I'm curious if anyone has tried connecting an XT60 connector to a Victron 100/20 controller to charge an Anker power station. My plan is to set the charge voltage to 48V since the Anker has a 60V limit, which I thought might help avoid issues with the Voc of the panels being too high. Is this setup feasible, or are there better alternatives?
3 Answers
Nah, it's not gonna work like that. The Victron MPPT controller won't power up an Anker since the Anker already has its own MPPT. With a 60V limit, you can connect pretty much any solar panel without problems as long as you stick to the voltage limit.
If you're going for this setup, the best bet is indeed to have a battery in the middle. It turns the power station into more of an inverter, and you can also use it for extra storage on the go. Just know it might not be the most straightforward option and you might lose some efficiency.
I've seen setups work with other brands like Ecoflow and Bluetti since their inputs support both MPPT and DC charging. But with Anker, it really depends on the internal electronics—some folks have done it with the F3800 model. Honestly, it's usually better to pick panels that match the input specifications of your power station, though. The 60V limit on Anker can be tricky for maximizing power input, so plan accordingly.
Totally agree! Most MPPTs aren't designed to work directly with power stations like that without a battery in between because the MPPT needs to sense the voltage and won’t start up without it. The battery setup lets you buffer the power, but if it’s full, the station may also be full, which can cause the MPPT to just go idle.