Which Victron inverter

[gregcope]

Hi All,

I am a fan of the purveyor of blue things and want one of their inverters - 12V 3000W ideally ~ 3000kva model.

What would people recommend. We have a 230V shore charger we hardly use. I want a smart one to intergrate with the other blue kit we have. Choice seems quite wide; Multiplus, Multiplus-II, Quattro, Quattro-II, Phenoix, Pheonix Inverter Smart?

We do not have a generator so probably no need for the Quattro. The Multiplus could replace the charger.

I am leaning towards a MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-32. Any thoughts/feedback?

 

[jwfrary]

Yes,

The multi plus 2 has a slight hardware issue with the current sensor at the moment. For a yacht the original multi offers everything you really need.

In order to make it smart theres either a bluetooth dongle or a gx device that does a whole lot more.

Note the 3000va is about of the tip of my head 2400 watt ish continous. .

Next question I would as is how big is the battery bank your trying to run it off?

 

[Daverw]

We are just doing similar and have just ordered the Multiplus 12/1600 this will replace current standalone bluesmart charger and phoenix inverter, just fitted cerbo gx to talk to them both

 

[vas]

started with Multiplus 24/3000 but v.old with no VE.Bus ports.
replaced with a Multiplus II 24/3000 a few months ago.
connected to the rpi running VenusOS, so all charging levels and inverting is addressed from the BMS.
Multi II slightly smaller in size as well easier to fit (imho) bloody heavy though if hanging/bolting on a ofset/tight bulkhead.

 

[[2574]]

Just done this. Victron 12v/120A/3000 - 16A. Allied to 6 x 125ah Victron AGM. Installed new thruster/windlass bank to remove heavy load from domestic bank. Monitoring via Smartshunt and Cerbo GX, GX 50 touch screen. Also Smart MPPT connected via VE Direct. Bluetooth connection to battery sensors. Cerbo GX Linked via marina wifi to VRM portal - which is excellent, I can monitor on board systems from here at home. Installed alongside Balmar high output alternator using Argofet to split charge to three battery banks. Very pleased with the result. Now to add humidity monitoring followed by bilge monitoring. Then adding gps to Cerbo to facilitate geo-fencing - remote anchor alarm. It’s very flexible, good kit. The power-assist is a real benefit, effectively removing the 16A shorepower limitation for short duration loads.

 

[gregcope]

Next question I would as is how big is the battery bank your trying to run it off?

An elegant sufficiency of LifePo4. Presently around 310Ah of which around 270Ah usable (10-90% soc limits). I am building another pack... if I can get the parts.

 

[gregcope]

Yes,

The multi plus 2 has a slight hardware issue with the current sensor at the moment. For a yacht the original multi offers everything you really need.

In order to make it smart theres either a bluetooth dongle or a gx device that does a whole lot more.

What's the issue with the current sensor? I have multiple shunts on the batteries if that helps.

I will have the bluetooth and the Venus RPI version of the GX.

 

[jwfrary]

What's the issue with the current sensor? I have multiple shunts on the batteries if that helps.

I will have the bluetooth and the Venus RPI version of the GX.

The sysmtoms is erratic behaviour on the current input value, the cure unplug the current sensor (hall effect) and plug it back in. Fine but a pain at the back of the locker!

I'm sure there will be a hardware re vision to fix it.

You can have either the ve.bus bluetooth dongle or a gx not both. As soon as you plug the mark 3 device in the bluetooth dongle will stop working.

Ps. The cerbo is a super bit of kit if you can stomach the price!

 

[vas]

The multi plus 2 has a slight hardware issue with the current sensor at the moment. For a yacht the original multi offers everything you really need.

EDIT:

sorry typed as you were typing as well!
what hall effect sensor are we talking about? Is there one integrated in the Multi?
I thought you're meant to have a proper shunt.

 

[gregcope]

What are the implications of the current input sensor failing? Ie What happens?

 

[vas]

What are the implications of the current input sensor failing? Ie What happens?

if you have a decent BMS (with it's own shunt) and it communicates with VictronOS on your Rpi which in turn instructs the MPPT and Multi, then nothing at all.
Actually the internal current sensor is practically redundant.
I'm thinking of selling my BMV700 tbh
Would still like @jwfrary to explain a bit more on that as I've not even seen it mentioned on community.victronenergy.com i'm following (loosely) over the last year or two.

cheers

V.

 

[jwfrary]

What are the implications of the current input sensor failing? Ie What happens?

The system gets confused and then stops accepting an input. Apparently I hear this is being addressed, but theres also supply chain issues with everything, so you may only by what you can get ahold of!

@vas the shunt your thinking of is the DC shunt (in fact the Multi has a battery monitor in built but it doesn't use a shunt and your right it's not generally useful on a marine system) the current sensor that's the issue, soon to be resolved, is the AC currrent input sensor which is a new feature of the Multi plus 2 and geared to its use when grid tied in an energy storage system a mode a pluggable installation cannot support

 

[jwfrary]

EDIT:

sorry typed as you were typing as well!
what hall effect sensor are we talking about? Is there one integrated in the Multi?
I thought you're meant to have a proper shunt.

Yes on a Marine installation a dc shunt is nearly always required for accurate SOC information, either a BMV or smart shunt. You can also now measure your alternator output and dc loads with the latest and greatest Venus release. This needs some more work on the visualisations and N2K integration but the info is there and improved the accuracy of the data. I have it deployed already on two vessels in the fleet working well!

 

[vas]

thanks @jwfrary , clarifies things a bit. Hadn't realised there's a current sensor on the Multi2 and may explain why one day it wouldn't work properly when the generator was on. don't even remember how it got back to it's senses though.
will have a look next week (up to my neck till the 2nd March). Looks like I'll have some fun when I get the LifePO4 bank with it's BMS, dedicated shunt and Victron CANBUS comms on board and get them all working together ? Works fine since xmas at home it a test setup, N2K integration will be interesting.

V.

 

[jwfrary]

@vas the cable management is certainly better on the Multi 2 and a bit more compact.

I think your supposed to not use the current sensor if your switching sources.

I also found I had to drop the input voltage much lower than I thought to stop it rejecting the input with the voltage drop of a sudden large load came on, before the gen got back up to speed. Put it down at 180v seemed to fix it, means our 7 kva gen can get out to 11 kva, massively more efficient than running a bigger and heavier generator!