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cronblad avatar image
cronblad asked

Three phase ess - not working in inverter mode

Hello from Sweden

I’m Daniel and have installed a three phase ESS system at VRM ID: 48e7da8858fb May I ask @Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) to have a look of what I might have missed out on?

I have two issues:

1. With the manual flick switches (one on each inverter) at the outside bottom RH of the multiplusses in ”charger only” mode, the pass through works so I can currently feed the house (-5c outside doesn’t gove room for too much downtime) but the relay test is in pending satte even though battery is fully charged.

2. When I flick the 3 switches mentioned before over to ”inverter mode” the system make attempts to start up but does not succeed. I reloaded the ess assistants today and restarted but no difference. In this case, during the start up attempts i can see in the CerboGX Display menu that the relay test is completed.

Best regards

Daniel Cronblad

ESS3 phase
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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake commented ·

They are programed as a 3phase group using VE.Bus program correct?
Have you tried starting the inverters with output circuit breakers off?
What happens?

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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·
Yes, they are and all three on firm ware 498.

Yes, I have tried starting without load on AC out. No difference.

/Daniel

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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake cronblad commented ·

When you did your without load start was the AC_OUT of all the inverters still tied together? or can you isolate them from each other?

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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·

Right now they are tied together. One phase from each inverter goes to a coupling box from where a bigger AGW cable then goes to the breaker in the house breaker cabinet.

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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·
I can definately isolate them from each other by putting breakers right after each AC out on each inverter. What root cause do you have in mind?
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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake cronblad commented ·

I just want to check the inverters individually are okay. Lets say one has a problem and the outputs are all tied together it can prevent the others from starting up.
Do you have a 3 phase 50A breaker on the output? If you open that breaker only the neutrals are still tied together right?

Can you post a picture of the inside of the coupling box?
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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·
Thinking more about it I became unsure if they really are tied together but I agree with your logic to isolate each inverter. I’ll check tomorrow. Yes the PE and N shall be unswitched but I will double check that aswell. Thank you for your kind support!
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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·

Phases on AC out are separated and switched separately after this box
8adb264d-6ee2-476d-9a1b-7b9d7be6b007.jpeg

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cronblad avatar image cronblad cronblad commented ·


All AC out loads are connected to critical loads output. I.e entire house hold on critical loads.
1cd24989-e01f-4992-9390-5d8051375b62.jpeg

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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·
I can also, instead of adding breakers just disconnect all phase wires from AC out but keep PE and N connected for voltage reference. I’ll try this after work tomorrow.
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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake cronblad commented ·

You can disconnect all 3 wires from the inverter output and see if it boots up.

PE is joined from AC_IN TO AC_OUT.
AC_IN TO AC_OUT N is only joined when inverter closes contactors.

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cronblad avatar image cronblad shaneyake commented ·

a4aa3b05-dd9e-472a-86a6-0ac886f36e0c.jpegthe manual states that ac out needs a common neutral for proper voltage reference. The phases I disconnected but no success unfortunately.

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cronblad avatar image cronblad cronblad commented ·
@shaneyake @Alexandra The system is eventually up and running. The trouble shooting by running two&two in split phase showed that the inverter designated to L2 did not communicate as expected. I contacted my distributor and opened a case towards Victron who sent a new one within warranty. Thank you to both of you for your kind help in asking the questions to get me in the right direction. Now I have some tuning and parameter settings for the battery to do to make it work well. Stay safe! //Daniel
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cronblad avatar image cronblad commented ·



The system at VRM ID: 48e7da8858fb

1a517cac-7b35-4be9-a3eb-3dd774b010fb.jpeg


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2 Answers
Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

Install a system bypass switch.

@Cronblad

Now comes the slog part of troubleshooting.

You need to set each one to stand alone with ess and test its function. Obviously no three ohase loads running at this time.

If they all work as expected in stand alone, then it is something in the config for the three phase causing the issue.

If they dont invert as individuals then your battery system may be the issue. Check your dc cut off and restart values and physical connections there.

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cronblad avatar image cronblad commented ·
Do I understand correctly that keeping the ess assistants in each multi but disconnect the AC out loads and disconnect the rj45 communications cable inbetween them? Then start them one by one and see how they behave.


By the way update the firmware today from 498 to 500. Reconfigured all three in three phase, added the ess assistants again in each multi but no difference vs before. They only function with the main switch in ”charger only” and always start functioning at the third start attempt. I find it strange.

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Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ cronblad commented ·
No if they are still programmed as a three phase you will get errors switching on only one phase. Once a system is programmed as a three phase switch the system on and off using a GX or a DMC to get the synchronised switching.
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cronblad avatar image cronblad commented ·

Battery pack consists of four groups of 48v trojan lead acid connected in parallell to 4x195Ah. They have all been possible to charge with a separate charger so I don’t expect a fault there.
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cronblad avatar image
cronblad answered ·

Hello Alexandra,

Thank you for your response. I will check in stand alone per your proposal and try to isolate the problem.

Kind regards

Daniel

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