You need a solar charge controller to utilize solar power for an off-grid electrical system effectively. These devices collect energy from the solar panels and transfer it to the batteries for storage. With cutting-edge technology, an MPPT SmartSolar charge controller optimizes this process by intelligently driving the energy harvest to achieve maximum charge in minimal time. The SmartSolar System preserves your batteries’ life by maintaining their health and helping you utilize your solar panels to their total capacity!
Victron MPPT, solar charge controllers, are Bluetooth accessible via built-in Bluetooth or the Victron Energy Bluetooth dongle. Connecting your solar charge controller to VictronConnect allows you to view various metrics. With the simple click of a button, you can see your battery voltage, solar history, load output, flexible battery charge algorithms, day/night timing, and light-dimming options. These solar charge controllers will gather energy from your solar panels quickly and efficiently.\
Once your MPPT is installed in your system, the next step is ensuring it’s correctly programmed to work with Battle Born Batteries.
1. Download the VictronConnect app onto your phone.
2. Connect the MPPT to your Battle Born Battery.
3. Select the MPPT SmartSolar charge controller from the device list. 
4. You may receive a notification indicating that the firmware needs updating. You will need a pin code; the default pin is “000000.” Please update the firmware before continuing.
6. On the main screen of the MPPT, click the gear icon in the upper right corner. From the settings menu, select the “battery” option.
7. select the battery preset menu and choose “User Defined.”
8. Finally, ensure the”User Defined” settings match the ones listed below:
Absorption voltage: 14.6 volts (acceptable range is 14.4 to 14.6 volts)
Absorption Time: The recommended setting for our lithium batteries is half an hour per 100ah of LiFePO4 battery (for example, if you have 2 -100ah batteries, select 1 hour).
Float Voltage: 13.5 volts (13.6 volts or lower is acceptable for LiFePO4 batteries)
Equalization voltage: 14.4 volts (you do not need to equalize Lithium-ion; you will have to equalize turned off, but in case it ever runs a cycle, the batteries will be fine at this voltage)
Temperature Compensation: should be disabled on Lithium Deep Cycle batteries because they do not need to be compensated, leave this off.
Low-temperature cut-off: Our Battle Born Batteries have low-temperature charging protection built into the battery. It’s monitored by our Battery Management system, which is also built-in. You can leave this off, too. Some other brands do not protect your battery against damage from low-temperature charging, but we do; we’ve got you covered.
Once you’ve completed these steps, return to the main screen and click on the floppy disc icon at the top right. This will save your settings. You can name it whatever you’d like or use the standard “CS1” (Custom Setting 1). Once saved, you can back out of the unit and go back in to ensure the new correct settings have been adequately implemented.
The Renogy Rover MPPT Solar Charge Controller offers peak conversion efficiency, comprehensive system protection, diverse load control, and remote monitoring. With the Renogy DC Home APP and Renogy ONE Core display setting, adjust the following parameters to work with LiFePO4 batteries.
The EPEver XTRA Series MPPT Solar Charge Controller is the perfect addition to off-grid solar systems. Complying with international standards, this device offers charging power, charging current, and automatic power reduction to ensure stability and efficiency. When programming your EPEver MPPT, set the parameters to match the following:
If your system has a Morningstar Professional Series SunSaver MPPT, Schneider Conext MPPT, Magnum Energy MPPT, or another type of MPPT solar charge controller, it may still be compatible with Battle Born Batteries.
First, ensure it can be programmed with the following settings:
Absorption voltage: 14.6 volts (acceptable range is 14.4 to 14.6 volts)
Absorption Time: The recommended setting for our lithium batteries is half an hour per 100ah of LiFePO4 battery (for example, if you have 2 -100ah batteries, select 1 hour).
Float Voltage: 13.5 volts (13.6 volts or lower is acceptable for LiFePO4 batteries)
Equalization voltage: 14.4 volts (you do not need to equalize Lithium-ion; you will have to equalize turned off, but in case it ever runs a cycle, the batteries will be fine at this voltage)
Temperature Compensation: Lithium Deep Cycle batteries should be disabled because they do not need compensation; leave this off.
Low-temperature cut-off: Our Battle Born Batteries have low-temperature charging protection built into the battery. It’s monitored by our Battery Management system, which is also built-in. You can leave this off, too. Some other brands do not protect your battery against damage from low-temperature charging, but we do; we’ve got you covered.
If you have any further questions, contact our technical sales team. They can walk you through the proper programming of your MPPT solar charge controller.
We know that building or upgrading an electrical system can be overwhelming, so we’re here to help. Our Reno, Nevada-based sales and customer service team is standing by at (855) 292-2831 to answer your questions!
Also, join us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about how lithium battery systems can power your lifestyle, see how others have built their systems, and gain the confidence to get out there and stay out there.
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54 thoughts on “Guide to Programming a MPPT SmartSolar Charge Controller”
Thank you for this info! Its exactly what I needed and was very easy to follow. I just finished installing 4 battle born batteries for my new solar system in my travel trailer. We are so excited to go dry camping! Made a little video as well to hopefully help others with their set up.
Andres and Chelsea,
We are really happy that the guide was easy to follow. We appreciate your comment and if you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Have a wonderful day!
I just changed over to a 24volt inverter from 12volt…..
So do I just double the settings on my victron 100/30?
Could someone tell me the float,absorption, and equalization volts for a 24 volt victron charge controllers
Eric,
Thanks for the questions, when changing to a 24V system, you are correct everything would double.
Absorption Voltage: 28.8
Float Voltage:27
Absorption time: depends on the number of strings you have in parallel. Essentially 2 batteries would be 30 minutes, 4 batteries would be 1 hour.
Equalization Voltage: Doesn’t matter in this instance because you do not need to equalize lithium ion.
If you have anymore questions, please give us a call, 855-292-2831. Thanks!
I just got my battleborn battery installed with the Victron 100-30 smart controller. I set it to the above recommendations. The battery won’t charge above the 13.6 v float charge, and it only stays in float for 1 minute.
Hi Keith,
I noticed that one step was missing from this write up and that would be to save your settings. Once you input the following settings we provided, go on to the main page and hit the floppy disc icon on the top right. This will allow you to save your new settings, we usually name is CS1 for custom setting 1. But you are welcome to name it whatever you’d like. If this doesn’t help, please consider calling us at 855-292-2831. Thank you!
Hello, Keith,
I am having the same issue. Do you ever figure this out?
Shawn
Hi Shawn, we noticed that one step was missing from this write up and that would be to save your settings. Once you input the following settings we provided, go on to the main page and hit the floppy disc icon on the top right. This will allow you to save your new settings, we usually name is CS1 for custom setting 1. But you are welcome to name it whatever you’d like. If this doesn’t help, please consider calling us at 855-292-2831. Thank you!
Thanks for the response. It seems like the absorption and float settings above should be reversed? I have it set as it’s listed and the batteries won’t charge above 13.59 volts then goes to float mode and cuts the charging watts from the solar panels. I thought your lithium batteries where at full charge @ 14.4 volts? I’m no expert just trying figure this out. Thanks again for your help!
It would be great if somebody from BattleBorne could address this. I have the same issue. Yes, I saved the settings.
Hi Brian, I will pass along your email and someone from our tech team will be able to reach out and help troubleshoot this issue. Thank you for your patience and please let me know if you have any additional questions. Additionally our tech team is always available to help, so feel free to give them a call at 855-292-2831 as well. Thanks again!
I had a question about the ”Low Temperature Cut-off” setting. Why can’t we go ahead and set this, but at a slightly higher temperature than the BMS is set for as added insurance that the batteries won’t be charged when they are too cold? I’ve invested a lot of money in my batteries and would rather have two safe guards setup to protect against charging cold batteries versus relying on just the BMS to protect the batteries. How can it hurt anything?
Hello Kelvin,
If you would like to use that setting and set it at a higher cut-off that is completely fine. Go ahead and set it to whatever you feel comfortable with.
Thank you!
Am I correct to assume these settings apply for the 100/50 Victron charge controller as well?
Stephen, Yes these settings apply for all solar charge controllers when you have our batteries. Just make sure to change the absorption time depending on you how many you have. For our lithium batteries we recommend 30 min per hour.
Hi, I just purchased two of the 100ah of LiFePO4 battery and a 12 volt system from Victron. When I received the Victron system they shipped temperature sensors with it.
My question is, If we turn off “temperature compensation” why should we install the temperature sensors when using the BMV-701/712.
Hi John,
No need for the temp sensor for compensation as you mentioned, although some customers just like to see the temperature on the battery terminals.
Thanks,
I have a question about the temperature cut-off. I have the Victron Smart Solar 150/35 MPPT controller. In my Victron manual there is a connection sequence that needs to be followed – batteries first, then panels. This leads to the assumption that the controller can be damaged if the controller is receiving power from the panels, while not hooked to a battery. If the BMS shuts off the charging for the batteries, and the controller is not turned off, will this damage the controller?
Hello Josh,
As of yet we havent heard of a controller being damaged by hooking the panels up first or by not having the batteries connected. The internal BMS of our batteries will not shut off the charging unless the internal temperature reaches 24 degrees. We also havent heard of a controller problem when a bms cut-off occurs while solar charging is taking place.
Hope this helps, thank you.
Hi There,could you help me configure the settings on my victron energy mppt 100/30 / 712 battery controller for a 240ah 12v agm battery,many thanks
Hi Robin, thanks for reaching out. Please contact the manufacturer of your battery and they will be more than happy to help.
Could you write a blog article covering the Victron Blue Smart Charger IP65 that you sell? The interface is different, and some settings are in an advanced area and don’t have the choices you’re recommending (specifically absorption time). It would help those of us with this charger get it set up properly versus making assumptions using this Solar Controller blog article. Thanks in advance!
Hi Jill, thank you for the suggestion! Our team is always looking to write blogs that help out our customers, so please be on the lookout for a post about this in the future. If you need any assistance with the settings on your Victron Blue Smart Charger IP65, please feel free to give us a call at 855-292-2831 or email us at [email protected] and one of our sales and tech specialists would be happy to walk you through it.
I have the Victron SmartSolar 100/50 with two of your 100 AH batteries.
I have set the “Maximum Adsorption Time” to 1 hour as recommended in this blog – Adsorption charge voltage is at 14.6v. However, there are two additional adsorption parameters in the latest version of the Victron Connect software: “Adsorption duration” (Adaptive or Fixed) and “Adsorption Tail Current” (default is 2.0A).
What should these parameters be set to?
Thanks.
Richard,
As you mentioned, we recommend 30 minutes of absorption time per battery so for your 200Ah battery bank 1 hour would be correct. For your “Absorption duration” you can set that as fixed and leave the “absorption tail current” as the default 2.0A. If you have any additional questions please give us a call at 855-292-2831.
Thank you!
I am wondering if there’s anything different I should do regarding high temperatures. I live in Arizona and it sometimes gets 110˚ or more, which can mean even hotter in my van. Are there any charging settings I should adjust for summer months, or should I try not to charge them at all when it is that hot? It may charge slower, but is it better for the batteries to charge at lower voltages, say 14.0 volts, when it’s hot out? Any high temperature advice for storage, use, charging, etc. would be helpful. I am trying to take good care of the batteries! Thanks.
Hi Sky! If you give our tech and sales team a call at 855-292-2831 they can help give you great advice when dealing with high temperatures in summer months.
Hi, I’m wondering how should I configure my Victron to operate with Li-ion 18650 4S battery pack? Can you please advice me how to set up mppt parameters?
Hi Maciek, thank you for reaching out. We can’t provide charging parameters for a battery we do not manufacture, so please give the manufacturer a call for the proper charging specs.
Hey all!
I changed my settings to exactly what it says above. I have a 100|30 MPPT charger and a 100Ah battle born lithium battery. The battery is at 100%, but when i change all the settings the mppt charger goes straight into bulk charging, even though the battery is full. when i return the MPPT settings back to default it jumps back into float, where it should be. thoughts?
Hi Michael, thanks for reaching out! Our team needs more information about how you’re able to determine that your batteries are at 100%. Feel free to give our sales and tech team a call at 855-292-2831 and they can help you troubleshoot these settings.
Hi,
Would these settings also apply to a Victron Smart Solar 100/50 MPPT controler and two Battle Born 100 Ah batteries?
Thanks for any clarification you can give,
Kelley
Hi Kelley, thanks for your comment. We have a lot of helpful resources under the “docs” tab on our website that can help you specifically with the 100/50: https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/victron-smartsolar-mppt-100-50/
Please let us know if you have any additional questions and have a great rest of your day.
are these the same for settings for a Silent Wind Pro wind generator please?
Thanks
Hi Nick, thanks for your comment. Please contact the manufacturer of the product for additional assistance with settings for this component.
I have two 200Amp 12volt lithium batteries running in parallel. Do I set the battery compacity to 200AMPs or 400?
Hi Scott, please set it to 200 amp hours. Thank you!
So is the Series add volts and parallel add amps applicable with batteries as they are with solar panels? I have four Gamechange 270Ah batteries. Is my battery capacity 270 or 1080?
Thank you
If you have 4 – 12V 270Ah batteries wired together in parallel, your bank will be 12V 1080Ah.
Any idea why my absorption time would go longer when set to a fixed duration? I set my CC (150/45) to fixed 1.5 hour absorption based upon the battery bank being 250ah @48v (10, 24v BB in series/parallel). The first week it went well and cut off at 1.5 hours and went to float. The last couple days it’s been in absorption for 4.5 hours and 2.7 hours. Any ideas?
Thanks
Hi Mike, thanks for your comment. I’ve passed along your email to someone on our sales and tech team and they will follow up to assist with any troubleshooting.
I have two 100ah batteries in parallel charging with an mppt 100|20. I am using a BMV 712 for monitoring. How can I know if the if the cells are balanced at the end of the charge cycle?
Thanks
Tim
Tim, thanks for your comment. If the voltage is between 14.2-14.6V it will reach a level where it’s balanced. The Solar charge controller will introduce the batteries to float mode, and as for absorption it is a process that takes about 30 minutes per battery. If you need any other answers clarified, please reach out to our sales and tech team at 855-292-2831.
I have (2) 100ah in parallel 12v system w/ 200w solar panel. I have Victron smartsolat mppt 75/15 controller.
First question, is that the appropriate controller or should I be using 100/30 or 100/20?
There are a lot of other settings that are not covered above what should these settings be?
Re bulk V offset: ?
Absorption duration:?
Tail current:?
Equalization current %:?
Automatic equalization:?
Equalization stop mode:?
Can you help with these settings?
Thanks,
Robert
Hi Robert, thanks for reaching out! Our team has a helpful size chart that we typically use when trying to determine solar charge controller sizing: https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Solar-Charge-Controller-Panel-Voltage-2.png
For additional programming assistance, we offer some of the recommendations at the link to our programming guide here: https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Programming-a-Victron-SmartSolar-Updated.pdf
If you have any other questions, feel free to give our sales specialists a call at 855-292-2831 and they would be more than happy to walk you through the programming process.
Thanks for the info so far.
Gamechanger @ 270Ah. 1 hour per ONE battery plus 21 minutes for the remainder of 70Ah? One battery would be 1.7 hours or 1 hour 21 minutes. The battery bank of four batteries would be 6.8 hours. Is this correct? (six hours or eight hours — rounded)
We recommend a half an hour of absorption time per 100ah LiFePO4 battery capacity in your bank. For 4 – 12V 270Ah batteries wired together in parallel into a 12V 1080Ah system the absorption time would be 324 minutes or 5.4 hours.
What should the load output be set to?
I have 3 of your 100 ah batteries being charged via two mppt 75/10 charge controllers
Hi Ben, that’s a great question! Our sales specialists recommend that you can only send it to the amount that your unit can generate. It also depends on what you’re trying to power, and 10 amps is the most that the unit will provide.
The load output will disconnect the load only when the battery has been discharged to a pre-set voltage. The load output is also short circuit proof. If you need any additional clarification, please give our tech specialists a call at 855-292-2831 and they’d be more than happy to assist with troubleshooting.
I have the Victron 150/85 solar charge controller with 4 Battleborn 100AH batteries. My solar panels are 6 200 watt manufactured by Renogy. I am using the Victron Lynx Distribution panel. Everything is attached and working. Initially when all the cutoff switches on I was able to program the Charge controller and the BMV-712 according to the instructions. The Victron connect app read 77.8 volts and only 3 amps. The batteries were in bulk charge. So I left it overnight and checked it today the charge controller read 76.0 volts and zero amps, the charge controller was in Float mode. The BMV-712 stated -1.2 amps, the batteries read 99.9%. I don’t have the Inverter connected yet so there was no heavy load other than the standard residual draws from the safety devices in the coach. My question is do these numbers look correct? Should the solar charge amps be zero? Thanks for the help.
Hey Herb! Good question. Yes, the solar controller’s amps are correct. When the unit is in float mode, it won’t produce any energy. The -1.2 draw you are seeing is from the O2 sensor, BMV, and any backlights. If you have any additional concerns or want to chat about all things technical, please give our team a call at 855-292-2831. Thanks!
For the Gamechanger @ 270Ah, the absorption time would be 81 minutes. For a battery bank of 1080Ah (four gamechangers), it would be 324 minutes or 5.4 hours. Is this accurate? I have 2 150/100 solar chargers and one 150/85 solar charger. Is the 30 minutes per 100Ah based on the battery or the battery bank?
We recommend a half an hour of absorption time per 100ah LiFePO4 battery capacity in your bank. For 4 – 12V 270Ah batteries wired together in parallel into a 12V 1080Ah system the absorption time would be 324 minutes or 5.4 hours. For 4 – 12V 270Ah batteries wired together in series into a 48V 270Ah system, the absorption time would be 81 minutes or 1.35 hours.
Great tutorial! I’ve been trying to understand how to program a MPPT smart solar charge controller and this guide was super helpful. Thank you for breaking it down in a way that’s easy to follow. I still have a few questions, but I feel much more confident in my ability to get it done now.