Do Victron MPPT controllers drain battery?

California Dreamin · May 23, 2018

I want to leave my Victron 75/15 MPPT controller hard wired into the leisure battery and just plug the panels in when using them. The controller obviously has some circuitry and a bluetooth controller - does anyone know if the victron controllers will go into standby and avoid slowly draining the battery?

Loz · May 23, 2018

They draw 20ma

California Dreamin · May 23, 2018

ok, that's pretty frugal then. So with a 75ah battery, assuming 60% usable capacity then thats 0.6 x 75000 (in mA) / 20 - about 90 days from full charge to pretty much discharged if my maths is right. Might leave the 100w panel on the dash to keep it topped up.

Skewif · May 24, 2018

California Dreamin said:
ok, that's pretty frugal then. So with a 75ah battery, assuming 60% usable capacity then thats 0.6 x 75000 (in mA) / 20 - about 90 days from full charge to pretty much discharged if my maths is right. Might leave the 100w panel on the dash to keep it topped up.

Why don’t you stick one on the roof?

soulstyledevon · May 24, 2018

Skewif said:
Why don’t you stick one on the roof?

I was wondering the same :talktothehand

Surely the point of having solar is to keep it connected full time...???

Skewif · May 24, 2018

Was thinking always placing a rather large 100w panel on the dash is a faff and going to cause some kind of damage over time. I appreciate the advantages of portable solar so you can park in the shade but still get maximum power from well positioned panels. Perhaps an extra permanent panel on the roof would provide many advantages and lesson battery level anxiety.

Max-Felix · May 24, 2018

Definitely just fit a roof panel, fit and forget, no charging worries, batteries always topped up etc, save on EHU. Fit to the rails and it's still easily removable if you want to change vehicle. And it will give much better performance than a portable one. If you're into DIY: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...etooth-and-phone-app.14750/page-2#post-264951

Feng Li · Jul 15, 2018

California Dreamin said:
ok, that's pretty frugal then. So with a 75ah battery, assuming 60% usable capacity then thats 0.6 x 75000 (in mA) / 20 - about 90 days from full charge to pretty much discharged if my maths is right. Might leave the 100w panel on the dash to keep it topped up.

I installed Victron 100/50, and 30ma self consumption according to the manual, a full charge should last 3 month?! In real life, the battery went completed flat (0% 11.16v) after two weeks leaving in an indoor garage. I don't understand why this happens, maybe something wrong with my battery pack? Bought my Cali from an used car dealer, only two years old, any idea how to examine the aging of the leisure battery?

MattBW · Jul 16, 2018

I have a NASA BM-1 and a Victron SmartSolar 75/15 on mine. I was going to lose the BM-1 but it's actually better for seeing usage due to its earth shunt that the Victron doesn't have. Via the NASA monitor I can see any drains including the Victron and I can confirm for the 75/15 nothing registers. I do get a minus indication on amps but but it still reads 0.0amps as it's so small

MattBW · Jul 16, 2018

Feng Li said:
I installed Victron 100/50, and 30ma self consumption according to the manual, a full charge should last 3 month?! In real life, the battery went completed flat (0% 11.16v) after two weeks leaving in an indoor garage. I don't understand why this happens, maybe something wrong with my battery pack? Bought my Cali from an used car dealer, only two years old, any idea how to examine the aging of the leisure battery?

I am no expert but my limited understanding is that a solar panel should have a diode in it to stop drain during darkness hours. If your panels don't have this then it may explain a faster drain on your batteries.

Feng Li · Jul 16, 2018

MattBW said:
I am no expert but my limited understanding is that a solar panel should have a diode in it to stop drain during darkness hours. If your panels don't have this then it may explain a faster drain on your batteries.

Wow, this is new information, thank you for the input. I never thought about the solar panel themselves also consume power when there is no sunlight. I really hate to add another switch btw battery and the Victron, switch it on and off manually, but looks like there is no better option.