MPPT controller location

Davidasailor26 · Mar 3, 2023

I have no suggestions on the controller location, but I'd be careful about heat shrinking to the backstay. That might hold stagnant water against the stainless which would lead to corrosion.

dmax · Mar 3, 2023

I ended up putting my Victron controller in the same compartment as the batteries, just not directly above them (about a foot away). I based this on the instructions in the manual, although I don't think it's 100% clear and hope I'm interpreting it correctly. From the manual:

"Mount the solar charger vertically on a non-flammable substrate, with the electrical terminals facing downwards.
Observe a minimum clearance of 10cm under and above the solar charger for optimal cooling.
Mount the solar charger close to the battery, but never directly above the battery. This is to prevent damage due to gassing of the battery."

dmax · Mar 3, 2023

did you mount it on the "sloped side"

Different boat, I built a custom cabinet to house my batteries, there's enough room to have the controller away from the batteries on a vertical wall. Just wanted to point out that Victron seems to think it's ok to be in the same compartment just not directly above the batteries.

Ralph Johnstone · Mar 3, 2023

Grichelli said:
but installing under the bimini should reduce it significantly.

Couldn't be more mistaken. Moisture and a lack of O2 and you've got a recipe for SS crevice corrosion. Same applies to tape, shroud protectors, and any snug fitting plastic on SS.

buddybear · Mar 3, 2023

Grichelli said:
Hello,
tomorrow I'm tackling the installation of two 100W flex panels. I've looked around and cannot find where to put the 2 MPPT charge controllers. I plan on installing the flex panels on the bimini. Run the wires along the two back stays. Use glands to put a hole close to where the backstays are connected to the transom. Heat shrink the backstay to keep it organized and look nice. Bring all the wires to the starboard side and work my way through the quarter birth, head, battery compartment. I was told not to keep the MPPT in the same location as the battery compartment since by batteries are acid. I was planning on putting a hole in the other starboard settee, and then coming back with the 2 wires to the battery compartment. Any thoughts on this? Any pictures on where the controllers are installed.
Thank you!
Giorgio

last year I installed a 200 watt panel above the Bimini and a victron controller 100/20 see picture attached it is on the port side just below the settee, why do you need 2 controllers?

Davidasailor26 · Mar 3, 2023

Ralph Johnstone said:
Couldn't be more mistaken. Moisture and a lack of O2 and you've got a recipe for SS crevice corrosion. Same applies to tape, shroud protectors, and any snug fitting plastic on SS.

Yeah, not to

off the topic of the original question, but water will wick down the wire along the strands, so it won’t really help that it’s covered directly above the heat shrink.

Ralph Johnstone · Mar 3, 2023

Grichelli said:
I’ll just heat shrink the two wires and run them down the stays and zip tie them. Ill try and look for maybe a gray one to make it look more esthetically pleasing.

OMG, you're as OCD as I am. What a distinct pleasure to make your acquaintance. There's just so very few people like us.

The only thing I'd have against using heat shrink to encase the two wires from the panels is that it doesn't shrink smoothly over any length and might look a little amateurish when finished. Any chance of using opaque vinyl (or other type) tubing to encase the two wires and run them down the back stay with zip ties ? You could seal the tube at the top near the panels to keep water out for the final OCD touch.

It would do an OCDer's heart proud when finished

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Tom J · Mar 4, 2023

My MPPT controller had a screen to show power data, so I mounted it on the bulkhead above the battery compartment, above head level where someone would sit. I had mounted two 160 watt panels on the davits and I ran the wires down the davit supports and into the transom, similar to what you described. I used black zip ties with electrical tape around them to secure the wires. I wasn't concerned with the look of the wiring so long as it was neat and secure.

leo310 · Mar 4, 2023

I've placed my controllers by the macerator pump and wired the output to the battery charger lines. In doing this shorter lines from the solar panels and bigger lines to the batteries. Reason battery charger not on at anchor or under way also the line size is greater than required also less connection at the batteries with same results.

SJN · Mar 4, 2023

Hello! This is a worhty project.

I mounted two flexible 100W solar panel to the Bimini. Wires ran down the Bimini tube, port side, and neatly wired tied so it does not look too bad. I agree that attaching it with heat shrink to the back stay will invite crevice corosion as that will limit O2. By laying out the wire carefully against the tubing and using several gray fex ties, the routing looks ok.

From there, the wire has a drip loop then into a clamshell with hole through the transom and caulked into the port side rear locker.

My MPPTS Victron controller is mounted in the rear locker on the bulkhead between the rear and port side cockpit locker. The Victron has blue tooth, providing full information to my cell phone.

Two switches are included in the circuit. One between tthe panels and the controller, the other on the controller output side to house batteries. That switch is also fused. Having both switches allow within circuit troubleshooting. Both switches are mounted next to the MPPTS controller in the aft port locker.

Six gauge wire runs to the house batteries, set in parallel so each gets equal input. Running those two wires took the longest amount of time of the whole project as I wanted the least distance and keep all neat, tidy, and no chafe in the bilge.

I keep my boat on a mooring all summer so having a reliable, safe way to keep the house batteries fully charged matters.

Best wished for your project.

My opinion about this project is do the work to keep the boat safe and reliable. Looks matter less than safety.

SJN · Mar 4, 2023

I apologize for typos in above message. Typing will cradling a laptop offers less than professional results.

dlochner · Mar 5, 2023

Grichelli said:
I'll keep an eye out for this problem, but installing under the bimini should reduce it significantly.

If the wires are sealed with heat shrink you will not be able to see the crevice corrosion that will inevitably inside the heat shrink until the rig fails due to corrosion. Instead use black UV protected wire ties. However, it will be best to avoid running anything along the stays, instead run the wire along the bimini frame.

Blue Seas MMPT controllers should be installed in the same area as the batteries as they temperature compensate the charging voltage by using the ambient temperature in the compartment.

Deleted member 117556 · Mar 5, 2023

On my 310 the solar MPPT controller and battery monitor are mounted on the port side in the compartment where the stereo is located. Actually just next to the compartment as shown in the attached picture but they are accessed if necessary by opening the door to the stereo cabinet. They are mounted outside the cabinet so are easy to view any time. My battery box is under the port settee and I have 2 x 4D AGM batteries plus a small AGM starter battery that is located in the aft cabin also on the port side. As an aside, I have a single 175 watt panel pole mounted on the stern which allows me to rotate and tilt to point at the sun. This greatly increases output.

Tin Kicker · Mar 5, 2023

SJN said:
...I mounted two flexible 100W solar panel to the Bimini. Wires ran down the Bimini tube, port side, and neatly wired tied so it does not look too bad. I agree that attaching it with heat shrink to the back stay will invite crevice corosion as that will limit O2. By laying out the wire carefully against the tubing and using several gray fex ties, the routing looks ok.
...

I also am mounting the two 100W panels on the bimini and running the wires down the port bimini tube. Where they come to the deck I found that a 6 AWG trolling motor connector is much more rugged than the usual fragile plastic housings, plus it is easy to remove for winter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FKXR817/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The MPPT & breakers are in an upper corner of the aft cabin where they are out of the way but easy to go look at when needed.

john2 · Mar 6, 2023

i placed the controller in the bathroom, wiring through the vent in the roof. and the panel lies in front of the main sheet traveller.

MPPT controller location

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Deleted member 117556

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