Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/1515A MPPT solar charge controller, 100V PV, 12/24V

Overview

The BlueSolar MPPT 100/15 has the same 15A charge current as the 75/15 but accepts up to 100V PV open-circuit voltage. In Victron's sizing example a 24V battery can therefore be charged from up to 144 cells in series, four 12V panels. Nominal PV power is 220W at 12V and 440W at 24V. The housing measures 113×100×50mm and weighs 0.6kg, with 6mm² terminals, a 15A load output and a 20–25A battery fuse.

• 10A to 20A charge current, 75V or 100V PV input
• 12V and 24V automatic; 100/20 also 36V and 48V
• Load output with BatteryLife low-voltage management
• 98% peak efficiency, no cooling fan
• VE.Direct port for app, GX device and VRM

How it works

These small BlueSolar controllers convert the output of a higher-voltage PV array into the charge current of a 12V or 24V battery; the 100/20 also handles 36V and 48V batteries. The model name gives the limits: a 75/15 accepts up to 75V PV open-circuit voltage and charges at up to 15A. The tracker follows fast irradiance changes and, with partial shading, searches for the true maximum power point rather than a local one. Charging is adaptive in three stages: bulk, absorption and float.

Key features

Peak efficiency is 98% and there is no cooling fan; full output is available up to 40°C ambient, with derating above. A short-circuit-proof load output, 15A or 20A depending on the model, disconnects DC loads at a preset battery voltage or under the BatteryLife algorithm, which raises the disconnect level day by day until the battery reaches a near-full charge about once a week. Eight preset charge algorithms are available, or a user-defined one, plus optional equalisation for lead-acid batteries.

Installation and compatibility

Mount the controller vertically on a non-flammable surface with the terminals at the bottom, 10cm free above and below, within 3m of the battery but never directly above it. The array's open-circuit voltage must stay below 75V or 100V at the lowest expected temperature, and its nominal voltage must exceed the battery voltage by at least 5V. Battery fuses range from 15–20A on the 75/10 to 25–30A on the 100/20. Modules with optimisers must not be used, and the PV array must not be grounded.

Monitoring and settings

There is no built-in display or Bluetooth: the VE.Direct port takes a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle or USB interface for the VictronConnect app, which shows live data, 30 days of history and error logs, changes settings and updates firmware. A VE.Direct cable connects a GX device for the VRM Portal, or the optional MPPT Control display. With the Bluetooth dongle fitted, a Smart Battery Sense, BMV-712 or SmartShunt can share battery voltage and temperature over a VE.Smart Network.

Questions and answers