Victron Energy is a global-scale Dutch company that produces high quality, digitally controlled, programmable product durable inverter chargers, batteries and control devices. Victron energy input and output protections that can operate under heavy conditions are very safe products. There is a wide range of products that can be connected in parallel, communicate with each other, modular, and where you can find products of all sizes and voltages. Example If you are looking for an inverter with a power of 5KVA at 12volts, victron energy will offer you the right product.
For a more accurate purchase decision, I recommend you to read the following advantages and disadvantages
Victron Energy Advantages and Application Areas
- Yacht Boat, Ship Marine applications
-Caravan and Mobile systems
- Modular large off-grid solar energy systems that need parallel and 3 phases
-Computer, SCADA and advanced applications where remote management is required
- Where high security and heavy industrial conditions are required
-In projects where the input and output values can be adjusted at desired intervals.
- Instant fluctuating load and input voltage tolerance for wide applications
- Long life and in applications where maintenance is difficult
-Because they are transformers, they are resistant to output load imbalances and sudden high loads, they do not break easily.
-Manufacturer company (I don't mean domestic importers) has high customer satisfaction in terms of warranty.
- It has all kinds of feature videos about the product and a large source document in Turkish and English.
-Product certificates are reliable documents issued by independent institutions with international validity.
- Test reports have very detailed and real laboratory values.
- Input and output terminals are very robust and safe.
- It has a solid outer casing.
- Very easy to update new software
Victron Energy Disadvantages
- 3 times more expensive than equivalents with the same functions
- It is very heavy as it has a transformer structure
-Repairs are expensive and there is no service everywhere.
- Difficult to find sufficient stocks at importers
- Advanced technical service knowledge is required to use, program and manage the products.
-Contrary to popular belief, their efficiency is lower than Chinese made electronic inverters. System efficiencies, which are written around 90% in the catalogues, can only reach 70% at full load.
-It is difficult to find everywhere, because it is sold in certain suppliers, competition conditions could not be created for the customer.
-There is no office or official distributor in our country, the management of the global brand is managed by a person on a personal basis as a home office without an office.
- If there is a user error when it malfunctions, the repair possibilities are very limited.
- Spare parts and electronic parts are scarce.
- There is not nearly enough technical personnel involved in programming and using products, including importers, in Turkey. The answer you will receive to all of the questions will consist of reading the catalog information from the book to your face and sending you the link of the relevant user manual.
-It does not have a structure that can be used for energy saving in solar applications. The purpose is only produced to produce 220v/380v safely. Many customer products in the field do not have solar energy management without the need for the grid, except for emergencies. In general, UPS mode is the most useful operating mode.
- Use by inexperienced people may cause unpleasant consequences, as it accepts the setting that will cause self-damage if programmed incorrectly.
- Although it is very expensive, there is no surge arrester and high voltage protection system at its inputs and outputs.
- Since the output filter is very weak, the windings may burn in loads that cause harmonic formation.
- Since inverters and chargers do not have an indicator, it is necessary to buy them in addition to high prices.
Activating equalisation or forced absorption
The MultiPlus can be put into both these states from the remote panel as well as with the front panel switch, provided that all switches (front, remote and panel) are set to “on” and no switches are set to “charger only”. In order to put the MultiPlus in this state, the procedure below should be followed. If the switch is not in the required position after following this procedure, it can be switched over quickly once. This will not change the charging state. NOTE: Switching from “on” to “charger only” and vice versa, as described below, must be done quickly. The switch must be toggled such that the intermediate position is 'skipped', as it were. If the switch remains in the “off” position even for a short time, the device may be turned off. In that case, the procedure must be restarted at step 1. A certain degree of familiarisation is required when using the front switch on the Compact in particular. When using the remote panel, this is less critical.
Settings
Settings that are not self-explanatory are described briefly below. For further information, please refer to the help files in the software configuration programs
Inverter frequency
Output frequency if no AC is present at the input. Adjustability: 50 Hz; 60 Hz Input frequency range Input frequency range accepted by the MultiPlus. The MultiPlus synchronises within this range with the AC input frequency. The output frequency is then equal to the input frequency.
Adjustability: 45 – 65 Hz; 45 – 55 Hz; 55 – 65 Hz
Input voltage range
Voltage range accepted by the MultiPlus. The MultiPlus synchronises within this range with the AC input voltage. The output voltage is then equal to the input voltage. Adjustability:
Lower limit: 180 - 230 V
Upper limit: 230 - 270 V
Inverter voltage
Output voltage of the MultiPlus in battery operation. Adjustability: 210 – 245 V Stand-alone / parallel operation / 2-3 phase setting
Using several devices, it is possible to: increase total inverter power (several devices in parallel)
create a split-phase system
create a 3-phase system.
The standard product settings are for standalone operation. For parallel, three phase or split phase operation see section Search Mode (Applicable in stand-alone configuration only) If search mode is “on”, the power consumption in no-load operation is decreased by approx. 70 %. In this mode the Compact, when operating in inverter mode, is switched off in case of no load or very low load, and switches on every two seconds for a short period. If the output current exceeds a set level, the inverter will continue to operate. If not, the inverter will shut down again. The Search Mode can be set with a DIP switch. The Search Mode “shut down” and “remain on” load levels can be set with VEConfigure. The standard settings are: Shut down: 40 Watt (linear load)
Power supply from a generator is typically more variable than a power supply from shore or the main grid. The MultiPlus is sensitive to this and will reject power that is outside of it's programmed settings causing the unit to not connect, synchronise or charge.
Selecting a Generator
Some generators are more suitable than others for use with inverter/chargers, please talk to your local Victron Dealer before purchasing a generator and they may be able to advise you on locally available units that have been tested and are known to be good. It is recommended to get a generator from a supplier that is local to you for issues and servicing. For example; some things to look for when selecting a generator is a high quality alternator and AVR (auto voltage regulation).
AVR equipped generators will audibly struggle and eventually stall when overloaded, signalling there is an issue. They are also better able to cope with a brief high current load which would overload an inverter based generator.
Inverter based generators have a characteristic where the motor continues to run even if the unit has electronically overloaded and no longer delivering power. It may appear that the generator is operating and the system is charging when it isn't. These units are also more easily overloaded by surge loads, as they are electronically limited rather than mechanically.
Make sure that the generator, inverter/charger and regional area frequency and voltage all match. Eg 230V / 50hz. Do not mix and match frequencies and voltages, or parts from different regions.
Generator Sizing
It is possible to overload generators with the power demanded by the Multi's charger. The following generator sizings are indicative of those sizes are appropriate for the charging potential of the various multis. It is still possible to overload these generator sizings with large loads, and flat batteries using the PowerAssist function, so they should be treated as safe minimums to eliminate this as a potential cause of issues. A bigger generator is usually better.
| Inverter Charger Size | Minimum Recommended Generator Size | 240V AC Input Current Limit |
|---|
| 800VA | 2 kVa | 5A |
| 1200VA | 2.5 kVa | 7A |
| 1600VA | 3 kVa | 10A |
| 3000VA | 5 kVa | 16A |
| 5000VA | 8 kVa | 25A |
If your generator is smaller than the recommended size for your inverter/charger, you will definitely need to adjust the settings on the inverter/charger and reduce the AC input current limit, and/or a DC charge current limit to prevent overloading the generator.
If you do want an inverter based generator (eg for noise reasons under lower loading), get one that is at least 30% larger than required than an equivalent AVR based model to help prevent nuisance overloads.
It is also important to look at the DUTY CYCLE rating of the generator. Some generators are marketed for their peak output, but may only be designed to sustain 50% of that peak load rating for longer periods of time.
Battery charging is a very heavy use case load for a generator, so make sure it is up to the job, and the installation has plenty of good airflow and ventilation when operating to allow for heat to dissipate.
Some generators are only designed to operate for several hours, before requiring time to rest and cool down. Make sure this limitation is part of your load profile and system design.
Operation
It is important to note that the inverter/charger may take a minute or more to synchronise (though it can be much quicker). Treat the equipment with patience if the settings are thought to be correct.
Some generators will alter their voltage or frequency when loads change. This can be significant if the generator goes from no-load to full-load quickly. It can help to have a small 'stabilising' resistive load such as a 75W light globe smooth out this start up voltage/frequency variation.
If the generator is operating smoothly, but it still will not charge the system you may need to make some adjustments in the MultiPlus software via VEConfigure.
Software Settings
The settings which you should attempt first are 'Disable UPS mode' and 'Enable Dynamic Current limiting'. These compromise features, but maintain the quality of the power supply. If the generator will still not synchronise or disconnects, try turning on the setting for Weak AC. This will compromise efficiency.
Lastly, adjusting the settings for Voltage and Frequency windows. These are higher risk to your appliances, they should only be used cautiously when it is confirmed that the loads will tolerate the out of specification power supply. This should be done by a competent technician with the aid of a multimeter and only opened so far as to allow for safe functionality.
Electrical current will go through the MultiPlus only if it meets the programmed minimal quality requirements; in that way the MultiPlus protects the electrical supply of delicate equipment.
Warning: changing these settings will allow to feed-through current that may be of insufficient quality for the electrical requirements of your equipment.
For information on VEConfigure and how to get started, please see this VE Configure Software page, or contact your local Victron dealer.
1.4 Maximum voltage levels
AC high disconnect: high limit: above this value, the MultiPlus will disconnect (default = 270Vac).
AC high connect: maximum value: at this value or any lower value, the MultiPlus will reconnect after having disconnected (default = 265Vac).
1.5 Loss of mains detection (LOM)
Loss of mains detection will push and pull at voltage and frequency to see if there is still a generating source. This process can cause issues with some generators, or high impedance connections to generators.
For large and stable Generators Type B LOM will work, and is safer. However, if you are experiencing issues with voltage, frequency or power fluctuations, you may wish to try Disabling LOM.
Disabling LOM
Disabling the LOM on an input connected to the grid is only allowed when other external safety equipment is installed. Disabling the LOM on an input connected to generator can be done, but then other methods / warning signs / physical lockout safety measures must be provided. Ensuring that any installer that will work on the generator, wiring or system, will make sure to also switch off or otherwise disconnect the Inverter/charger system.
For Full information on Loss of Mains detection, please see this more detailed explanation.
Example configuration in VEConfigure
A generator that requires LOM to be disabled.
Generator on AC in 1, and grid on AC in 2, as recommended.
2.2 AC Input Current Limit
The charger on the Multiplus is very powerful. If you have an existing generator that is not able to supply the maximum charging current of the Multi, you will need to adjust the AC Input Current Limit in the General Tab of VEConfigure.
A reasonable starting point for the AC Current input limit is 80% of the generator capacity in Watts. For example:
a 5kVA generator typically provides about 4 kW
80% of 4 kW is 3200 W
3200 W / 230 V volts = 13.9 A
Set the AC Current Input Limit to 13 A
If you find the generator is still overloading, or running too hard, you may lower this further. It can also be increased if you find the generator easily handles the load (though this can be difficult to test as it requires a flat battery to maximise charging demand and a large load).
There is another additional setting in the Charger Tab for DC current limiting.
The AC input current should be adjusted first, as it also takes into account the PowerAssist functionality.
The Multi is able to synchronise the generator waveform with it's own and provide power to the loads from the generator as well charging the battery. This means it still possible to overload the generator with a low 'DC Charger current limit' if the AC input limit is not also set correctly to the size of the generators output.
