's needed for small DIY projects. However, on the bright side, it offers scalability for future power needs.

[@ometofu]

@@pattokuyama then u need more battery. then u need more equipment. then u more panels. cycle never ends. lol

[@markeh1971]

Hi at 300W you have 300 ish amps on 12V, so higher DC voltages are the name of the game, smaller dia cables and less losses.

[@skullpoly1967]

Well not really, sure you can connect in theory 3000w, but those panels would need to be under 100v when in series, however at 12v you can only charge at 12v×30A or around 360w possible a little more because chargers charge at a hire voltage probably at 14v×30A so 420w nice my be a little more, and at 24v twice that.