Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100/5050A 100V Bluetooth MPPT solar charge controller for 12/24V

Overview

The SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 is the 50A version of the 100V range, for 12V and 24V batteries. Nominal PV power is 700W on 12V and 1400W on 24V, with a maximum PV short-circuit current of 60A and open-circuit voltage of 100V. It shares the 186×130×70mm, 1.3kg fanless housing, 16mm² terminals, rotary switch, Bluetooth and VE.Direct port of the 100/30. The battery fuse should be rated 55–70A.

• 30A or 50A charge current, 12/24V automatic detection
• Up to 100V PV open-circuit voltage
• Built-in Bluetooth and VE.Direct port
• Eight charge presets on rotary switch, fully programmable
• Peak efficiency 98%, no cooling fan
• Synchronised charging and battery sensing via VE.Smart Networking

How it works

A maximum power point tracker lets the panels work at their optimal voltage while the battery is charged at its own, lower voltage. The array may therefore be built from panels in series up to 100V open-circuit voltage, which reduces current and cable losses. Charging starts when PV voltage exceeds battery voltage by 5V and continues down to 1V above it. Under partial shading the tracker searches for the global power point rather than a local one.

Charging is adaptive three-stage: bulk at full current, absorption at constant voltage, with its duration lengthened after deep discharges and kept short after shallow ones, and float. Equalisation can be enabled for lead-acid batteries that need it. If more PV power is connected than the nominal rating, the controller simply limits its input power.

Key features

A rotary switch selects eight preset algorithms covering gel, AGM, tubular-plate and LiFePO4 batteries, and every voltage, stage time and current limit can be programmed in the app. An internal sensor provides temperature compensation; a Smart Battery Sense, BMV-712 or SmartShunt can supply actual battery voltage and temperature over VE.Smart Networking. These models have no physical load output, but a virtual load output with BatteryLife can be created through a VE.Direct TX cable.

Installation and compatibility

Mount the controller vertically on a non-flammable surface with terminals downwards, leaving 10cm above and below, within 3m of the battery but never above it. Fuse the battery cable at 35–40A for the 100/30 and 55–70A for the 100/50, and torque terminals to 1.6Nm. Connect the battery first so the system voltage is detected, then the PV array. Panels with optimisers must not be used.

The controller works in positive or negative grounded systems, with a single ground connection near the battery; the PV array itself must not be grounded. Remote on/off, for example from a lithium BMS, is possible with the VE.Direct non-inverting remote on/off cable. Full output is available up to 40°C ambient, with derating above that.

Monitoring and settings

Every SmartSolar has Bluetooth built in: the VictronConnect app on Android, iOS, macOS or Windows shows live data, keeps 30 days of history and error records, changes settings and installs firmware updates. The VE.Direct port connects a GX device such as the Cerbo GX for remote monitoring on the VRM portal, the MPPT Control display, a USB interface or external control cables.

Questions and answers