I am Dyslexic and have tried to gather info to explain our problem bellow, and been as clear as i can.
TLDR: Shore power limit on a Multiplus does not appear to activate quickly enough to stop inductive load problems with our induction generator and controller. (IGC)
Overview: We are struggling with the detail of what happens when Shore Power Limit, is limiting. (does it have a curve? is it timed? what bandwidth activates it? how does Power Factor effect its activation?) This matters to us because the Shore Power Limit is needed to protect our Hydro induction generator and controller from inductive loads.
Scenario calculations: We live in an off-grid housing coop with Solar and Hydro. We are using the power assist feature on our Multi-plus compact 24v 2000 50-30 230V Which has a Shore power limit of 4.5amps. Latest Firmware. A colour GX screen. Our hydro generator is an induction motor with an Induction Load Controller (IGC). The IGC needs half of the power produced by the hydro as 'headroom' to balance inductive loads.
Edit: (added info)
- The IGC dumps the spare hydro power variably to our immersion hot-water tank / heating element before the Victron AC input.
- We have two 12 volt Rolls S12 290Ah AGM batteries (24v)
- We have a 250/85 MC4 Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT)
- We have 2k of solar (angled for summer sun when our hydro is off)
- And the Multi-plus compact 24v 2000 50-30 230V
- The lowest 4.5 amp shore-power low current limit setting on our Victron is 1035W at 230V
- The IGC needs double this to balance the generator 2070W at 230v (9Amps)
- Our hydro produces 2400W @ 230v (10.4Amps) Max stably.
Problem: When a washing machine (10Amp Max) is powered with element and motor engaged (8-9Amps on a clamp meter) the IGC frequency and voltage are not balanced enough and the washing machine 'blanks off' at cycle points and restarts the portion of the cycle. Other induction loads like fridges and battery chargers are Audibly strained.
The Multiplus switches to Inverting, but not in time to limit the Induction generator effecting the voltage and frequency. With the batteries and solar providing most of the power the induction loads still effect the Induction generator enough for the frequency and voltage to effect the washing machine again. It switches back and forth syncing the waveforms.
Other factors: I did try narrowing the low and high voltage and frequency range via victron connect 3 and our Colour GX. I did also think about a 'prorotise solar' Ve configure assistant, to protect the AC input a lot of the time, but the same problem would exist when a higher loads are present.
Our washing machine benefits from the Victrons ability to provide more than 2K to the house because it can supplement the 2k from hydro so we are capable of 3K for shorter periods or sunny times.
N.B The IGC dumps the spare hydro power variably to our immersion hot-water tank / heating element before the Victron AC input.
The Question we need help on: can anyone think of a way to find out what is going on at the point the limit kicks in? i.e whether the inductive loads power factors are effecting the Victrons ability to limit? Or where details/settings of this might be online? If I can get this Charger inverter to limit, then i could justify advising the Housing Coop to replace it for a model with an even lower shore power setting. (see bellow) wich would work when our hydro is running lower than 2.4K (when the induction problems are much worse)
Possible solution 1. Buy a different Victron Charger/Invertor with a lower shore power Limit.
- MultiPlus 24/2000/50-32 - 2.4 Amps
- MultiPlus-II 24/3000/70-32 - 3.6 Amps
- MultiPlus Compact 24/2000/50-30 - 4.4 Amps (Our installed invertor chrager)
Possible solution 2. Buy 2x vicron 16a 24v Bluesmart battery chargers with a Victron Digital Control Display to limit charge current to four 'stages'. Or a larger Skyler 25A charger with variable charge control. But with higher losses and inverter working all the time.
Thanks for reading. Phew that took 6 hours writing!