Question regarding a 36V setup

DIY
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1

Hi, I am looking to set up a solar charger for 3x 12V lead acid batteries, so 36V. I have looked over all the documentation I can find but have a question…

The ideal product for us is, I think BlueSolar MPPT 150/35 which will do 36V but the data sheet says ‘software tool needed to select 36V’. The manual suggests it needs to be set manually and seems to be via the ‘Victron Connect app’. So is that the ‘software tool’ mentioned in the data sheet? Thus far none of then vendors I contacted bother to get back to me.

We have had real issues with the current setup where the controller gives up when the solar input is too low, the batteries self discharge and the controller then ignores them, and that’s that. The installation is used sporadically and needs to give 10A or so at 36V for 10 seconds a few times a day with maybe up to 6 months idle in between.

So I am hoping that this Victron charger plus the GX module (the setup is in the middle of nowhere but mobile phones work ok) and a decent panel will work for us. Workable idea / stupid idea?

(not that it matters but we need to buy from Amazon - not my idea, our finances dictate this, otherwise we need to jump through a lot of hoops and get a new supplier set up and probably not pay them for ages which I hate)

2

Normally victron mppt’s recognize the system voltage when the battery is connected first.

But you can allways check and change with the victronconnect app over bt.

3

36V is excluded from the auto detection options, VictronConnect is required to configure compatible MPPTs for that specific voltage.

@jmh VictronConnect includes a demo library of most compatible products so you can look at the configuration options before buying the hardware, including the various battery voltage options for solar chargers. If you get a BlueSolar you will also need a VE.Direct to USB cable or VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle to connect to your device. If you want Bluetooth it’s usually better to get the SmartSolar version of the 150/35 as that has Bluetooth built in.

1 Like
5

Thank you! Why they can’t they say ‘using our app’ instead of a ‘software tool’. Bluetooth seems only useful if we are there which is why I want the GX module, but the price difference on Amazon is so little I’ll get the smart one.

6

Sorry for GX actually I mean ’ Victron Energy GlobalLink 520 for System Monitoring and Control’