Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 150V, MPPT 250V TR VE.Can Charge Controller for Lithium and Lead-Acid Batteries

About the Victron SmartSolar MPPT VE.Can Charge Controller

The SmartSolar MPPT VE.Can is Victron's large-frame charge controller for systems where you need high charge current, the ability to synchronize multiple units, or both. It takes DC power from a solar array and converts it to the correct voltage and current for charging a battery bank, using MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) to extract the most energy possible from the panels at any given moment. The VE.Can communication ports are what distinguish this line from the smaller VE.Direct-only SmartSolar controllers, allowing you to daisy-chain up to 25 charge controllers on a single CAN bus and connect them to a GX monitoring device with one cable.

MPPT and Efficiency

The charge controller continuously scans the solar array's power curve and locks onto the optimal operating point, even when conditions change rapidly due to clouds or partial shading. In shaded conditions, multiple power peaks can exist on the curve, and conventional controllers sometimes lock onto a suboptimal peak. The SmartSolar algorithm identifies and tracks the true maximum. Peak efficiency exceeds 98%, and full rated output current is maintained up to 40°C ambient with no cooling fan.

VE.Can Synchronization

When multiple charge controllers are connected via VE.Can (using RJ45 cables), they synchronize their charge stages. This means all connected controllers move through bulk, absorption, and float together rather than each one independently deciding when to transition. Synchronized charging results in more consistent battery management and prevents one controller from holding batteries in absorption while another has already moved to float. Up to 25 units can be daisy-chained, and all of them report data to a GX device through the same VE.Can bus.

Sizing: 150V vs 250V and 70A vs 85A vs 100A

The first number in the model name is the maximum PV open-circuit voltage (Voc) the controller can accept. Choose 150V for smaller arrays or lower-voltage string configurations. Choose 250V when you need to run longer strings of panels in series, which reduces current and allows smaller PV wire. The second number is the maximum battery charge current. Size this based on your array's output capability and your battery bank's maximum charge rate.

Battery Compatibility

The controller auto-detects 12V, 24V, and 48V battery banks (36V is available via manual configuration). It's fully programmable for LiFePO4, lead-acid, gel, AGM, and custom charge profiles. For lithium systems with a BMS, the controller can receive voltage and temperature data wirelessly from a Smart Battery Sense or SmartShunt via Bluetooth, or through a GX device for closed-loop integration.

Monitoring and Configuration

Built-in Bluetooth connects directly to the VictronConnect app for configuration, live monitoring, and firmware updates. The VE.Direct port connects to a Cerbo GX or GlobalLink 520 for remote monitoring through the VRM portal. The larger frame models in this line also accept the optional SmartSolar Pluggable Control Display directly on the front face, or you can mount an MPPT Control Display remotely via a VE.Direct cable.

Protection

The controller includes PV short-circuit protection, PV reverse polarity protection, PV reverse current protection, and over-temperature protection with automatic power derating above 40°C. It will initiate charging even on a battery that has been discharged to zero volts, and it can reconnect to a fully discharged lithium battery with an integrated BMS disconnect.