In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
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 […]
The Victron GX Tank 140 is an add-on for Victron GX devices that reads up to four tank level sensors. Its job is to handle the senders a Cerbo GX’s own resistive tank inputs can’t: industrial-style 4–20mA current senders and 0–10V voltage senders. Here’s what Victron’s product page and GX manuals say about it. Victron […]
The Victron Quattro-II 2x120V is a 3kVA inverter/charger with two AC inputs, built for North American RVs and boats with 50A 120/240V shore power. It can connect to shore power and a generator at the same time and switch between them automatically. Here’s what Victron’s Quattro-II 3kVA 2x120V datasheet says. Victron Quattro-II: Specs 12/3000/120-50 2x120V […]
