Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 150/70-Tr70A MPPT solar charge controller, 150V PV, screw terminals

Overview

The BlueSolar MPPT 150/70-Tr is the 70A model of the series, for 12V, 24V or 48V batteries and PV arrays of up to 150V open-circuit voltage and 50A short-circuit current. Nominal PV power is 1000W at 12V, 2000W at 24V and 4000W at 48V. Both PV and battery wiring use 35mm² screw terminals, in a 250×185×95mm housing of 3kg. The battery fuse should be rated 80–100A, and self-consumption is 10mA.

• 60A or 70A charge current for 12V to 48V batteries
• Up to 4000W nominal PV power at 48V
• Tr screw terminals or MC4 PV connectors
• 35mm² battery terminals, 10mA self-consumption
• Parallel operation possible, not synchronised
• Bluetooth battery sensing with optional dongle

How it works

These controllers charge 12V, 24V or 48V batteries, detected automatically, and 36V batteries when selected in software, from arrays of up to 150V open-circuit voltage at the coldest conditions and 145V in operation. The 150/60 delivers 60A and the 150/70 70A, with nominal PV power from 860W to 3440W and from 1000W to 4000W respectively between 12V and 48V. Charging is adaptive in three stages, with temperature compensation from the internal sensor or an external Bluetooth sensor.

Key features

Tr versions take the PV cables in 35mm² screw terminals; MC4 versions have two pairs of MC4 connectors wired in parallel to the single tracker, each rated 30A, so splitters may be needed for more strings. Battery terminals take 35mm² on both versions. Eight charge presets are set with a rotary switch, or a user-defined algorithm in VictronConnect. Several controllers can charge the same battery in parallel, but they do not synchronise their charge stages.

Installation and compatibility

Mount vertically with the terminals facing down, 10cm clear above and below, within 3m of the battery but never over it. Victron specifies battery fuses of 70–80A for the 150/60 and 80–100A for the 150/70. The PV array must not be grounded, and modules with optimisers must not be used. Where the controller is installed in an accessible area, the optional MPPT WireBox-Tr or WireBox-MC4 covers the terminals against accidental contact.

Monitoring and settings

The VE.Direct port links the controller to VictronConnect through a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle or USB interface, to a GX device for VRM monitoring, or to the optional MPPT Control display, and accepts remote on/off through a non-inverting VE.Direct cable. With the dongle fitted, a Smart Battery Sense, BMV-712 or SmartShunt can send battery voltage, temperature and, from a battery monitor, current to one or more controllers.

Questions and answers