Hello all, new to the forum and Victron products. I have a new SmartSolar MPPT 150/45 with latest firmware (1.64) and the Victron Connect app on an iPad running iPadOS 18.5
The issue is that the Victron has a very weak Bluetooth signal.
With no obstructions and direct line of sight - in the Victron Connect app Device List - starting from one foot away from the controller, the signal will drop a bar for every step back I take - before about 12 feet away the bar is already at one and I cannot connect to the controller.
I also have a BlueSolar MPPT 150/35 with a VE.Direct Bluetooth. If I plug in the VE.Direct Bluetooth to the SmartSolar MPPT 150/45 I get the strong signal I expect and at 40 feet I still see 3 bars signal strength and I have no problem connecting to the 150/45 controller via the VE.Direct Bluetooth.
I don’t know if the SmartSolar MPPT controllers just have weak Bluetooth or if I have a controller with faulty Bluetooth. If the controller is faulty I can return it.
I will say - the bluetooth module in your VE.Direct Bluetooth Dongle is behind very thin plastic, while the bluetooth module in your 150/45 is behind pretty beefy aluminum, so no surprise that reception is better through the dongle than the controller itself. Bluetooth range is exceptionally-easily affected by obstructions, antenna orientation, interference from surrounding electronic components, AC and DC wiring, and so forth.
If you enable “Instant Readout” in the 150/45, you’ll be able to pick up the relevant data directly in the device list from further away just due to the nature of the data being sent, rather than full connection to the unit, so that may help you.
Generally speaking, a bluetooth module either works or it doesn’t, so that it is working indicates that the module is not defective and your controller is functioning properly.
The Bluetooth internal to the Victron devices is BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) in order to keep the idle current at a minimum. The VE.direct Bluetooth is likely a higher power transmitter