Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/45

In a nutshell

Medium-sized MPPT solar charge controller, 150 V and 45 A, for 12, 24 or 48 V batteries. It uses up to 2,600 W of panels at 48 V. Ideal for a small home system or to expand an existing one.

What the two numbers of an MPPT charge controller mean

• The volts (V) are the maximum that the panels connected in series can add up to. On cool mornings the voltage rises a little, so you must leave some margin.
• The amps (A) are the maximum current the controller delivers to the battery. Multiplied by the battery voltage, this current gives the panel power it can use.
• At 48 V the same device delivers four times as much as at 12 V; that is why serious systems run at 48 V.
• If more panels are connected than it can handle, the controller does not use the excess (excess power does not damage it). But you must never exceed the input voltage: that does break it.

Take into account the Voc (open-circuit voltage) of your panels: for example, if a panel has 50.6 V, two in series add up to 101 V and three, 152 V, more than this device accepts.

About this model (150 V · 45 A)

• Several strings of panels in parallel.
• Usable power: 650 W at 12 V · 1,300 W at 24 V · 2,600 W at 48 V.
• Bluetooth (VictronConnect app) and VE.Direct.