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797 Review
54 Karma

Review on Victron BlueSolar Controller VE Direct Bluetooth by Kevin Shimmens

Revainrating 4 out of 5

Surprisingly easy to use but wire size is limited

This was my first solar project (adding a 170w panel on my Jeep rooftop tent). This cute little device really made the project easier. I ended up getting this version (BlueSolar) with VE Direct BT dongle instead of SmartSolar with built in BT as I heard the built in BT receiver suffers over distance. With BlueSolar and a direct VE key, I can check my solar panel from the window of a nearby house when my jeep is parked outside. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the connectors make it difficult to use 10AWG. stranded wire, and I wanted to use 10 AWG, less to support the amp and more to reduce voltage drop on longer wiring to the refrigerator in the rear of the jeep. 12AWG fits perfectly though. If you are not worried about voltage loss with longer cables, this product deserves 5 stars. If you need a larger wire for amperage or to reduce voltage drop, this is closer to a 4 star product. What I like about it: 1. Small package with many features2. Bluetooth is easy to connect and the BT range is very good (with VE.connect BT dongle)3. The corresponding iPhone app works quite well with me4. Worked first time, no configuration fiddling (YMMV dependent on your battery and PV configuration)

Cons
  • Commercial availability