We have 4 x 12.8/200 Victron batteries in parallel and a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 regulating a 405w solar panel. We have connected the SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 directly to the batteries. Is this the most efficient way to charge from solar or is there anything else we need to make charging the batteries from solar as efficient as it can be.
We have lived permanently off grid for 35 years using solar to charge flooded batteries. We basically want to know if we can charge the new lithium batteries effectively using the same setup.
Perfect, then as long as you’ve programmed the controller correctly, putting it into the “Lithium” setting, and you’ve wired it according to one of the permissible methods of letting the BMS shut it down if needed, you should be okay. Feel free to post a photo or system diagram of your current setup so we can have a look over it to double-check everything!
Editing to add - if you have a GX device on the system, and the controller is connected to it via VE.Direct, then there’s not much you need to do at all, since the controller will be told what to do by the GX via DVCC, and the GX will be told what to do by the BMS, so it ends up super simple really.
If you have wired it directly to the batteries then this is wrong, it should be wired to the output side of the Lynx BMS. Nothing should be wired direct to the batteries. Whilst the BMS can tell the solar controller to shut down, with the solar connected direct to the batteries, if the BMS contactor shuts down in extreme circumstances it will not isolate the solar charging.