Victron MultiPlus Inverter/Charger 1600VA Compact & Bluetooth

[dje67]

MultiPlus 500VA - 1600VA - Victron Energy

Thinking of getting a Victron MultiPlus Inverter/Charger 1600VA Compact, which I'll need to mount in a fairly inaccessible place. Therefore, to alter the On/Off/Charger switch will be a bit of a pain. It looks like the VictronConnect app is capable of performing some basic control functions but the inverter doesn't have in-built bluetooth. Has anyone used the App to connect to the inverter by adding one of these?

VE.Bus Smart Dongle - manual [Victron Energy]

Will it allow me to switch on/off the inverter, and set a mains input current limit, using the App?

Also, some of the Victron documentation for a different inverter model suggests that the BMV-712 (which I've got) can be used with the inverter (see last page of this link):
https://www.victronenergy.com/uploa...ultiPlus-inverter-charger--800VA-5kVA-EN-.pdf

Can I use the BMV bluetooth route to alter the inverter on a Compact? Their documentation is not very clear...


I suppose I could fit one of Victrons remove hardwired control panels, but that adds another £130 onto the setup - a bluetooth option would be much better for me, but cannot quite join the dots of their documentation.

It'd be really nice if Victron would just make all their products bluetooth enabled - I love the BMV connectivity on my phone. I can see monitor the batteries anywhere on the boat (/geek mode off!).

 

[PaulRainbow]

You can remotely control the Multi with a Victron Digital Multi control. You can also do it from the Victron Connect App', see the bottom of the page you linked to above: VE.Bus Smart Dongle - manual [Victron Energy]

You cannot use VE.Smart networking with the BMV-712, because the multi does not support it, as far as i know.

 

[dje67]

You can remotely control the Multi with a Victron Digital Multi control. You can also do it from the Victron Connect App', see the bottom of the page you linked to above: VE.Bus Smart Dongle - manual [Victron Energy]

You cannot use VE.Smart networking with the BMV-712, because the multi does not support it, as far as i know.

Thanks - it puzzled me a bit that there is no mention of being able to use the Smart Connect app via a dongle in any of the Compact documentation. It seems a very useful function for those of us that like seing 'boat data',

Wondered if you had any comparison experience between the 1600VA
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-MultiPlus-500VA-1600VA-EN.pdf

and the equivalent rated:
https://www.victronenergy.com/uploa...ultiPlus-inverter-charger--800VA-5kVA-EN-.pdf

The look different so am not really clear which would be the better to go for?

Ta.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I don't have any expereience of the compact, sorry. I think it will just be a case of reading the specs and seeing which one meets your needs best, taking account of the price. My gut feeling, without actually comparing specs in detail, is that the "normal" multiplus is the better model.