Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/60-MC4

In a nutshell

Large MPPT solar charge controller, 150 V and 60 A, for 12, 24 or 48 V batteries. It uses up to 3,440 W of panels at 48 V.

Ideal for 48 V home systems or to expand an existing one.

What the two numbers of an MPPT charge controller mean

• The input voltage is the maximum combined voltage of the panels connected in series. Keep in mind the Voc (open-circuit voltage) of your panels and leave a margin: on cool mornings it rises a little.
• The amps are the maximum current the controller delivers to the battery. Multiplied by the battery voltage, this current gives the panel power it can use.
• That is why it is best to work at 48 V: the same device delivers four times as much as at 12 V.
• If more panels are connected than it can handle, the controller simply does not use the excess (excess power does not damage it). But never exceed the input voltage: that does break it.

About this model (150 V · 60 A)

• For example, if a panel has 50.6 V open-circuit, up to two fit in series (101 V); three would add up to 152 V, more than it accepts. Several strings can be connected in parallel.
• Usable power: 860 W at 12 V · 1,720 W at 24 V · 3,440 W at 48 V.
• It only recognizes whether the battery is 12, 24 or 48 V; for 36 V it must be configured with software.
• Panels with MC4 connectors (two pairs, up to 30 A per pair) and battery with screw terminals. Efficiency 98 %.
• It does not include built-in Bluetooth: it is configured and monitored through its VE.Direct port, with the VictronConnect app via a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle or a VE.Direct to USB cable.