How many "battery sense" sensors can a 100/30 MPPT charger manage? obviously the controller can only output to both, but if one battery was colder than the other, you hope the controller would shut off to both(?)
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Justin Cook for the following reason: The question is answered, right answer was accepted
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How many 'Battery sense' sensors per MPPT controller
The chargers don't manage them. It's a shared network, and there can only be one voltage, current, or temperature sensing device shared with the network:
https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/VE.Smart_Networking/en/limitations.html
It is not possible to measure multiple battery temperatures/voltages/charge currents: only one Smart Battery Sense, or one BMV can be used in a system. Having multiple sensors connected to different batteries can lead to charging issues as overcharging or heating up the batteries. Always make sure to have your sensors/chargers on the VE.Smart Networking connected to the same battery. If, by accident, two or more sensors (e.g. Smart Battery Sense and/or BMV) are connected to the same VE.Smart Networking, a priority mechanism is used to decide which battery temperature, battery voltage and battery current should be used by the charger. The priority mechanism is first based on the type of sensor (e.g. BMV has higher priority than the Smart Battery Sense), and second based on the serial number of the sensor. At the end, only one information will be used by the charger.
The only way you will get the functionality you need is to have ONE MPPT and ONE SBS per battery. Each set will be in their own VE.Smart network, i.e., MPPT1 + SBS1 on battery 1 in their own VE.Smart network, THEN MPPT2 + SBS2 on battery 2 in their own VE.Smart network.
If individual batteries in a battery bank are at significantly different temperatures, one of three things is likely:
- Design issue (poorly specified hardware).
- Configuration issue (positioning, wiring, etc.).
- Component failure.
- Thanks 'snoobler'. I believe you. I must say though, that doesn't seem very 'smart'. I would've thought that with today's modern micro processors, the controller should know 'who's who, and switch off if one of the batteries reached too low/hot temp(?) I thought all victron veg devices talked to each other (?) ie, my system has the smart mppt, smart Shunt, smart dc/DC alt charger and a smart 230vac charger, and I have 2x 100ah victron smart 12v batteries in parellel. Do I not need a smart battery sense at all then?...I would certainly appreciate your take, I am perplexed?... cheers M
Sounds like you just assume things work a certain way. It's much better to understand your system and work within its limitations.
ouch...that's a bit sharp, I've read the manuals many times, they can be vague..I'm an industrial electrician with instrumentation accreditation, as well as automation programming and fault finding (30+ years).. Victron is not as "smart" as it could be...end of...but thank you for replying.....
Thanks 'snoobler'. I believe you. I must say though, that doesn't seem very 'smart'. I would've thought that with today's modern micro processors, the controller should know 'who's who, and switch off if one of the batteries reached too low/hot temp(?) I thought all victron veg devices talked to each other (?) ie, my system has the smart mppt, smart Shunt, smart dc/DC alt charger and a smart 230vac charger, and I have 2x 100ah victron smart 12v batteries in parellel. Do I not need a smart battery sense at all then?...I would certainly appreciate your take, I am perplexed?... cheers M
LOL keep it friendly, everyone
Mike, the manual as linked by snoobler is clear, and is accurate. Further argument or "what ifs" or "well shouldn't it be" is not relevant - the equipment does what the manual says it does, and does it very well; if you require capabilities beyond the capabilities of the equipment, there are always (more expensive) alternatives.
I'm closing the question now as the correct answer has been given.
