SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 (FW 1.64) – Daily Bluetooth wake-up failure – urgent workaround needed

DIY
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1

Hello everyone,

I’m encountering a persistent and serious issue with my SmartSolar MPPT 100/50, firmware v1.64, used aboard an off-grid sailboat:

  • Serial number: [moderator edit: removed SN]
  • Backup unit (same issue): [moderator edit: removed SN]

Every morning (after a night without solar input), the MPPT becomes invisible via Bluetooth, and requires a manual power cycle to wake up.
I’ve already:

  • Updated to latest firmware upon installation
  • Ensured continuous low-level loads overnight (LEDs, USB chargers, fridge)
  • Measured normal voltages (LiFePO₄ system with JK BMS)

The same problem occurred with my previous unit.
I now suspect a firmware or deep sleep bug related to v1.64.

I’m currently at anchor (no shore power), and do not have a VE.Direct cable with me.

:red_question_mark: Can anyone confirm:

  • Whether Victron is aware of this issue (v1.64)?
  • If there’s a safe way to downgrade or patch via BT?
  • Any known workaround to ensure stable operation?

I’ve contacted Victron support but received a generic reply saying they’ll answer “within 5–7 business days”, which is frankly disappointing given the severity of the bug.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

2

Hi @Fujin

This is not a known problem. Before analyzing this further, can you please update VictronConnect to version 6.18. This should also contain firmware version v1.67 for these MPPTs. Please update them and monitor what happens when they are updated. Although this firmware version does not contain a specific fix for this problem, it helps to at least run the latest firmware.

With kind regards,
Thiemo van Engelen

3

Dear Thiemo,

Thank you for your reply.

I am currently on a sailing vessel at anchor, and unfortunately I do not have access to a VE.Direct cable – nor the possibility to acquire one easily at this time.

I am using a Samsung tablet running Android 12 with VictronConnect version 6.18 (latest available on the Play Store). The firmware version currently installed on both SmartSolar MPPTs is v1.64, and VictronConnect states that no newer firmware is available.

Bluetooth interface firmware is v2.52 with bootloader v1.18, also reported as up to date.

Could you kindly provide a direct link and procedure to manually install firmware v1.67, as you mentioned in your message, given that the application does not offer it automatically?

Thank you for your support. I remain available to provide further information if needed.

Best regards,

Fujin

4

Dear Thiemo,

I confirm that both the VictronConnect app (v6.18) and the firmware of the SmartSolar MPPT (now updated to v1.67) have been successfully upgraded via BT on my Android tablet (Samsung, Android 12).

I’ll carefully monitor the behavior tomorrow morning to see whether this resolves the MPPT wake-up issue. I will report back with the results.

Best regards,
Fujin

5

Subject: Feedback – SmartSolar MPPT 100/50

Hello,

Thank you for your message asking if I am satisfied.
I think you can already guess my answer: not really.

The SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 (S/N [moderator edit: removed SN]) forced me to waste two precious weeks of vacation trying to figure out why it stubbornly refused to wake up and start charging.
After updating, it seems that this bug is now fixed and it does wake up to charge.
But the controller still remains inaccessible at night via Bluetooth.

It is still surprising that a product presented as “smart” can only be configured or monitored during daylight… and even then, only if it decides to “wake up”.
In many cases — on a sailing boat, an off-grid site, or a remote warehouse — it is imperative to be able to check or adjust settings outside sunlight hours.
Your products only make sense if they are truly controllable and flexible when needed, not just when Victron has decided it’s allowed.

So, is there any solution to fix this limitation, or is it structural and simply not planned?
And you, honestly, would you still buy a product from a brand that leaves you without control precisely when it’s imperative — and costs you so much time and effort?

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,
Fujin

6

Hi Fujin,

This feedback request email is sent as an automatic follow up to the request you sent via the support website. So please do provide your feedback via the link/email in that email as it then follows the proper channels for feedback on our support system.

Then to get to possibly fixing the problem of the sleeping BLE interface, we have a few questions:

  • Is the only problem now (after the firmware updates) that the SmartSolar is not visible/connectable at night?
  • Does one of the LEDS on the MPPT still blink every few seconds at night?
  • Are all the fuses between the MPPT and the battery still OK?
    If the fuse is blown, then during the day it might look like it is working and charging, but it is only generating enough power to create its own battery voltage. But then at night, it is unable to generate power and because it also gets no battery power it will turn off.
  • Can you create a service report after connecting to the SmartSolar over bluetooth and attach that here to a reply?
    The procedure to create a service report is described here: 13. Troubleshooting

With kind regards,
Thiemo van Engelen

7

Hello Thiemo,

I’m responding directly here rather than via your automated questionnaire, as it seems more appropriate.

I’m a user and, until now, a prescriber of many Victron products, but this time I’m particularly disappointed:

I had three weeks of vacation, two of which were wasted trying to resolve this charging issue and, more importantly, the fact that the controller wouldn’t “wake up” in the morning.

After the update, the problem didn’t recur for three consecutive days, which is positive.

But at night, no LEDs are lit on the controller, and it’s impossible to connect to it via Bluetooth.

The batteries are connected to the controller via 16mm² cables, currently without a fuse, and protected by a JK-B2A8S20P BMS.

I should point out that I have an identical installation on another remote site, equipped with a SmartSolar 150/45 A073 (recently upgraded to v1.64), which remains accessible via Bluetooth 24/7 and poses no problems.

You haven’t answered my question: is it normal that the SmartSolar can only be accessed during the day? Is there a solution to ensure the controller remains accessible at night, which can be imperative in many situations?

Finally, since I only had a week left, too short for my sailing schedule, I left the sailboat without activating the remote control, so I can’t generate a service report at the moment.
Looking forward to a response and hopefully a solution.
Best regards,

8

Hi Fujin,

I would still urge you to give feedback via the other path as that is specific feedback on the general support route (which has not worked if there has not been any contact except via this forum) as this forum is not the normal way of getting support. It was a coincidence that I spotted this post and not a reaction to the support request via our website.

Then back to the problem at hand:
When an MPPT has no PV power, it will never continuously show a lid LED, but a LED should flash every few seconds. If this does not happen, then the MPPT is either not connected to the battery (due to a loose cable, a blown fuse, a BMS that disconnects, a switch that is off or some other form of battery disconnect) or defective. In either case, it will not have power when there is no PV and it is thus not accessible at night.

So to answer your question more directly: No, it is not normal behavior that the SmartSolar can only be accessed during the day. Our SmartSolar stay powered via the battery connection and are should thus be accessible during the night.
(The only exceptions to this are really old SmartSolar models, which is not the case here)

With kind regards,
Thiemo van Engelen

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9

‌Dear Thiemo,

Please note that no response other than a terse and automatic acknowledgment of receipt was provided to the emails I obviously sent to the following two addresses: support@victronenergy.com; info@victronenergy.com on June 20 at 12:51 PM (11 days ago!)

Once again, I sincerely thank you for your finally clear answer, which may provide a solution.
If the problem isn’t with the controller (I bought two and the results are the same),
it may be due to a CHG MOS parameter in the JK, but since I’m no longer on site,
that will have to wait…

Have a nice day

Fujin

1 Like