How to configure Victron with Tristar TS60 diversion control

Running into something similar on my shepherd's hut setup and curious whether anyone's cracked this.

I've got a Victron SmartSolar handling the solar side, but I'm looking at adding a small hydro feed — nothing dramatic, maybe 8–10A continuous from a micro-turbine. The plan is to run it through a Tristar TS60 in diversion mode to dump excess into a water heater element when the batteries are full.

The bit I can't get my head around:

• If the TS60 diversion threshold is set too low, it'll just shunt everything before Victron even gets a look-in
• If it's too high, I'm presumably risking overcharge on the battery bank (260Ah of Fogstar lithium, so not forgiving of abuse)

The specific question: how do you get the two controllers to play nicely when one's MPPT and one's in PWM diversion mode? Do you just set the TS60 absorption/float voltages slightly above the Victron settings so Victron leads and the Tristar only kicks in at the top end?

Also wondering if anyone's used the Victron DVCC settings to coordinate this properly rather than just fudging voltage thresholds. My setup is all on a Cerbo GX so in theory I've got the tools — just not sure of the right approach.

This is for permanent off-grid use, not occasional weekend stuff, so getting it stable matters. Winter continuous input from hydro is actually the main attraction — solar's pretty grim up here from November onwards.

What's working for people in practice?

GarySmith58 | Posts: 847 | Location: Cumbria

@BatteryPaddy - interesting setup! I'm running something similar with a Midnite Classic handling my hydro input alongside Victron kit, so hopefully some of this translates.

The key thing with the TS60 for diversion is getting your voltage setpoints coordinated properly between both controllers. Your Victron needs to be the "master" effectively, so set your TS60's absorption voltage slightly higher than the Victron's - this way the Victron reaches float first and the TS60's diversion load kicks in naturally rather than fighting each other.

Worth checking whether your hydro source is AC or DC output too, as that changes things considerably for how everything talks together.

What battery bank are you working with - lithium or lead acid? Makes a difference to the setpoint recommendations I'd give you. Also, roughly what wattage is the hydro turbine?

@BatteryPaddy hydro + solar on a shepherd's hut — living the dream mate 😄

The Tristar TS60 in diversion mode basically acts as a dump load controller, so your hydro output goes to a resistive dump (immersion heater works a treat) when the bank's full. The Victron and TS60

LiFePO4Geek | Posts: 1,203 | Location: Mid Wales

@BatteryPaddy great combo for a shepherd's hut! One thing worth flagging that catches people out — the TS60's diversion output needs a properly sized dummy load (immersion heater works brilliantly) to safely absorb the hydro output when batteries are full.

On the Victron side, you'll want to look at the MPPT's absorption and float voltage settings carefully. If both controllers are targeting the same battery bank, they need complementary voltage setpoints otherwise they'll fight each other. I'd suggest letting the TS60 handle diversion and setting your SmartSolar slightly lower in the charge hierarchy.

Have you got a Cerbo GX or any kind of comms hub? That makes coordinating everything considerably easier. Also worth checking the TS60 manual regarding the LVD sense wires — easy to overlook but important for protecting your bank.

Bazza | Posts: 134 | Location: Array

Following this closely — got a shepherd's hut build on the go myself and hydro's been on my radar as a supplementary source alongside solar.

Quick question for the thread: when the TS60 is diverting excess to a dump load, how does the Victron SmartSolar "know" to back off? Is that purely voltage-based coordination, or do you need to wire anything between the two controllers directly?

Worried about both controllers fighting each other when the batteries are near full — seems like that could get messy. Anyone using the Victron VE.Smart networking alongside this setup, or does that only work with other Victron kit?

@LiFePO4Geek mid Wales feels like prime hydro country — are you actually running something like this already?