Victron Solar controller's

[T1 Terry]

At the moment I only have one panel... guessing 80w...it is charging the battery through the PSW solar controller.
I might change to two solar panels and run two systems leaving the old system where it is with a 100a AGM battery.running some of the house.
And no, it's a brand new victron controller
I bought and still to mount.
Bernie.

Can you post the numbers on the back of the panels you want to fit Bernie? Easier to advise from there

T1 Terry

[jon_d]

You can run two charge systems into a single battery (Lith) and throw the AGM out.

[BernieQ2]

Tell me more Jon.
Bernie.

[jon_d]

Just wire the 80w and it's controller to the Lithium

And the same with the new panels and their controller.

And same with the DC to DC charger. etc.

Have the 80w controller set to an AGM setting (eg 14.4 bulk and a 13.7 float) and let the battery BMS worry about other things. Even set it a little lower so the Victron will be the dominent controller and take more 'control' as the battery reaches full.


Just be-careful not to try and "fully charge' the Lithium. If things aren't balanced properly, the internal BMS may disconnect the charging circuit from the battery. This in turn causes the solar charge to a high voltage shutdown. (becuase it's in bulk CC mode and effectively goes over voltage) .. Before it shuts down, in some cases, some devices that have overvoltage protection will fail.

This has just happened to me and I'm in the process or repairing my Sirocco fan and Diesel heater.

In hindsight, this is one good reason to just use 12v panels and not a HV system. There is less chance to feed the HV though the controller and into the components.

[BernieQ2]

Thanks Jon...I will digest that later.

Terry as yet I haven't bought any solar panels...the victron 100/30 is new still in its box.

We don't use 240v for anything in the motorhome. So the 2000w inverter will get minimal use.
Bernie.

[BernieQ2]

How do I adjust this controller Jon.
Bernie.

IMG20220112083810.jpg

[supersparky]

Bernie, can you unscrew it off the wall and see if there is any info label visible and post that please.

[BernieQ2]

Thanks Dave.
This all it has.

271441472_3229426917276231_7370000031106552137_n.jpg

The third led is now on...I'm assuming that means the battery is fully charged ?

[T1 Terry]

How do I adjust this controller Jon.
Bernie.
IMG20220112083810.jpg

Under the cover there are two adjustable dashpots (variable resistors) in the upper right hand corner. If they are blue blocks with a small screw in the top, one does the battery voltage and the other does the shut down voltage for the load terminals. If it has the flat type variable resistors with a small screw slot in the centre, put the cover back on the controller and don't try to adjust anything is the best advice I can give you, these models are a nightmare to set correctly.

The battery charging voltage is set at 13.8v read somewhere inside the circuitry, not at the battery, all three led's lit up means it sees 13.8v at this point in the circuitry, again, nothing to do with the battery voltage as such so not an indication the battery is actually charged. We sometimes use these things for solar powered lights or pumps, they work when they are working and if they stop working, disconnect all the wires, then reconnect starting with the battery wires ... if that doesn't fix it, throw it in the bin, it has died .....
They are real cheap for a reason ..... but they do ok from non essential control stuff.
What battery did you end up getting?
If you can return the Victron MPPT for a credit to go towards the controller you really need, I'd be doing that rather than building a system to suit a controller that can't do what you actually need.

As far as running multiple solar regulators into the one battery, unless you get the Victron BMV and network the Victron MPPT controller to it, the Victron unit will keep shutting down because it sees a much higher battery voltage than it was expecting to see .....

T1 Terry

[BernieQ2]

Thanks Terry, I was not intending to fiddle inside the controller

Would I be right to assume that because it has 12/24v that its a MPPT ???
That controller was in the motorhome when bought, and charging 4 97ah AGM battery's

Keith will have to jump in here...he may or may not have had it installed.
My lithium battery charger will be in todays mail so the SMS said , floods have slowed everything.

I'm still struggling with the eye that the shingles buggered...and not improving so typing is a pain
Bernie.