In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
The Victron CANvu GX is the rugged member of Victron’s GX family. It’s a sealed 4.3-inch touchscreen that does the same core job as a Cerbo GX: it monitors your inverter/charger, solar chargers and batteries, and connects the system to the free VRM portal. The difference is the IP67 housing, which lets it live in […]
The Victron GX LTE 4G and the GlobalLink 520 both get your Victron system online over cellular, so you can watch it on the VRM portal from anywhere. They solve the problem differently, though. The GX LTE 4G is a modem for a GX device like a Cerbo GX. The GlobalLink 520 is a standalone […]
The Victron BlueSolar MPPT range uses the same MPPT tracking as Victron’s SmartSolar controllers, but without built-in Bluetooth. Here’s what Victron’s MPPT overview datasheet says about the differences, with the BlueSolar 150/35 and 150/45 as an example. BlueSolar vs SmartSolar: The Real Differences BlueSolar SmartSolar Built-in Bluetooth No (add a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle) Yes […]
The Victron Skylla-i and Skylla-IP65 are Victron’s heavy-duty, high-current battery chargers for boats, vehicles and industrial use. The Skylla-i is a 24V charger up to 100A. The Skylla-IP65 is a sealed 12V/70A or 24V/35A unit with a wide 90–265V input. Both come in versions with two or three outputs. Here’s what Victron’s datasheets say. Victron […]
The Victron Buck-Boost DC-DC converter charges a 12V or 24V service battery from a vehicle with a smart alternator. It can step voltage up (boost) or down (buck), so the house battery gets a set charge voltage whether the alternator is running low or high. Victron’s datasheet gives Mercedes’ 15.4V as an example of a […]
The Victron Smart Battery Sense is a small wireless sensor that sticks onto a battery and sends its voltage and temperature to Victron MPPT solar chargers. The charger uses those readings to fine-tune its charge voltage. That corrects for cable voltage drop and adds temperature compensation, without running sense wires. Here’s what Victron’s manual says, […]
The Victron GX Touch 50 and its bigger sibling, the GX Touch 70, are touchscreen displays for the Cerbo GX. They show the GX device’s full interface: system overview, battery, solar, tanks and every setting. They don’t work alone, since the Cerbo GX does the processing. Here’s what Victron’s Cerbo GX manual lists for both […]
The Victron Inverter RS Smart Solar 48/6000 combines a 6kVA inverter and a 6kW solar charge controller in one 11kg box. It’s built for off-grid solar systems that need AC power but no grid or generator charging input. Unlike the Multi RS, it’s an inverter, not an inverter/charger. Here’s what Victron’s datasheet says. Victron Inverter […]
The Victron BlueSolar PWM controllers are Victron’s simplest and cheapest solar charge controllers. The PWM-Light 12/24V models handle small systems from 5A to 30A, with a built-in load output and a timer for lighting. They’re not MPPT controllers, so you have to match panel voltage to battery voltage. Here’s what Victron’s datasheet says. Victron BlueSolar […]
Victron BlueSolar panels are Victron’s own rigid monocrystalline solar panels, from tiny 20W modules up to 365W. They’re a simple way to keep a whole system in one brand, with published Voc and Isc figures that make MPPT sizing easy. Here’s what Victron’s current-models datasheet lists. Victron BlueSolar Panels: Specs Panel Cells Vmp Imp Voc […]
