I see some have asked, but I too am in this position. This is how my inverter is mounted. I want to go full Victron with the MultiPlus II 3000va 12v. Thoughts?
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Justin Cook for the following reason: The question is answered, right answer was accepted
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MultiPlus II ceiling mount in RV pass through.
Don't mount it upside down like that, the heavy toroidal transformer will be fighting gravity and gravity always eventually wins. If you want to mount it in that location, build a shelf that drops down from the ceiling and mount the MultiPlus on the shelf, on its back, facing up.
** Quidquid (tu) facis, tuo periculo facis.** (Whatever you do, you do at your own risk).
@Edward Carbonari
Please follow @Justin Cook 's advice. The link posted assumes static mounting, not in an RV.
I always think the end user always has a lot of competing priorities for installations so eventually it is up to the user regarding installation, but once they have been given all of the options. It is their decision about how to balance those.
However I am interested to understand why you think gravity will not have the same effect on the Multiplus II transformer given the mounting position and manner of the mounting.
The transformer mountings will be subject to the same amount of force in vertical or horizontal mounting. It could be further demonstrated and it could be argued that given steel has a higher tensile strength than it's yield point, that in fact from a physics point of view horizontal mounting is preferable in regard to mount point failure minimisation.
On marine vessels the application of forces on the transformer mount points will act in almost all planes, this has the potential to create even more mount point stress failures than vehicle mounting of any description. I'm yet to personally encounter a transformer mounting failure in any orientation in any type of transport. Even a quick Google doesn't return anything for Victron transformer mounting failures.
My personal preference would be for vertical, but that would be for other reasons. I wouldn't give any weight to transformer mount failure in mounting decisions.
The Victron MPII has active cooling, so horizontal mounting is not ideal so you would need to take in to account all the factors of your installation. That said this post answered by @Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) may help you decide one way or the other.
@Edward Carbonari Just to clarify is your installation in a boat? Given what appears to be a curved wall surface in your image, I have assumed marine install?
Have you had the boat long?
Have you ever had any issues with the horizontal mounting of the Xantrex?
@NeptuneUK RV or camper not Boat. Xantrex works no issue. In fact in the RV/camper world this is most common mount position and location. Hence my question as many would switch to Victron for all the functionality and performance with the Cerbo etc.
Xantrex is a high-frequency inverter that doesn't have the 30+ pound transformer. Different physics.
Hi @Edward Carbonari I've given this some thought myself. I didn't realise that Victrons kit needed to be treated so much like a princess. The marketing and videos give the impression it's robust. But those with first hand experience of servicing the kit paint a different picture. I've learned on this forum, there seem to be a lot of faults unless it gets kid gloves.
Some kit doesn't seem to be appropriate for the market for which it is advertised. I just wish there was a bit more honesty / signposting in that regard.
I personally like the functionality of some of the Victron kit and the advantages it can bring. Yes the Cerbo and VRM monitoring are stand out.
I replaced all the kit in my personal marine installation with Victron, and for my son too, but I'm thinking now I made a mistake maybe. We may well revert to Sterling, before I'm left in a sticky situation. I need reliability and robustness above all else.
But it's becoming clear that it seems most of the kit is purely best suited for static Terra-firma installations.
I've always been a fan of Sterling Power, it's robust, reliable and whenever I've had questions I can phone them. The manual clearly says of their Combi inverter
"3) Orientation of the unit is not critical."
I might be inclined to say, given the issues highlighted here that you might be best served in the long run sticking with Xantrex, there must be a reason why it's the standout choice in the US RV arena?
I totally get the mount position and advantages that can offer in your (vehicle ) and my (marine) environments.
I in fact cancelled a Victron order for 2 utility vehicle installs first thing this morning, and submitted it to Sterling. The crews wouldn't need or use the Cerbo functionality, but they do need robustness and reliability.
I was also going to install Victron (with a cerbo for remote monitoring mainly) into my own diving truck (I dive, not the truck). But I can do the same with Sterling a SBC and Lorawan.
I really hope you are able to make the decision that best suits you and your needs. Maybe a chat over some beers with other RVers aboout the pro's and cons of Xantrex and Victron might help, and if nothing else it's a great evening!
Strange that someone would interpret "please install properly and with respect to basic physics" to mean "treat like a princess" while also routinely commenting on getting the courts involved in everything at the drop of a hat. Good luck in your travels, it must be an awfully bumpy ride out there.
I appreciate all the info. And the Xantrex has done it's job and no issues. I just want the Victron integration and ability (primary reason) to turn on and off the inverter via software control. I think there is a large market (maybe I am wrong) in the RV word for Victron. From the factory my camper came with Victron Shunt and MPPT controller, just not the inverter.....
