I’ve a very basic solar controller at the moment so am looking to upgrade to a Victron Smart unit but which one do I choose . I only have a 150w panel and no roof space add much more . Would the 75/15 controller fit the bill ?
Just some advice.
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Doobray
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Yes the 75/15 is fine
Vanbitz fitted a 150 to our roof and victron 75/15 plus their batt master. i can look at its performance on my phone via bluetooth. Brilliant
Two on Tour
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The Victron 75/15 can handle up to 200 watts of solar, so you are well within its max input.
The votronics Duo 165 would also be suitable and would also trickle charge the Starter battery without the need for additional hardware. This is also Lithium ready if you add the temperature probe. This charger and the victron blue are not bluetooth ready. If you realy need that Smart blue or a Victron BMV712 or smartshunt gives much more info.
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I don't know what the rest of your system is, but it might be useful to know that you can get a small module called Victron Smart Battery Sense that sticks on the side of the battery. It sends battery voltage and temperature data to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT by Bluetooth. This allows it to tailor the charging to the exact requirements of the battery. The data is useful for lead-acid type batteries, and essential for lithium batteries to prevent charging when temperature is below freezing.
It can be useful if the main charging of the batteries is done by solar, and you don't want to fit a BMV or SmartShunt. A BMV/SmartShunt monitors the amps in/out of the battery and keeps track of its state of charge and also the battery voltage. But it's not as easy to fit as the SmartSense, which doesn't measure amps but measures voltage and temperature.
www.victronenergy.com
It can be useful if the main charging of the batteries is done by solar, and you don't want to fit a BMV or SmartShunt. A BMV/SmartShunt monitors the amps in/out of the battery and keeps track of its state of charge and also the battery voltage. But it's not as easy to fit as the SmartSense, which doesn't measure amps but measures voltage and temperature.
Smart Battery Sense - Victron Energy
Improve the charging-efficiency and prolong the life of your batteries with the Smart Battery Sense. Find a dealer near you.
Interesting item from Victron. Slightly off topic, I’d like to buy one of the fused Victron power leads to connect my starter battery to my Smart shunt. Scoured the Victron site but such leads don’t appear to be available separately from a shunt.
Stealaway
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For that kind of money I would have expected it to be a dual battery charger.
OP
OP
I have the duo solar controller fitted but most folk ( the experts) on here tell me it’s ‘ pants’ so looking for something better ?
The Votronics Duo controllers are not pants. There have been a few reports of issues with the highest spec device (430) with Lithium batteries. There are also several people on this forum who have successfully used the smaller models Duo250 and 350 in my case with Pb and Li. The conversion efficiancy is also reported to be in the best 2. If you are referring to another duo brand it possibly could be pants as i replaced my dealer supplied duo device within the year.
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OP
OP
Pants! Yes!
Stealaway
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Can you clarify that statement?
Why are you convinced that a charge controller that only does half a job should cost three time the price of this one?
In what way does the Votronics Mppt duos only do half a job.
if you understand theses things do your research.
I have been a manufacturing engineer in the electronics industry including the semiconductor industry, supplying to the Aerospace and Space industry and well understand the differences in prices between european well designed manufactured product and "other". I had to justify my estimates and prices to prospctive customers, But, im not wasting 3 pages here.
What's the war cry " how xxxx much". Just buy the cheapest, time and time again.
Stealaway
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That one at least charges two battery sets. The OP was asking about the Victron 75/15.
I do have one of the many cheap dual battery controllers made in China (as I suspect are almost all controllers)
They have never been a problem and provided first class performance for over ten. years
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Last edited:
Stealaway
at no time was i refering to Victron all my references were to Votronics or the OPs device, all are Duo devices. Victron are typicaly manufactured in India, Votronics in Germany. I am equaly concerned about the manufacture of the components. I have taken a couple of Chineese "MPPT" controllers apart and found a very varied bunch from an accpeptable £22 one to a £35 fake sold and labeled as MPPT but a 3 second look with lid off tells you differently (search u tube ). I used 2 of of the £22 ones on My bongo and trailer (100W on each) (Testing the effy for my Motorhome i decided to use Votronics as a cost effective way to achieve total solar input. the alternative is to use more panels (no more room) or tilt. Of my 550W, 100 is tiltable. I also did a feasibilty study on using a steering system on the roof. I decided that the 330W flat panel would out perform a 100W steerable that i half designed.
Now lets waste time on steerables.
At the motorhome show yesterday i seen an interesting system for folding floor mounted panels. Basicaly a steerable tripod. Cant find the info quickly, will look later
Nagonic Design
Brand behind the Solar Lander®, a smart tripod that rotates your solar panel to always follow the sun. Coming soon!
www.nagonicdesign.com
I think this is what the1andonly is referring to.
Solar tracking
Went to MH show at NEC yesterday and picked up some info on a solar tracker. The Designer was not there at the time i was, so talked to missus no in depth questions or answers she was used to talking to people that weren't aware of advantages of tilting (yes a British one man band). Basicaly its...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk
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