I’m currently planning a Victron-based solar setup and would appreciate some advice regarding the use of module-level power electronics (MLPE)—specifically optimizers—to improve performance under partial shading conditions.
I’ve been considering Tigo optimizers (TS4-A-O) to help mitigate mismatch losses due to shading. However, I’ve read there might be compatibility issues with Victron MPPT charge controllers, particularly regarding monitoring and maximum power point tracking behavior.
Has anyone here successfully used Tigo optimizers or similar products with a Victron setup?
Or does anyone know of a better solution for managing shading?
A more elaborate reply: if you have bypass Schottky diodes in your panels, you don’t need optimizers.
You don’t want optimizers in the first place.
They’re a horribly expensive solution to an artificially made problem that is much easier to solve in other ways.
And they are absolutely insane emitters or EMI/RFI.
For all that’s sacred and respected in this world: do not install optimizers, ever.
What I understand is that a bypass diode works well when a single cell is fully covered—in that case, the diode activates and protects the panel. However, if there is partial shading or dirt on a single cell, the diode typically does not activate, and the performance of the entire string is reduced due to the drop in current.
What do you understand as a single cell vs a complete panel ?
The days where the production of an entire string of panels faceplanted when a single cell of a panel was partly shaded is 20 years ago.
These days we have split cell etc panels that have built-in shading bypass, virtually eliminating shading problems.
Other tools to handle shading: chainsaw and sledgehammer, to get rid of the shading source.
Your initial question has been answered as well: no, Victron products do not work with optimizers.
The Victron MPPT algorithm is intelligent enough to deal with (partial) shading and still minimise power loss due to said shading.
