Victron Energy Inverter Charger

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Euphonyx

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I have the unit in the engine room and a remote control at the helm station. When on shore power I've been switching both to charge only so that the 230v sockets on the boat take power direct from the shore and then switching on the inverter at the main unit and at the remote unit when out and about. This must be wrong? what setting should I put the switch on the inverter to and leave it at? Does it matter? Does the remote switch override the switch on the body of the inverter/charger itself?
 
On my Victron Invertor/Charger I leave “On”. The charger will operate only if it senses AC power coming in. I’m not sure why it has a charger only option - perhaps it is more efficient that way or for safety? I do not have a remote panel but from a very similar Mastervolt unit I think the remote panel would partially override the unit itself -the exception is if the unit was switched to ‘Off’ it makes the remote panel inoperative. Also (on the mastervolt unit) turning the remote panel to ‘off’ did not completely turn off the unit itself and it continued to draw standby power - but this may be wiring fault but might be worth checking.
AC outlets need to be protected from receiving both invertor ac and shore power at the same time but that should be achieved by correct installation not on remembering to turn off the invertor when connected to shore ( or generator) power.
 
CrikeyChris said:
On my Victron Invertor/Charger I leave “On”. The charger will operate only if it senses AC power coming in. I’m not sure why it has a charger only option - perhaps it is more efficient that way or for safety? I do not have a remote panel but from a very similar Mastervolt unit I think the remote panel would partially override the unit itself -the exception is if the unit was switched to ‘Off’ it makes the remote panel inoperative. Also (on the mastervolt unit) turning the remote panel to ‘off’ did not completely turn off the unit itself and it continued to draw standby power - but this may be wiring fault but might be worth checking.
AC outlets need to be protected from receiving both invertor ac and shore power at the same time but that should be achieved by correct installation not on remembering to turn off the invertor when connected to shore ( or generator) power.
Click to expand...
As I understand it if you leave it "on" as opposed to "Charge only" then if the shore power fails for whatever reason the invertor will kick in the batteries will just drain. I tend to leave the fridge on in summer and a dehumidifier during the winter so I blieve its safer to leave it at "charge only" for that reason when away from the boat and connected to shore power. At least if the shore power fails for some reason or if my credit runs out (pre paid card where I am) then it wont suck my batteries dry.
 
I always left mine on charger only unless I needed the inverter. It was switched on for a decade with no problems. Don’t leave it on inverter as it takes about an amp to energise the inverter even if it is doing nothing. It will drag your batteries down if not on shore power.
 
Robih said:
I always left mine on charger only unless I needed the inverter. It was switched on for a decade with no problems. Don’t leave it on inverter as it takes about an amp to energise the inverter even if it is doing nothing. It will drag your batteries down if not on shore power.
Click to expand...

This is exactly right.
 
If you have the remote with the lights on it then it's called a Digital Multi control.

So you leave the switch on the unit itselft set to on and then use the switch on the control panel to either on off or changer only.

Yes leaving it on will flatten your batteries if the shore power fails, but useful if your running something you don't want to be turned off of course!
 
jwfrary said:
If you have the remote with the lights on it then it's called a Digital Multi control.

So you leave the switch on the unit itselft set to on and then use the switch on the control panel to either on off or changer only.

Yes leaving it on will flatten your batteries if the shore power fails, but useful if your running something you don't want to be turned off of course!
Click to expand...
Thats it exactly. Thanks. So if I turn the switch on the actual inverter to the "on" position then the toggle switch on the Digital Multi Control will over ride it?
 
I can confirm the post, no 6, by Jwfrary. Ours is an old unit 16 years old now - and it has been left 'on' at the unit itself - all the time and is simply controlled from the remote.

But you imply that if you switch the Victron unit to AC then ALL your AC circuits are immediately live. We have a series of AC circuits, berths, galley, saloon etc and each circuit individually switched, fused and all controlled from the nav station. Maybe yours is the same. I can also confirm that when the Victorn unit is switched to AC - it consumes 1 amp - whether or not any circuit is switched on. The implication is that having a live AC circuit to recharge a phone - drains your batteries - quickly (because it needs 1 amp to start with). If you are running your engine(s) this does not matter - but if you are at anchor running the AC overnight will remove 12 amps (in 12 hours) for no immediate benefit. I think better to re-charge the phone, computer direct from 12v (or use a power bank until you run the engine(s) or are on shore power.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
I can confirm the post, no 6, by Jwfrary. Ours is an old unit 16 years old now - and it has been left 'on' at the unit itself - all the time and is simply controlled from the remote.

But you imply that if you switch the Victron unit to AC then ALL your AC circuits are immediately live. We have a series of AC circuits, berths, galley, saloon etc and each circuit individually switched, fused and all controlled from the nav station. Maybe yours is the same. I can also confirm that when the Victorn unit is switched to AC - it consumes 1 amp - whether or not any circuit is switched on. The implication is that having a live AC circuit to recharge a phone - drains your batteries - quickly (because it needs 1 amp to start with). If you are running your engine(s) this does not matter - but if you are at anchor running the AC overnight will remove 12 amps (in 12 hours) for no immediate benefit. I think better to re-charge the phone, computer direct from 12v (or use a power bank until you run the engine(s) or are on shore power.

Jonathan
Click to expand...

The larger the inverter the more it requires. We use victron Fleet wide at work and some of the 6kva set ups use a lot more than one amp of bat power idling! I'll look out the figure but I want to say 200 watt!
 
jwfrary said:
The larger the inverter the more it requires. We use victron Fleet wide at work and some of the 6kva set ups use a lot more than one amp of bat power idling! I'll look out the figure but I want to say 200 watt!
Click to expand...
Most invertors we use are at the smaller end of the scale :)

I don't think there are many Superyacht owners on this forum, but I might be mistaken - and hope they are intelligent enough to know that most data (pulled out of a hat) is for a 'typical' yacht.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
I can confirm the post, no 6, by Jwfrary. Ours is an old unit 16 years old now - and it has been left 'on' at the unit itself - all the time and is simply controlled from the remote.

But you imply that if you switch the Victron unit to AC then ALL your AC circuits are immediately live. We have a series of AC circuits, berths, galley, saloon etc and each circuit individually switched, fused and all controlled from the nav station. Maybe yours is the same. I can also confirm that when the Victorn unit is switched to AC - it consumes 1 amp - whether or not any circuit is switched on. The implication is that having a live AC circuit to recharge a phone - drains your batteries - quickly (because it needs 1 amp to start with). If you are running your engine(s) this does not matter - but if you are at anchor running the AC overnight will remove 12 amps (in 12 hours) for no immediate benefit. I think better to re-charge the phone, computer direct from 12v (or use a power bank until you run the engine(s) or are on shore power.

Jonathan
Click to expand...

[pedant mode]

It will remove 1Ah per hour, you cannot remove an amp, an amp is a unit of current.

[/pedant mode]
 
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