What is the difference between Victron BlueSolar and SmartSolar MPPT?

[Threeracers]

Currently putting together a system and it will all be controlled by a Cerbo GX.

I appreciate that the SmartSolar version has bluetooth and can be viewed/controlled by the Connect App but if I also have the Cerbo GX connected via the Connect app is that doubling up? Is there anything on the Smart v the Blue that I would miss?

TIA

Mark

 

[gerry mcg]

I think BlueSolar is their older line and may not be BT enabled, but can add a bt dongle on.
I think the smartsolar are BT enabled and don't need a BT dongle

 

[Ditcha]

Currently putting together a system and it will all be controlled by a Cerbo GX.

I appreciate that the SmartSolar version has bluetooth and can be viewed/controlled by the Connect App but if I also have the Cerbo GX connected via the Connect app is that doubling up? Is there anything on the Smart v the Blue that I would miss?

TIA

Mark

I take it you will be connecting the bluesolar MPPT to the cerbo with a ve direct cable if so yes you will be able to use victron connect to see it or with a vrm account but you will need data for the vrm account if you want to connect out of Bluetooth range.

 

[Hoovie]

Currently putting together a system and it will all be controlled by a Cerbo GX.

I appreciate that the SmartSolar version has bluetooth and can be viewed/controlled by the Connect App but if I also have the Cerbo GX connected via the Connect app is that doubling up? Is there anything on the Smart v the Blue that I would miss?

TIA

Mark

If you are connecting to a Cerbo GX then you will see little specific benefit of having the Bluetooth feature of the SmartSolar. As you have found, you can now use VE.Connect on non-bluetooth devices via the Cerbo and VRM to reconfigure and update the firmware (note VE.Connect has to be via VRM, you cannot do it just through the Cerbo).
If you have the Cerbo but don't intend to have always-on Internet for it, the VE.Connect may not do what you are hoping on the non-Bluetooth units?

I have a mix of Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth devices and the great majorirty of the time use my PC via VRM to talk to all of them, but I do occasionally use the Bluetooth connection, so it is handy to have if you have the option.
When I did my setup, I went for the BMV-700s (non-bluetooth) Monitors as I knew I could connect via VRM, and the BMV-712 with Bluetooth was a big jump in price. However, the SmartSolar is not that much more than the BlueSolar and is close enough to go SmartSolar IMO. As it happens, I went for the 100/20 Controllers which are SmartSolar only, but if I went for 75/15 or 100/30, I would have opted SmartSolar on those as well.
Victron are tending to phase out the non-Bluetooth devices I get the feeling (for example, they are dropping the BluePower IP22 and only doing the BlueSmart versions) and that makes me wonder also if going for the ones which are going to stay current for longer would be better in terms of Firmware updates?

 

[Threeracers]

Many thanks, leaning towards the Smart version as it’s the later model, not much more and gives more options.

Mark

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