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ianjd avatar image
ianjd asked

MultiPlus 12/3000/120-50 and Lithium SuperPack Batteries

We have been supplied a MultiPlus 12/3000/120-50 and 2 x Lithium SuperPack 12,8V 100Ah, the system is all connected up (it's been set to the closest battery settings as marked on the side of the battery as the manual doesn't suggest anything specifically for LiFePO4 batteries), however the MultiPlus when connected to external 230v supply will not charge the batteries (just shows Mains On light) and the Invertor side does nothing other than flash low battery warning. The system also has a Victron Solar PV MPPT set LiFePO4 batteries and that seems to provide charge to the batteries. Can anyone advise what the issue may be with the MultiPlus?



Many Thanks

MultiPlus Quattro Inverter ChargerLithium Battery
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klim8skeptic avatar image klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·
@IanJD Have you checked the voltage at the multi's batt input terminals?

Is the fuse intact?

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ianjd avatar image ianjd klim8skeptic ♦ commented ·
Hi, yes all fuses are intact, and the voltage measured at the Multis input terminals has got to a maximum of 13.87v but still nothing happening either Invertor side or Charger side on the MultiPlus
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5 Answers
Alistair Warburton avatar image
Alistair Warburton answered ·

The datasheet suggests 14.2-14.4 Charge / Absorb.
Can you post your settings?
Have you got temperature compensation enabled?
The internal BMS will disconnect the batteries if the temperature is very low circa 3C for charging. Datasheet & other docs.

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tomio avatar image
tomio answered ·

You said you have the MultiPlus 12v/3000-120v inverter charger, so this will not work in a 230v environment. The solar charger will work since it has nothing to do with AC.

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pwfarnell avatar image pwfarnell commented ·
@tomio the 120 refers to the 12V charging current which is a maximum 120Amps.
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tomio avatar image tomio pwfarnell commented ·
Oh I see. Sorry about that.
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ianjd avatar image
ianjd answered ·

So, having gained some more advice, it would seem that the supplier we used only specified 2 x Victron Lithium SuperPack 12,8V 100Ah High Current batteries and we are now advised that the MultiPlus 3K would need preferably 4 or more of them in order for it to work. ...

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Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

@IanJD

Despite the low battery capacity (recommended minimum 400Ah), the Multi should be able to charge the batteries and also work in inverter mode.

But I can imagine that the Multi is misconfigured. The same behavior occurs when the VE.Bus BMS Assistant is loaded while there is no VE.Bus BMS in the system.

Perhaps best you reveal all your Multi settings, all your devices (Gx device in the system? If yes, settings?) in the system and how they are set up instead of trying something for which there is no basis.

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ianjd avatar image
ianjd answered ·

So, have managed to get my head around the VRM website and downloading config file from it to edit etc.

Turns out there was a BMS Assistant programmed in, once removed and the config file uploaded back to the MultiPlus it now works.

In terms of the suggestion it had to be 400Ah, that came from Victron Sales Dept....

We are going with 400Ah, but more to do with the fact that the system is for a more or less permanent live in overland camper with solar charger and DC-DC charger and the batteries provide 12v power for a lot of systems in the camper itself as well as the need for 240V ac for other systems.

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