question

Simon Glet avatar image
Simon Glet asked

ESS with 6 months of shore power and 6 months of boondocking

Hi,

I have a motorhome that is connected to shore power 6 months/year and boondocked (island mode) the rest of the year.

Now that I have shore power, the Cerbo GX runs ESS with DVCC. ESS is configured to keep my batteries charged so all the extra PV power is used to reduce the shore power usage. Very Nice! The campground meter does not support feed-in.

Next winter we will be back boondocking and the manual lists that as not an ESS use case.

My question is about how to enable/disable ESS without loading/unloading the ESS Assistant with the application VeConfig. There must be a setting combination. We have an onboard generator that we will run from time to time.

Thanks

Simon

ess settings
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

2 Answers
derrick thomas avatar image
derrick thomas answered ·

Unless something has changed recently, there is no setting to enable/disable ESS. The assistant must be installed or removed to enable or disable ESS.

1 comment
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Simon Glet avatar image Simon Glet commented ·

On second thought I was wondering if, on the Cerbo GX, I set the AC input to Generator instead of Shore Power how does ESS manage that?

The Generator is not expected to run 24/7 right? When there is no AC input power, ESS could be dormant.

0 Likes 0 ·
Kevin Windrem avatar image
Kevin Windrem answered ·

Victron states that ESS must not be used for mobile applications (or any time the input of the Multi is connected to grid/shore power through a plug.

If you don't have an AC input connection the Multi is isolated from the grid. Some of the ESS logic might still function but any grid interaction will obviously not be possible. You'd want to set the system up so that no feed-in occurs. Many RV meters actually run the same direction whether the power is flowing to the RV or out of it!!

Again, use ESS in an RV at your own risk. There are safety issues.

8 comments
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ commented ·

This has always been an interesting topic. They don't explicitly say it is unsupported, just that it isn't a use case for ESS.

But ESS does many things, having it enabled provides a lot of capabilities.

Many fixed installs, mine included, intentionally disconnect from the grid to minimise power usage, so are effectively off-grid for extended periods and ESS works fine.

My thoughts are the assumption is that exporting is a major requirement, so being mobile or off-grid negates that, so why use ESS?

Many parts of the world cannot export anyway and the monitoring/control that ESS provides for a hybrid use-case is valuable.

You just have to be aware of how it works, any safety concerns and be prepared to manage that accordingly.

0 Likes 0 ·
Show more comments

Related Resources

Additional resources still need to be added for this topic