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mck1974 avatar image
mck1974 asked

Not charging batteries (Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100V 30 amp)

Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT not charging house batteries. Shore power is disconnected. No van ignition (so no B2B charging). So, it should just be solar charging.

VictronConnect app is showing Solar Voltage, but there is no SolarCurrent. (The fact the Solar Voltage is being measured makes me assume the path between panels and SmartSolar MPPT is intact). This previously worked, but it seems like once the Victron Multiplus 12/3000/120-50 was first used, the solar charging stopped, and has not started working again even with the inverter turned off and no shore power connected. Battery Monitor shows a steady discharge of the battery from 100% to 58% over the past 5 days (DC refrigerator running). Panels are sitting in full sunlight.


System consists of:

Victron Multiplus 12/3000/120-50 120V VE.Bus

Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100V 30 amp 12/24-Volt Solar Charge Controller (Bluetooth)

Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor

Sterling BB1260-12 Volt, 60 Amps - Pro Batt Ultra Battery to Battery Charger

4 x Battleborn BB10012 LiFePO4 batteries

2 x Newpowa 180W(Watt) Solar Panel12V Monocrystalline High Efficiency PV Module

Rough diagram of configuration:

rv-electric-setup.jpgimg-7715.pngimg-7714.png





battery chargingsmart solar charging behaviour
rv-electric-setup.jpg (290.4 KiB)
img-7715.png (258.8 KiB)
img-7714.png (283.3 KiB)
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3 Answers
dmsims avatar image
dmsims answered ·

IIRC there needs to be at least +5V difference for it to start charging the battery

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seb71 avatar image seb71 commented ·

To put it more explicit:


The PV voltage must be at least 5V higher than the battery voltage, for the MPPT to start charging.


According to your screenshot, your system does not meet this condition (your PV voltage is only 17.94V).


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Michelle Konzack avatar image
Michelle Konzack answered ·

Ejm, your battery show 13,49V and "Float", which mean, the Battery is FULL!


Check eventually the Datasheet of your Battery, because if it is an Acid battery, 13,49V Float Voltage maybe to low.


Since your Solarpanels have roughly 18V, the RE-Bulk charging will start again, if your Battery Voltage goes under 13V.


To test it, connect you Victron App to the SmartSolar and switch on a bigger load of 500-1000W and you will see immediately, that "Float" change to "Bulk".


Have a nice day

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Leslieanne avatar image
Leslieanne answered ·

Your Battery voltage on BMV is 13.09, the voltage on the Mppt battery side is 13.49 and the charger is "on" and at "float". Therefore you have an open circuit between the mppt and the battery....

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Related Resources

Additional resources still need to be added for this topic

VictronConnect VE.Bus charging manual