Victron Energy SHS 200 MPPT v3.0 MC412V 14A MPPT solar home system with 15 DC outputs and PAYGo

Overview

The SHS 200 MPPT v3.0 MC4 is the MC4-connector version of the Victron solar home system: a 14A MPPT charger for a 12V battery of up to 160Ah, fed by up to 200Wp of 36-cell panels through MC4 extension cables. It distributes power to ten USB ports and five 12V outputs with up to 20A total discharge, and supports offline pay-as-you-go activation from its keypad. Housing is 204×148×67mm, IP41, 0.39kg.

• MPPT charging for up to 200Wp of 36-cell panels
• 12V battery, 14A charge and 20A discharge current
• Fifteen DC outputs: ten USB-A and five 12V ports
• Keypad and LCD with English, French and Swahili menus
• Offline PAYGo activation with OpenPAYGO tokens
• IP41 housing, 0.39kg

How it works

The SHS 200 combines a maximum power point tracking charge controller with a distribution panel for 12V DC appliances. It is intended for off-grid electricity access: a panel array of up to 200Wp built from 36-cell modules charges a 12V battery of up to 160Ah, and the unit then feeds lighting, phone charging, TVs, fans, sound systems or a DC fridge through its own outputs.

Charging is multi-stage with absorption at 14.4V and float at 13.75V, both configurable, and an internal temperature sensor adjusts charge voltage automatically. Sealed lead-acid and lithium batteries are supported. Loads are disconnected at a configurable low state of charge, and peak efficiency is 96%. Above 35°C ambient the output is derated; the operating range is 0–40°C.

Outputs and connections

Ten USB-A ports supply 4.75–5.25V, up to 1.5A each and 10A in total, compliant with USB Battery Charging 1.2. Five 12V outputs run at 10.5–15V: port 1 delivers up to 9A on a pluggable screw terminal, ports 2 and 3 up to 4A and ports 4 and 5 up to 2A, all on 5.5×2.1mm barrel connectors, with software overcurrent protection and resettable fuses.

The MC4 version is supplied with a positive and a negative PV extension cable of 1m, 14AWG, terminated with MC4 connectors, while the barrel version has four 5.5×2.1mm PV inputs limited to 5A each. Battery cables of 1m, 14AWG, for M6 terminals are included. An optional battery box prevents loads being connected directly to the battery terminals.

Pay-as-you-go operation

For distributors that sell systems on credit, the SHS 200 can be locked and unlocked offline. The customer pays by mobile money or cash, receives a recharge code by SMS and types it on the keypad; the unit then runs until the credited time is used up. Tokens use the open-source OpenPAYGO system, and the datasheet lists compatibility with PaygOps, Angaza and Paygee platforms.

Questions and answers