News overview
New Blue Smart Charger features & Venus OS update
May 29th, 2020

Victron Energy will be closed on Monday June 1st for Whit Monday.

 

This week's news includes several major new features and improvements for our Blue Smart IP22, IP65 and IP67 chargers. They now feature a 40 day charge-cycle log as well as fully configurable charger settings. I recommend to take a few minutes to get familiar with those, which is easily done using the VictronConnect demo mode. Also the SmartSolar chargers received an update, adding wireless synchronised charging. Lastly, both Venus OS and VictronConnect were updated. Details and screenshots are available in the blog posts listed below this introduction.

There are no significant changes to report on the coronavirus vs Victron status, the situation is the same as last week: production output is still increasing, no major out of stock situations at the moment, and also not expected. Sales are recovering, and there are no health issues - all good - considering! We hope, and wish it is the same for you.

On the marketing side of things, a beautiful new video was produced by Jono. He went out to the Windermere Jetty to report on a restoration of a classic wooden boat. Beautiful. And, there are two more blog stories, please share with- and publish to your customers.

Yours sincerely,

Reinout and Matthijs Vader

 

Blue Smart Charger charge-cycle history and more

The latest VictronConnect updates include a number of significant new features & improvements:

  • History log of the last 40 charge-cycles for all Blue Smart chargers (IP22, IP65 and IP67)
  • Customizable battery settings, also for all Blue Smart chargers
  • Synchronised charging for MPPT Solar chargers
  • Faster connection setup – when connecting to a product
  • Fixed a (painful) bug that (sometimes) hid the 48V battery selection option from the Solarcharger battery-voltage selection dropdown in VictronConnect.

Read the blogpost for more information.

 

Venus OS v2.54

This update adds compatibility with the Pylontech UP2500 module: a 24V managed lithium battery, and various stability improvements. Read the blog for all information.

 

New and updated documents

In all datasheets SmartSolar Charge Controller MPPTs we added the section: Fully discharged battery recovery function.

To the datasheet Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC Charger Isolated we added the following section: Suitable for use in vehicles with a smart alternator (Euro 5 and Euro 6)

For all latest documentation we refer you to our website.
 

Victron training events

Sign up for one of our training events or webinars and learn more about our products.

  • June 9th – June 10th, Formation technique in Lille, France
  • June 10th, Energia Solare: sistemi ad isola (off-grid) in Palermo, Italy
  • June 16th and June 17th, Formation installateur – Module 1 Basique et site isolé in Sainte Tulle, France
For now, the above-mentioned events will take place as planned. Of course, we will inform you in good time if things change due to the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak. Several events are currently being re-planned to run as webinars.


Webinars

  • June 3rd, System wiring (English)
  • June 3rd, Marine en Automotive producten (Dutch)
  • June 3rd, MultiPlus y grupos electrógenos (Spanish)
  • June 10th, Sales tips and tricks (English)
  • June 10th, Dispositivos GX y portal VRM (Spanish)

And many more, see Victron Professional.

 

Upcoming exhibitions

Check our exhibition schedule online if you are interested in visiting an exhibition in your area over the coming months. Please refer to our website or the event's website to check for any cancellation:

  • July 6th – July 9th, NABCEP CE 25020 Conference in St. Charles Missouri USA
  • July 9th – July 11th, Solarex Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey
  • August 20th – August 21st, The Solar Show in Johannesburg, South Africa

 

NICE TO KNOW

 

Classic Boat Restoration fits Blue Power

In his latest video Jono shows us how an Edwardian Gentleman’s Launch – one of those fine wooden boats, varnished to glass, and built to show off the fashion-and-style of the 1930’s super-rich – is being restored to its original beauty.  But the Penelope II conceals a modern secret – Blue Power.

The work on Penelope II is taking place on the shores of Windermere Lake, in the UK’s famous Lake District, under the watchful eye of Windermere Jetty Museum’s Stephen Beresford. The electrical installation is being carried out by Chris Dobson of UK Marine Electrics Ltd.

 

Silence as Brazilian farm goes green

Water is the lifeblood of Tambaqui Farm in the Riachão das Neves area of Western Bahia, Brazil. Until recently water was pumped around the farm using a 30kVA diesel generator. Seeking to offer a more efficient private energy supply for the farm, SunHybrid do Brasil designed and installed an off-grid power system based on PV panels. All pumps, motors, lighting and office equipment for the farm is now powered by their photovoltaic solar generator.

 

Blue Power in Vanuatu

Off-grid without compromise
Two houses; a large swimming pool with water pumps and filtration system; fridges and freezers; fans; lighting; air conditioning, and a beautiful tree house which has all the luxury of home. The owners of this property in Port Vila, in the Republic of Vanuatu wanted a private off-grid energy system.
That challenge was taken up by Solar Fiji who engineered, designed and installed what is one of the biggest residential Off-Grid Solar Power Systems in the South Pacific. Solar Fiji are based in Suva, and work alongside The Green Power Company in Melbourne, Australia.