{"id":6426,"date":"2016-05-20T16:36:55","date_gmt":"2016-05-20T14:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=6426"},"modified":"2022-11-28T14:38:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T12:38:00","slug":"bluesolar-mppts-ve-direct-v1-17-firmware-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/20\/bluesolar-mppts-ve-direct-v1-17-firmware-available\/","title":{"rendered":"BlueSolar MPPTs VE.Direct: v1.17 firmware available"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new firmware version! Bringing new features and also one, small, bug fix, related to an LED indication. And have you seen the\u00a0latest addition to our MPPT BlueSolar charge controller range, the 150V\/100A model<\/a>, \u00a0nearly 6kW (!) of charging power?<\/p>\n

1. Improved Pay-As-You-Go options<\/h4>\n

Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) firms sell solar and\/or backup power kits. Paid for by their customers by small monthly installments instead of a the usual\u00a0lump-sum payment. PAYG firms often use technology that locks the functionality in the event of non-payment by the consumer. A great deal for the end-user: less risk, and less money to invest, while keeping risks for the provider within limits.<\/p>\n

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In v1.17 we have added\u00a0very simple method of disabling\u00a0the load output. In a normal installation,\u00a0the MPPT will\u00a0power the loads as long as the battery has sufficiently stored energy. And it will\u00a0shut them down\u00a0in case of an endured shortage of PV power; protecting the battery against damage. With the new setting enabled, the MPPT will only enable the load output when both the battery has sufficient stored energy and<\/span>\u00a0the external control device permits the user to power their loads.<\/p>\n

2. Improved history<\/h3>\n

With its 30 day feature, combined\u00a0with VictronConnect<\/a>, our solar chargers already offer a wealth of historical information.\u00a0Besides the 30-day historical data, there is also an overall record. This overall record contains highest recorded battery voltage, highest record PV voltage and more. In v1.17 these recordings have been improved by\u00a0increasing the averaging function. They are now less sensitive to very short peaks. Also there is one new\u00a0parameter added to the list: the minimum battery voltage. See below for a list of all available parameters.<\/p>\n

3. Added load control to the models that do not have load-output<\/h4>\n

Only our smallest MPPT solar chargers, up to 15A charge current, have a load output. They can\u00a0disable that output when necessary, to protect the battery against over-discharge for example. Also it uses our BatteryLife feature, which makes sure that a battery is cycled at its top end, instead of the bottom part of the SOC scale thereby increasing battery lifetime.<\/p>\n

v1.17 adds these same features to our large models.\u00a0Connecting an external relay or switch between the battery and the load. And let the MPPT control that relay by connecting it the the VE.Direct port.<\/p>\n