SmartSolar MPPT 100|20 test with solar panel simulation via power supply

DIY
, , ,
1

Hello!

I currently have: a three-phase ESS system, 1 x Multiplus 2 GX, 2 x Multiplus 2, and AE-Conversion grid-connected micro inverters.

I would like to expand my solar system soon by four panels on the south-facing balcony.

I still need to decide how to run the necessary cabling from the solar cellar (room with the Multiplus and Pylontech). I haven’t yet decided whether to connect these panels to the grid using an existing AE-Conversion 350W micro inverter each, or directly to the Pylontechs using a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100|20 each.

Due to the constantly changing shading of the new panels during the day, a reasonable yield will only be possible with a “single-panel connection” to the system. There is a 20 m pine tree five meters in front of the balcony. I’ve had good experience with AE-Conversion microinverters, each individually connected to the panel, for over five years on the south-facing roof, above the south-facing balcony in its new location, despite the pine tree constantly shading the panels.

Anyway, I’d like to test in advance whether the SmartSolar MPPT 100|20 can be connected to my current system without any problems. The challenge is that I still have a firmware version in Multipuls-GX that’s a good five years old, and I don’t want to embark on any “upgrade adventures” this summer. I’d rather save that for the winter with snow on the panels.

To conduct an initial communication test with the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100|20, I thought I’d connect a power supply to the solar input instead of a panel to the MPPT, in addition to the VM-Direct data cabling, and, if necessary for the test, also connect the Pylontech via the busbar. I have a combination power supply that allows me to preset voltages up to 64 V DC and currents up to 7.5 A. I also use it to charge individual Pylontechs for testing.

I couldn’t find any special settings or a wizard for the SmartSolar MPPT 100|20 in VE-Config!

  • Can I do everything via the remote console?
  • Is the DC connection to the Pylontechs absolutely necessary?
  • Or would it be sufficient if I just simulated a solar panel at the solar input using the power supply without connecting the Pylontechs?

I would be very grateful for your feedback, suggestions, and tips.

Kind regrads and Servus - Ewald

2

While you can use a DC power supply on the PV input of an MPPT, just to test communication and change some settings you should give it 48V to the battery terminals instead, this can be done with a power supply as well. In general an MPPT should not be connected to PV without being connected to a battery (as with pretty much any Victron device)

A SmartSolar MPPT is configured using VictronConnect, not VE.Config. The RemoteConsole, or generally the GX device, should have the same settings available in its menu as VictronConnect does, but since its firmware is older, there might be things missing