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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron MPPT 100/30 vs 100/50: Which One Do You Need?

The Victron MPPT 100/30 vs 100/50 choice comes down to one number: how many amps of solar charging you need. Both are SmartSolar controllers with the same 100V input limit, the same case and the same weight. Victron’s datasheet shows where they differ. Victron MPPT 100/30 vs 100/50 Specs Spec SmartSolar 100/30 SmartSolar 100/50 Battery […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron Lynx Shunt vs SmartShunt: Which Battery Monitor?

Victron Lynx Shunt vs SmartShunt comes down to how your DC system is built. Both measure battery current and calculate state of charge. The SmartShunt is a standalone shunt with Bluetooth. The Lynx Shunt VE.Can is a busbar module that adds a main fuse holder and talks to a GX device. Here are the official […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron Lithium Starlink Runtime: How Long Will a 200Ah Battery Run Starlink?

Here’s the Victron lithium Starlink runtime math for the most common van battery: the Victron Lithium Battery 12.8V 200Ah Smart. It stores 2,560Wh at 25°C, according to Victron’s datasheet. How long that lasts depends mostly on which Starlink you have and whether it runs on DC or through an inverter. The Inputs Item Figure Source […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron Orion XS Fuse Size and Wire Gauge Guide

The Victron Orion XS fuse size and cable gauge both come straight from Victron’s Orion XS 12/12-50A manual. Getting them right matters more than with most chargers, because the XS cuts its charge current when its input voltage sags. Thin cable means less charging, not just more heat. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron SmartShunt vs Budget Shunts: Is It Worth It?

Victron SmartShunt vs cheap shunts is one of the most common debates in the comments under battery monitor videos. A no-name Bluetooth shunt can cost a fraction of the price. So what do you get from Victron? Below we list what the SmartShunt’s official datasheet and manual promise, and the questions to ask before buying […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron Lynx Smart BMS vs smallBMS vs VE.Bus BMS

Victron Lynx Smart BMS vs smallBMS (and the VE.Bus BMS V2 in between) is a choice every Victron Lithium Battery Smart owner has to make. Victron’s batteries don’t protect themselves. They need an external BMS that switches loads and chargers off. Victron’s BMS overview datasheet compares these three, and here’s what it says. Victron Lynx […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

What Size Victron Lithium Battery Do I Need? Ah vs kWh

Working out what size Victron lithium battery you need is easier once you stop thinking in amp-hours and start thinking in watt-hours. A 100Ah battery at 12.8V and a 100Ah battery at 25.6V store very different amounts of energy. This guide converts Ah to kWh using Victron’s own datasheet figures, then sizes a bank from […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron Lynx Distributor Wiring: How to Wire a Lynx System

Victron Lynx Distributor wiring looks intimidating, but it’s really a set of busbars that bolt together. Victron’s manual lays out the module order, grounding, fusing and a commissioning checklist. Here’s that process in plain steps, plus the system layouts Victron shows. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every cable correctly, […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

How to Program Victron MPPT LiFePO4 Settings

The right Victron MPPT LiFePO4 settings come up in nearly every comment section under Victron solar videos. People ask about absorption, float and how long to hold them. Victron’s MPPT manual gives default lithium values, and your battery maker may give others. Here’s how to set them in VictronConnect and what each value means. Electrical […]

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Guides & Comparisons Victron

Victron MultiPlus Generator Settings: Charging From a Generator

Getting the Victron MultiPlus generator settings right is the difference between a quiet, steady charge and an inverter that keeps clicking back to battery. Victron’s MultiPlus-II manual covers exactly which settings to change for a generator: the AC input current limit, the UPS feature, the dynamic current limiter and WeakAC. Here’s what each one does […]