SmartSolar with low PV voltage

I am orienting to buy a SmartSolar with 48V output (vbat).

I have 1 solar panel (PV) that has the following specs:

  • Open circuit voltage: 48V
  • Max power voltage: 40V

According to datasheet for SmartSolar Charge Controller MPPT 150/35 with 48V output

1b) The PV voltage must exceed Vbat + 5 V for the controller to start.
Thereafter the minimum PV voltage is Vbat + 1 V

It means the minimum PV voltage should be 48V + 5V = 53V.

How can we resolve it? With a DC/DC converter on input or on output? Is there an alternative charger from Victron?

The easiest solution would be to have 2 panels in series.

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I know but I am limited with 1 panel on roof of a campervan.

Using a dc to dc boost wont work, and Victron dont make boost mppt’s.

Using a higher voltage panel, or lower voltage battery are your only choices.

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Remember that your mpp will be around 75-80% of Voc. You could find a smaller panel with the same Icc (I closed circuit) to put in series so you get a higher Voc. Also note that the smaller (and cheaper) 100/20 charger might be sufficient for your limited pv input. It can handle 1kw pv on a 48v system. Worth checking out.

I have experimented with this for my systems. You can use an Orion-Tr 48/48 converter power matched to the panel they go up to 380w to boost the voltage from the panel and output that into a 100/20 with a 60V output setting. Or you can setup a small 12v or 24v battery and charge from the solar then boost with an Orion-Tr 12/48 or 24/48 into a 100/20 MPPT. You can adjust the charge current in the 100/20, it will be quite low only a few amps 5-7 max with this setup. I am going to assume you have a 400w panel you only have voltages. The second option will work best but needs lots of parts.

Thanks for suggestions.

I want to apply a solar of 500Wp on roof of campervan.

There are also another options.

  1. That is a high-voltage PV panel that is only available for business, but not for homeowners. Like Sunpower Maxeon with Voc=70V. I need to find out.
  2. Buy a second panel and cover it partly under the first panel. Here 60% of the area will not get any sun energy (bypass diodes activated) and the remaining will have a certain voltage e.g. 15V. Total voltage will be > 53V.
    Am I understanding wrongly for option 2?
Using a dc to dc boost wont work

Can you explain why it will not work?

The following can be an example.

The mppt is designed to draw the maximum amount of power available from a solar panel given the varying amount of sun (power) that is available.
Under low light (or varying light) the boost controller will not be able to give a steady voltage output.

Given you can fit 500w of panels on your roof, choose a 500w panel with a high enough Vmp to suit the mppt @ battery voltage.

Or 2 x 250w panels.
Or 3 x 170w panels.
Or 4 x 125w panels.

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Or you switch to a lower voltage battery system. Campers usually have 12/24v for this very reason.

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