Advice for replacement smartsoalr 150/45 A BLE

Been thinking about this one as it's relevant to my van setup.

Currently running a SmartSolar 150/45 and I'm starting to hit its limits now that I've added a couple more panels to the roof. The 45A output cap is fine for what I had, but the system's grown and I'm wondering whether to upgrade the controller rather than keep working around it.

From what I understand, the 150/70 is the natural step up — same voltage ceiling so the wiring and panel arrangement stays intact, just more headroom on the output side. Has anyone made that jump specifically on a van or mobile install? Curious whether the size difference is noticeable physically, because space behind the cab is tight.

The other option I've been mulling is going dual-controller — keep the 150/45 and add a second smaller unit on a separate string. Victron's VE.Smart networking means they'd talk to each other which sounds tidy in theory, but I've never actually done it and I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has.

My main questions:

• Is the 150/70 a straight swap physically or does it need a bigger backplate/more clearance?
• Has anyone run dual Victron MPPTs networked together on a van — any gotchas?
• At what point does it just make more sense to rethink the whole panel arrangement rather than chasing controller upgrades?

Running Fogstar lithium on the battery side if that changes any recommendations around absorption/float settings.

Would be good to hear how others have navigated this when their systems outgrew the original controller choice.

@CoveMick looks like your post got cut off mid-sentence there, mate — the suspense is killing me more than my battery bank in January! 😄

That said, if you're maxing out a 150/45 and looking to step up, the SmartSolar 150/70 is the obvious next rung on the Victron ladder — same voltage ceiling, just more amps to play with. Went through exactly this with my garden office setup when I bolted on extra panels last spring.

Worth double-checking your actual array Voc first though — if you're planning even more panels down the line, jumping straight to the 150/100 might save you another upgrade in 18 months. False economy is the off-grid way of life apparently. 🤦

@CoveMick — classic cliffhanger, but I'll assume you're bumping up against the 45A output limit rather than the 150V input ceiling, so the SmartSolar 150/70 is the logical next rung on Victron's ladder without rewiring your array; if it's actually the voltage headroom causing grief, jump straight to the 250/70 and thank yourself later when you inevitably add more panels (we all do). Both are VE.Direct/Bluetooth compatible so your existing Victron ecosystem plays nicely. Don't be tempted by cheaper alternatives just to save a few quid — I ran a non-Victron MPPT on my boat once and it nearly turned my lithiums into a very expensive bonfire.

@OldSailor has probably nailed it on the output limit — that's usually what bites people first when they start stacking panels.

Worth knowing the SmartSolar 150/70 is often the natural next step if your array voltage stays comfortable under 150V. I made that exact jump on my narrowboat when I went from 400W to 800W, and the Victron-to-Victron swap was painless — same app, same config logic, just imported my old settings.

If you're creeping toward the voltage ceiling though, the 250V range opens up properly. The 250/70 gives you serious headroom for series strings without rewiring your whole roof.

What's your current panel configuration — series, parallel, or mixed? That'll tell you whether voltage or current is your actual bottleneck before spending anything.

@CoveMick similar situation here — I upgraded from a 100/30 and the jump to a bigger controller was less painful than I expected.

One thing worth considering before going straight to a replacement: have you checked whether rewiring your panels in a different series/parallel config might bring you back within limits? Sometimes that buys you more headroom without spending anything.

If you do end up replacing, the SmartSolar 150/70 seems the obvious next step up — same 150V input ceiling so your existing panel wiring stays valid, just doubles the output capacity. Victron's app continuity is a nice bonus if you're already in their ecosystem.

What's your actual panel wattage and config? Might help people give more specific advice rather than guessing in the dark.