In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
This Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 & 100/20 review covers Victron’s two most popular small charge controllers. They suit one or two panels on a van, shed, boat or trailer. The 75/15 handles up to 75V of panel open-circuit voltage and 15A of charge current. The 100/20 handles 100V and 20A. Both have Bluetooth built in […]
This guide explains how to connect Victron batteries in series and parallel to build a 12V, 24V or 48V bank, using Victron’s Lithium Battery Smart datasheet and Lynx manual. Series raises voltage. Parallel raises capacity (amp-hours). Victron’s Lithium Smart batteries support both, and combinations of both, up to 20 batteries in one system. Electrical work […]
The Victron Blue Smart IP22 charger is Victron’s indoor AC battery charger for RV, boat and garage use. The 120V version comes in 12V 15, 20 and 30A and 24V 8, 12 and 16A models, with a choice of one output or three isolated outputs. It is bigger and more powerful than the sealed IP65 […]
The Victron Cerbo GX MK2 is the communication center of a Victron system. It doesn’t make or store power. Instead, it connects your inverter-charger, solar charge controllers, battery monitor and lithium BMS, shows them on one dashboard, and puts the whole system online through Victron’s free VRM portal. This review covers what the Cerbo does, […]
This Victron Lynx Smart BMS NG review covers the battery management system Victron built for its newer Lithium NG LiFePO4 batteries. It is not the same product as the older Lynx Smart BMS, which works with Victron’s Lithium Battery Smart range. The NG version comes in 500A and 1000A sizes, each with a built-in main […]
A Victron Cyrix battery combiner is a microprocessor-controlled heavy-duty relay. It connects a starter battery and a house battery in parallel when one of them is being charged, and separates them again when charging stops. Victron pitches the Cyrix as a replacement for diode isolators, because it has virtually no voltage loss, so you don’t […]
This Victron MultiPlus-II review covers Victron’s best-selling inverter-charger. One box does three jobs: a pure sine inverter, a battery charger and an automatic transfer switch. When shore power or a generator is connected, it passes power through and charges the battery. When the input drops, it switches to inverter power in under 20ms. Victron MultiPlus-II […]
This Victron BMV-712 Smart review covers Victron’s classic battery monitor with a round display. It measures current through a 500A quick-connect shunt, shows state of charge on the wall and in the VictronConnect app over Bluetooth, and adds a programmable relay and visual and audible alarm that the cheaper SmartShunt lacks. Victron BMV-712 Smart Review: […]
This Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 & 100/50 review covers the two most popular charge controllers in Victron van and RV builds. Both accept up to 100V of panel open-circuit voltage. The 100/30 delivers up to 30A (440W nominal PV at 12V), and the 100/50 up to 50A (700W at 12V). Both have Bluetooth built in. […]
This Victron Blue Smart IP65 charger review covers Victron’s sealed, Bluetooth-connected battery charger for RVs, boats, cars and motorcycles. It comes in 12V 4, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 25A and 24V 5, 8 and 13A versions, plus a 6V/12V 1.1A model. Victron rates it at 95% efficiency and IP65 water, dust and chemical resistance. […]
