Several SmartSolar controllers in a charging group

There are many situations where; it is an advantage to use several SmartSolar regulators to charge the same battery bank and for there are some things to think about; during configuration.

Connect several SmartSolar charge controllers together in a VE.Smart network to bring them to charge the battery as if they were one big charger. The chargers will synchronize the charging algorithm among themselves, with no additional hardware required. They will simultaneously switch from one state of charge to another, for example from bulk to absorption.

Each unit will (and does) regulate its own output. Which, among other things, depends on the output from each PV array, cable resistance and the charger's configured maximum output. As such, it is not possible to configure a "network-wide" maximum charging current. If such a feature is needed, for example in a system with both a single and a twisted PV array and relatively small battery bank, consider using a GX device and its DVCC functions.

Synchronized charging is not always necessary
There are certain system types where synchronized charging is not Required:

1. ESS systems with managed batteries: the inverter/charger already controls all solar chargers.
2. ESS systems with unmanaged batteries: the inverter /charger already controls all solar chargers.
3. Other systems with managed batteries: the battery already controls the solar charger.

In all of the above situations, the solar charger is already under control. Managed batteries are CAN bus connected lithium batteries, as well as other chemistries, the Battery BMS maintains control over the Victron system with regard to; charging current & Voltage.

For chargers that are already connected and synchronized via VE.Can, there is no need to pair them in a VE.Smart- network. If they are paired, the pairing will be ignored.

How sync works on solar charger
Synchronizing the chargers works onå a master-slave way. The chargers will choose a master from among them and that master will be the one dictating the charging algorithm. Since the master cannot be determined by the user, it is important to ensure that all chargers belonging to the same network have the same battery settings. To find out more about the battery settings and some other information, check out the VictronConnect solar charger manual.

After being selected, the master will ensure that all chargers are in the same charging mode ;nd and with the same voltage rating. As mentioned before, the battery charging current is not controlled by the master, but by each of the chargers individually.

At the beginning of the day, the master will measure the battery voltage before any of the other chargers in the network start charging (to find the battery's no-load voltage). This information is used to determine what the total absorption time should be for certain types of batteries. The battery discharge voltage is shared with the other chargers, as well as the total absorption time and the elapsed time in the current state of charge. That information is important soå that the charging algorithm can be resumed by the chargers if the master stops charging for any reason (that is, the sun went down on its panels, the charger was turned off, the charger loses contact with the network, etc.).

In the absence of a battery current sensor, such as BMV, the chargers will the network to combine its output to estimate a better battery charging current. This improves the precision of the power setting, a feature intended to finish the charge cycle earlier if needed.

Step by step instruction< br>We recommend that you configure Smart Battery Sense, or BMV first and then add one or more solar chargers to that network. You can read the Smart Battery Sense manual här.

Set up Smart Battery Sense or BMV
Open VictronConnect, connect the device and then navigate to Settings preferences and select VE.Smart Networking.

Click on; Create network, enter a name. Click on Save and wait until "OK" appears.

Connect SmartSolars to the network
Gå back and navigate to the Solar charger, then click on Settings followed by VE.Smart Networking followed by Join Existing. Now select the network you created in the next step.

Wait until "OK" appears.

Verify operation
When everything works OK, you will be able to see that the VE.Smart Networking page på Solar Charger receiving data:


Even the network icon for Smart Netwoek will be displayed on main page:

If you click onå that icon shows the network status.

The current LED state will also appear; to flash every 4 seconds when a VE.Smart network is configured and the charger is receiving data.