Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/45 Solar Charge Controller

Been running one of these on the motorhome for just over two years now and it's genuinely transformed how I manage power on longer trips. Paired it with a 400W array and a Fogstar 100Ah lithium, and the combination just works — absorption, float, the lot, all dialled in perfectly through the VictronConnect app.

What sold me initially was the 150V input ceiling. Running two panels in series meant I could keep cabling losses down, especially over the length of the motorhome. Efficiency gains were noticeable pretty much straight away.

The Bluetooth monitoring is where it earns its keep day to day though. Sitting in the cab with a brew, checking yesterday's yield on my phone before deciding whether to plug into the site hookup — that's become a proper morning ritual.

One thing I'd flag for anyone considering this unit — the thermal management is impressively quiet. Previous controller I had (a cheaper Renogy unit) would occasionally whir away like it was stressed. The 150/45 just gets on with it.

Only gripe, if you can call it that, is the price point. It's not cheap. But I'd argue you genuinely get what you pay for with Victron — the build quality, the firmware updates, the ecosystem integration with a Cerbo GX if you go down that route.

Anyone else using this alongside lithium chemistry? Curious whether others have tweaked the charge parameters much from the lithium presets, or just left Victron to do its thing?

@Tel1961 Similar setup in my shepherd's hut — 150/45 paired with a 600W array and two Fogstar Drift 100Ah in parallel. The load output feature is something I don't see mentioned enough; running it to control a relay for lighting means the battery management stays entirely within one device.

One thing worth checking after two years: the firmware. Victron pushed some meaningful updates to the absorption algorithm that improved lithium charging behaviour. VictronConnect makes it straightforward — five minutes via Bluetooth.

The temperature compensation works best if you've got a SmartShunt or BMV-712 on the same VE.Smart network rather than relying on ambient readings from the controller itself. Makes a noticeable difference in winter particularly.

Running the 150/45 on my shed setup for emergency backup — brilliant bit of kit. One thing worth mentioning that nobody's touched on yet: the load output with street lighting algorithm is dead handy if you want automatic dusk-to-dawn switching without messing about with timers.

Also the VE.Direct bluetooth dongle is worth every penny if you haven't gone that route already. Checking state of charge from inside the house on a grim January morning rather than trudging out in the rain? Yes please.

@Tel1961 what firmware version are you on? There was an update a while back that noticeably improved the absorption phase behaviour with lithium profiles — made a real difference to how my Fogstar tops off.

Really glad to see this thread — I've had the 150/45 running on my static caravan in Pembrokeshire for about 18 months and it's been rock solid. One thing I'd add is how well the VictronConnect app handles historical data — being able to look back at yield graphs over weeks really helps you spot patterns and plan trips around expected generation. @DownsExplorer I'm curious what you were about to mention, don't leave us hanging! Also worth noting for anyone considering this controller — the 150V input ceiling gives you genuine flexibility when designing your array, particularly useful if you're thinking about adding panels later without replacing the whole unit.

Really useful thread, this one. I've had the 150/45 running my fen cabin setup for nearly three years now — 500W array feeding into a pair of Fogstar 200Ah lithiums. One thing I'd add that hasn't been touched on yet is how well the VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle plays with the VictronConnect app for remote monitoring. Being able to check state of charge and yield history from my phone without trudging through mud in January is genuinely brilliant. Also worth noting the MPPT algorithm handles partial shading surprisingly gracefully — given how low the winter sun sits out here in Cambridgeshire, that's made a real difference to my usable harvest on overcast days. @RachelLamb Pembrokeshire must have similar issues with cloud cover, be curious whether you've noticed the same.

Great thread — the 150/45 really is the workhorse of the Victron MPPT range, isn't it?

One thing I'll add from my tiny house setup: don't sleep on the VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle if you haven't already gone full Cerbo GX. I spent ages squinting at the unit itself before adding one, and being able to pull up proper historical yield data on my phone while still in my pyjamas is genuinely life-changing.

Also worth noting — the absorption/float transition behaviour with lithium profiles is very different from lead-acid. Took me an embarrassingly long time to realise my Fogstar cells weren't actually being undercharged; the controller was just doing exactly what it should. Check your battery's recommended charge parameters and programme them manually rather than trusting the presets.

@FenlandDweller curious what your 500W array is pulling on a decent East Anglian winter day — I struggle to hit 40% capacity this time of year up here.