Bluetooth Solar or not?

[Marmite]

I will be installing Solar to the MH in the near future, and have an option of standard Victron MPPT or with bluetooth added. I am not sure what benefit the bluetooth will give me, so is adding the bluetooth module worth it?

 

[Two on Tour]

Personally I like to know what my solar and battery systems are up to and have control of them, so I have fitted Victron SmartSolar controllers and a Victron bluetooth enabled battery monitor.

 

[two]

I thought that the latest controllers came with bluetooth already included. If so, it would seem that you are being offered an old model.
I'd get the new version. Can't be a lot more and leave the option open.

 

[TinaLes]

As Paul Two on Tour said, I checked my batteries last night from inside the house,on my phone, shows daily/monthly solar yields, and current state of charge i.e bulk/absorption/float, plus voltages at start & finish of each day.
Bluetooth comes built in with the new Blue solar regulators, but you will need to fit a battery master to charge the cab battery as well as the leisure batteries.
LES

 

[Marmite]

Interesting that you say that BT is standard with Victron......the reason i was asking was because I was offered either a standard or BT model, and the BT model is roughly £50 more?

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[Dave100456]

I have 3 Victron controllers; all "smart versions" and find the app very useful to see how long the batteries have been on Float, Absorption and Bulk as well as historic data info over the last 30 days - wouldn't be without that feature.

£50 seems a lot extra for the Bluetooth facility but depends on the wattage of the controller you are considering. Have you tried these people?

https://www.es-store.co.uk/product_...lar-Charge-Controllers&cat_id=178&show_menu=3

5% discount if you register.

Also try these folks https://www.intellitecmv.com They did not charge for the solar panel carriage and the Victron controller was also a reasonable price.

 

[Marmite]

So is this a choice between blue solar and smart solar?

If I have understood this, the blue solar needs a Bluetooth dongle which is an add on whilst the smart solar comes with Bluetooth as standard?
If this is the case, probably best going for smart solar as appears cheaper than blue solar plus dongle

 

[Raul]

I will be installing Solar to the MH in the near future, and have an option of standard Victron MPPT or with bluetooth added. I am not sure what benefit the bluetooth will give me, so is adding the bluetooth module worth it?

It’s worth getting the model with the BT integrated for ease of set up, change of parameters and monitoring. Overal best price You will find on the net or ebay shops. Battery megastore sells on eBay, meadotech, etc.

 

[HariSeldon]

Plus one for the Bluetooth version, recently fitted to our van with two 100w panels (with battery master) by Vanbitz. Useful to see what it’s doing !
Certainly keeps the engine battery topped up when the cab is not in use

 

[Diabalo]

I have the Victron with the Bluetooth dongle, as others have said you can see what's going on in real time and see the last 32 days solar history. You can also use the app to change charging parameters. Wouldn't be without it now.

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[ShaKen]

+1 for the Smartsolar controller.

I fitted that along with the Bluetooth battery monitor and can even view and configure whilst sitting in the house (van in the driveway) from the excellent Victron App on my mobile.

 

[G-RMPS]

Another +1

£50 extra from Vanbitz.

 

[Marmite]

Was the £50 for a dongle to use with the blue solar, or for changing to a smart solar? They look the same to me apart from the BT capability built in on smart solar?

 

[Sharpen]

+1 for Victron 100-30 smart solar, fitted mine couple weeks ago and easily can be monitored from Bluetooth on phone/tablet.