Installation - Victron energy BlueSolar MPPT 100/15 User Manual

3. Installation

3.1. General
● Mount vertically on a non-flammable surface, with the power terminals facing
downwards.
● Mount close to the battery, but never directly above the battery (in order to prevent
damage due to gassing of the battery).
● Use cables with a diameter of 6mm². The recommended maximum length of the cable
is 5m, in order to restrict cable loss.
(if the cables to the PV panels must be longer than 5m, increase cross section or use
parallel cables and install a junction box next to the controller and connect with a
short 6mm² cable to the controller).
● 20A battery fuse: replacable fuse in the controller, next to the battery terminals.
● Grounding: if grounding is required, use one grounding point only. Never ground
both the minus of the solar array and the minus of the battery.
3.2. PV configuration
The controller will operate only if the PV voltage exceeds battery voltage (Vbat).
● PV voltage must exceed Vbat + 5V for the controller to start. Thereafter minimum
PV voltage is Vbat + 1V.
● Maximum open circuit PV voltage: 100V.
The controller can be used with any PV configuration that satisfies the three above
mentioned conditions.
For example:
12V battery and mono- or polycristalline panels
● Minimum number of cells in series: 36 (12V panel).
● Recommended number of cells for highest controller efficiency: 72
(2x 12V panel in series or 1x 24V panel).
● Maximum: 144 cells 4x 12V panel in series).
24V battery and mono- or polycristalline panels
● Minimum number of cells in series: 72
(2x 12V panel in series or 1x 24V panel).
● Maximum: 144 cells (4x 12V panel in series).
Note: at low temperatures the open circuit voltage of a 144 cell solar array may exceed
100V, depending on local conditions and cell specifications. In that case the number of cells
in series must be reduced.
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