Hi, a newbie at solar. I just got a BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station. I need to find out if I can use the equipment I have already. I have a solar panel that’s (150watt DC output 58.8V 2.55A Max, 73.4 Open Circuit Volts) solar panel. I need it to charge a BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station. DC input Power of (200 watt max,12v-28VDC max & 8.5A max). I was told I need a step down in Voltage converter. I got the Victron BlueSolar MPPT Charge Controller 75V - 15A I hooked it up to the panels then the EB3A DC in. It would not pass any power thru to the battery. The EB3A showed nothing going in. The Victron app settings only offers 12V or 24V battery choice. On the app it shows the solar panel volts and amps @ 63V+ flickering off and on but only an output of 2 watt and it shows battery voltage 14.+V without the battery hooked up or not. I can’t figure out what to do here. I also have a MPT-7210A controller. I’ve looked at videos called Blueetti, the solar panel & controller mfg. and they say we don’t advise about the use of other products with our products was their answer. Can someone help?
Hi @loneeagle
Solarinput for your Unit is:
200 W max, VOC 12–28 VDC/ 8,5 A
You cant exceed the 28 Open Circuit Volts and if you above 8,5A this doesnt change anything.
You need to find a setup, where your VOC isnt higer than 28V and you amperage not much higher than 8,5A
Greetings
Erik
So your saying no solar controller, step down voltage solar converter etc. is going to work at all for the 52v solar panel I have even @ 2.55A max to charge the EB3A? Then I would have to solar charge a 12v battery then charge the EB3A from that battery. Would that work? I want a portable system that I can carry on my ebike. Buying Bluetti’s smallest 21" x 18.5" solar panels for the EB3a are too big to carry on an e bike doing primitive camping. My 52v panel is 12"x8.5"x3.5" folded in a saddlebag.
You can use a step down voltage module for sure.
Something like this:
All i want to say with my first answer is that you not just can connect it and it works out of the box.
About the 12V Battery. Can be working. The voltage for a 12V Battery is about 12V - 14V which is both in range for the MPPT. But cant say for sure.
Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it. I blew out the EB3a using a MPT-7210A Charge Controller. It was set at solar panel 52V, battery 14.4V @ 1.5A I had a 7.5A fuse inline and it still blew it out. Youtube videos said that the MPT-7210A could step down the voltage. I’ve been searching all over for help on this. I’ve looked at videos, fourms etc. When I get another unit I’m afraid to try using a voltage step down converter if I blow out another EB3A Bluetti might not replace it a second time. My panel is 58.8V, 2.55A, OCV 73.4. When it was plugged in the controller the voltage read 63v, is that too high for a voltage step down converter the top end on those say 60v? Maybe use a 1000W DC-DC 50A Step Down Power Supply Module 25V-90V to 2.5V-50V Buck Voltage Converter?
I also have a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75 15 Solar Controller. Could it be used for anything I have? I still have time to return it. I just got a PacPow 12V 20Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery any suggestions on solar charging it with what I have? I know that I can charge the EB3a with it.
Hi @loneeagle
The module from the link is indeed for a maximum input of 60V. Anything over this voltage will also kill the step down module.
A Solar Charge controller isnt really meant to work with a powerstation. They have a connection for the PV and a output for the Batterys. The Battery Port needs to read the battery voltage, so the Controller can work. I dont think that this is the case on such a powerstation. You may be able to set the Voltage manually, like 24V. But this is highly experimental and dont know if it would work. The Youtube videos arent that wrong by the way. Charge controllers dropping some voltage to match with the charging voltage of the Battery.
The easist thing is to connect you Victron to your Lifepo4 and connect a inverter to it. You can charge your EB3A by AC Plug then