Victron SmartSolar VE.CAN: Commercial MPPT Setup

Key Takeaways

• The SmartSolar MPPT VE.Can series provides heavy-duty solar charging with integrated high-speed CAN bus multi-unit synchronization.
• Heavy-current DC output: Maximum battery current 1a,b 70A 85A 100A.
• String open-circuit voltage headroom: Max. PV Open circuit Voltage 150V absolute maximum coldest conditions 145V start-up and operating maximum.
• Industry-leading conversion: Peak efficiency 98%.
• Multi-stage absorption charging with temperature compensation: Charge voltage 'absorption' Default setting: 14.4V / 28.8V / 57.6V (adjustable).
• Float stage voltage settings with temperature compensation: Charge voltage 'float' Default setting: 13.8V / 27.6V / 55,2V (adjustable).
• Periodic equalization voltage with temperature compensation: Charge voltage 'equalize' 4 Default setting: 16.2V / 32.4V / 64.8V (adjustable).
• Thermal voltage compensation: Temperature compensation -16mV/°C / -32 mV/°C / -48 mV/°C / -64 mV/°C.
• Built-in daisy-chain communication: VE.Can ports Two RJ45 connectors.
• High-temperature resilience: Operating temperature -30 to +60°C (full rated output up to 40°C).
• Dual ingress protection: Protection category IP43 (electronic components), IP21 (connection area).

Commercial MPPT Tracking & VE.Can Synchronisation

In large commercial installations with multiple solar arrays, individual MPPTs must synchronize their charging stages to prevent hunting, where one charger enters float prematurely while another remains in bulk. The built-in VE.Can bus links up to 25 units in master-slave synchronization without requiring an external GX controller.

The Victron SmartSolar MPPT VE.Can is a commercial solar charge controller (70A / 85A / 100A Current Rating; Peak Efficiency: 98%, Max PV Voltage: 150V / 250V Voc) supporting scalable multi-unit array configurations:

• High-Power PV Input: 150V or 250V Voc, Ultra-Fast MPPT, 70A, 85A, 100A Out, Reverse Polarity.
• Multi-Unit Sync: Dual RJ45 VE.Can, Up to 25 Units, Synchronized Chg, VE.Direct + BLE.
• Charging & Env: 14.4V/57.6V, 13.8V/55.2V, -16..-64mV/°C, -30 to +60°C.

Installation Rules & VE.Can Daisy-Chaining

1. Battery Connection First: Always connect the battery cables to the terminal lugs first to establish system voltage before energizing solar arrays.
2. VE.Can Bus Wiring: Daisy-chain standard RJ45 UTP cables between the VE.Can ports Two RJ45 connectors on each controller, inserting a VE.Can terminator plug at both physical ends of the chain.
3. Solar Array Sizing: Keep series open-circuit voltage strictly within Max. PV Open circuit Voltage 150V absolute maximum coldest conditions 145V start-up and operating maximum.

Multi-Stage Charging Profiles & Synchronized Operation

The SmartSolar VE.Can platform coordinates power delivery across all paralleled charge controllers:

• Synchronized Charging: All connected units simultaneously transition through Bulk, Absorption, and Float, delivering combined currents up to Maximum battery current 1a,b 70A 85A 100A per unit with Peak efficiency 98%.
• Charge Voltage Profiles: Implements multi-stage charging with temperature compensation across Charge voltage 'absorption' Default setting: 14.4V / 28.8V / 57.6V (adjustable), Charge voltage 'float' Default setting: 13.8V / 27.6V / 55,2V (adjustable), and Charge voltage 'equalize' 4 Default setting: 16.2V / 32.4V / 64.8V (adjustable).
• Temperature Voltage Compensation: Dynamically adjusts lead-acid charging voltages based on temperature: Temperature compensation -16mV/°C / -32 mV/°C / -48 mV/°C / -64 mV/°C.
• Thermal Capabilities: Operates across Operating temperature -30 to +60°C (full rated output up to 40°C) in Protection category IP43 (electronic components), IP21 (connection area).

Technical Specifications & Sizing Summary