Victron SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller — 150/35 & 150/45

The 150-series MPPT — for 48 V systems and larger panel arrays

You step up to the 150-series when one of two things is true: your system runs on 48 V, or your solar array's open-circuit voltage exceeds what the 100-series can handle. The SmartSolar 150/35 and 150/45 share the same enclosure and the same ultrafast MPPT algorithm as the smaller controllers — but with a 150 V maximum PV input voltage and full 12 V / 24 V / 48 V battery support (36 V available with manual configuration). For cruising sailboats with 48 V banks, expedition vehicles running larger arrays, off-grid cabins with three or more panels in series, this is where most systems land.

Who the SmartSolar MPPT 150/35 & 150/45 is built for

• 48 V cruising and bluewater yachts — larger banks and arrays the 100-series can't reach.
• Expedition vehicles and large RVs — rooftop arrays approaching 1–1.3 kW on 24 V.
• Off-grid cabins and homes — three-or-more-panel series strings and 48 V systems running real loads.
• DIYers and installers alike — Bluetooth setup for first-timers; VE.Direct, GX integration, and VRM for the pros.

How to read the model number

Every Victron SmartSolar MPPT has two numbers in its name, and they tell you exactly what the controller can handle:

• First number = max PV input voltage. The maximum open-circuit voltage your solar array can deliver into the controller. 150 V on both these models — enough for three or four panels in series, depending on panel Voc.
• Second number = max charge current to the battery. 35 A on the 150/35, 45 A on the 150/45.

Combine those two numbers with the maximum PV wattage your specific system voltage supports, and you have what you need to size the controller. Wesley walks through the full math — including cold-weather Voc adjustments and series/parallel panel layouts — in our MPPT sizing guide.

Choose your controller

Not sure which model fits your array? Use our MPPT sizing calculator, or schedule an online consultation with one of our advisors.

Battery voltage: 12 V, 24 V, and 48 V are auto-detected on first power-up. 36 V is supported but must be selected manually in VictronConnect — it isn't auto-detected.

Which one's right for your install:

• 150/35. Cruising sailboats with a 48 V bank and up to ~2,000 W of solar. Mid-sized off-grid cabins. Larger 24 V RVs with rooftop arrays approaching 1 kW. The most-installed 150-series controller we sell.
• 150/45. Larger arrays on 48 V bluewater yachts (up to ~2,600 W). Expedition vehicles where rooftop solar pushes 1.3 kW on 24 V. Off-grid homes running induction cooktops and air conditioning on a 48 V system.

You've outgrown the 150-series if your array's open-circuit voltage will exceed 150 V, or your wattage exceeds the table above. Step up to the SmartSolar 250-series, which accepts up to 250 V PV input.

Why choose the 150-series over the 100-series

• 48 V battery support. The 100-series is 12 V / 24 V only. The 150-series adds full 48 V capability — required for any system pairing with a Quattro 48/5000, MultiPlus-II 48 V, or a 48 V lithium bank.
• Higher PV input ceiling (150 V vs 100 V). Wire three or four panels in series instead of one or two. Useful when you want lower current on long panel-to-controller cable runs.
• Ultrafast MPPT, up to 98% efficiency. Victron's algorithm harvests up to 30% more energy than a PWM controller and up to 10% more than a slower MPPT — the difference is real on a partly cloudy day.
• Smart partial-shading algorithm. When shade falls across part of your array, conventional MPPTs lock onto a local peak that isn't the true maximum. Victron's BlueSolar algorithm scans the whole power curve and locks to the actual peak — meaningful for sailboats with rig shadow and vans with roof racks.
• Bluetooth built in. Configure, monitor, and update firmware from the free VictronConnect app on your phone or laptop.
• Multi-stage charging for every common chemistry. Eight pre-programmed profiles (lithium, AGM, gel, flooded, more) selectable from a rotary switch, plus a fully programmable mode in VictronConnect. Lithium banks must be set to the correct profile — rotary switch position 7 is the LiFePO4 preset.
• VE.Direct port. Hooks into a Cerbo GX, Color Control GX, or Ekrano GX for live solar data, alerts, and remote access via VRM.
• VE.Smart Networking. Optional Bluetooth mesh between Victron devices — pair with a Smart Battery Sense or BMV-712 to get temperature- and voltage-compensated charging without running an extra cable.
• Recovers fully discharged banks. Will resume charging on a bank pulled down to 0 V.
• 46 days of stored trend data on the controller itself. Battery voltage, current, temperature, and PV input history accessible from VictronConnect without a GX device.
• Passive cooling. No fan, no audible noise, fewer moving parts to fail. Operating range -30°C to +60°C; full rated output up to 40°C / 104°F.

Shared specs

What's in the box

SmartSolar charge controller, mounting screws, and the printed quick-start guide. Not included: VE.Direct cable (for GX integration), Smart Battery Sense or BMV-712 (recommended for accurate state-of-charge), an appropriately sized MEGA fuse, PV cables, and battery cables sized to AWG 6 or larger.

Pair with

• VE.Direct cable — required if you're integrating with a Cerbo GX or other GX device. We stock 0.3, 1, 1.8, 3, 5, and 10 m versions.
• MEGA fuse on the battery side — Victron's installation manual specifies 40–45 A for the 150/35 and 50–63 A for the 150/45. We typically install at the lower end of the range unless your specific install calls for something different.
• Smart Battery Sense — small Bluetooth sensor that improves charge accuracy by reading battery voltage and temperature at the bank instead of estimating at the controller. Pairs to the MPPT through VE.Smart Networking with no extra cabling.
• BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor — if you want a panel-mounted SoC display and bidirectional voltage/temperature data into the MPPT.
• Cerbo GX MK2 or Ekrano GX — for always-on monitoring, system-wide integration, and remote access through the VRM portal.
• Solar panels — we carry Sol-Go, SunPower, Lumera, and our own Blue Marine flexible panels. Email us with your array layout and we'll confirm the controller is sized correctly.

FAQs

Q: How many panels can I wire in series?
For a 24 V battery system with a 150 V controller, Victron's installation manual recommends 2× 12 V or 1× 24 V panel as the minimum, 4× 12 V or 2× 24 V for highest controller efficiency, and a maximum of 6× 12 V or 3× 24 V panels in series. For a 48 V system, the minimum jumps to 4× 12 V or 2× 24 V. Always add up the cold-temperature open-circuit voltage (Voc rises in cold weather) and confirm the total stays below 150 V.

Q: Can I use this with a lithium battery?
Yes — lithium is one of the eight pre-programmed chemistries. Select the right profile in VictronConnect during setup. For Victron lithium banks, use the chemistry-specific profile (Smart Lithium, Lithium NG). For third-party LFP, follow the battery manufacturer's charge voltage recommendations.

Q: Does this support 36 V battery systems?
Yes, but 36 V must be selected manually in VictronConnect — it's not part of the auto-detection (which covers 12, 24, and 48 V). 36 V systems are uncommon outside specific electric vehicle and industrial applications.

Q: What size fuse do I need on the battery side?
Per Victron's installation manual, the recommended range is 40–45 A for the 150/35 and 50–63 A for the 150/45. We stock MEGA fuses in all of those values.

Q: What kind of battery cable should I use?
Victron specifies AWG 6 (16 mm²) flexible multi-stranded copper cable for the battery and PV connections, with individual strand diameter no greater than 0.4 mm (class 5 or higher stranding). Don't use solid-core or coarse-stranded cable — the smaller contact area causes burnt-terminal failures.

Q: What torque do the screw terminals need?
1.6 Nm on both the battery and PV terminals. Worth using a torque screwdriver.

Q: What's the right install order?
Connect the battery first, wait 10 seconds for the controller to auto-detect 12, 24, or 48 V, then connect the PV, then VE.Direct if you're using it. Doing it out of order can disable auto-detection. (For 36 V systems, set the voltage manually in VictronConnect before connecting the PV.)

Q: Do I need a Cerbo GX to use this controller?
No. The VictronConnect Bluetooth interface is fully functional on its own — including 46 days of stored trend data on the controller. The Cerbo GX adds always-on monitoring, remote access via VRM, integration with the rest of a Victron system, and the ability to coordinate charging across multiple Victron devices — useful but not required.

Q: How hot can I install this controller?
The 150-series is rated to operate from -30°C to +60°C, but you only get full rated charge current up to 40°C (104°F). Above that, the controller derates automatically to protect itself. For engine-room installs or hot van rooflines in summer, mount it in the coolest accessible location and allow at least 10 cm of clearance above and below for airflow.

Q: What's the warranty?
5 years from date of purchase, extendable to 10 years for a 10% surcharge applied before the original term expires. Standard Victron limited warranty applies; damage from reversed polarity, lightning, mechanical shock, or insufficient terminal tightening is not covered.

Still sizing your array? Read Wesley's MPPT sizing guide for the full walkthrough, or email support@bluemarine.com with your panel specs and battery voltage — a tech will confirm the right controller and fuse before you order.

Why buy your SmartSolar MPPT from Blue Marine

• Authorized Victron Energy Distributor — genuine product, fully supported warranty.
• ABYC-certified Advisors — real solar sizing help, not a call center.
• Free US shipping over $49 from our Seattle warehouse.
• 60-day hassle-free returns.
• Local pickup available in Seattle, WA.
• Custom quotes & full system design — request a quote for a complete build.
• Dealer & installer program — apply here for trade pricing.