# Hi guys I have a 48v battery I want to charge with a 12v panel

**URL:** <https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276>\
**Category:** DIY\
**Tags:** beginner, mppt\_controllers\
**Created:** [29 August 2026 03:37 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276 "2026-08-29T03:37:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![greggutsell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@greggutsell](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/greggutsell)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2026 03:37 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276/1 "2026-08-29T03:37:22Z")

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Hi guys

I have about 640 watts of solar panel (2x panels 12v)

I need to connect these to a 48v battery I have a victron 150/35 smart controller will this do it if not what controller will I need

 ![IMG_6882](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/original/3X/e/f/ef22039538f3f8260006fc662d45e6b84a377fb9.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![lxonline](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/lxonline/32/25567_2.png) [@lxonline](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/lxonline)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2026 04:33 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276/2 "2026-08-29T04:33:11Z")

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The panel voltage in series must be more than 5v above battery voltage to start charging.

Are you saying your panels are 12v 26 amp panels?  
Highly unusual.  
I would imagine it’s more like 26 volt 12a panels.

Can you post a picture of the panel information

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**Author:** ![R.L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@R.L](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/R.L)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2026 05:51 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276/3 "2026-08-29T05:51:21Z")

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> [@greggutsell](#):
>
> (2 solar modules at 12 V)

The modules are labelled 12V because they work well with a PWM controller in a 12V system. In reality, they have a voltage of around 18V at maximum power (Umpp). The Victron MPPT 150/35 cannot increase the voltage. It can only reduce it, while increasing the current. For this to work with a 48V battery, at least four of these modules must be connected in series. In that configuration, the output drops to almost zero even with a very small amount of shade. A maximum of five modules may be connected. That would be better. The 150/35 would then be a perfect fit, and the system would be less sensitive if a small shadow occurred.

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**Author:** ![MikeD](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/miked/32/1522_2.png) [@MikeD](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/MikeD)\
**Post date:** [30 August 2026 04:38 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/hi-guys-i-have-a-48v-battery-i-want-to-charge-with-a-12v-panel/62276/4 "2026-08-30T04:38:13Z")

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> [@R.L](#):
>
> at least four of these modules must be connected in series

typically, the Voc of the low voltage panels is 20V, so 3 in series should work…

Best to get 2 normal (Voc 35 - 40v) panels and use in series.