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corey-frazer avatar image
corey-frazer asked

Why do certain loads prevent AES from engaging?

Hi there,

I have a MultiPlus 12V/3000 with a Cerbo GX. U have discovered that the AES will not enable if certain devices are plugged in, despite the power level being below the required threshold.

The devices that cause this are KithchenAid blender, laptop charger and Victron BlueSmart IP65 battery charger. If these are plugged in, then AES will not engage even when the power draw is less than the threshold set.

I am curious to understand what these devices have in common that prevents AES?

Thanks,

Corey

Multiplus-IIaes
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Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ commented ·

The appliances because they mess up the sine wave which will mess with power readings.

The charger I cant answer is it on the ac output of the inverter?

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Alex Pescaru avatar image
Alex Pescaru answered ·

Hi @Corey Frazer

There is active power and reactive (inductive or capacitive) power.

If the Multiplus is capable to measure the reactive power, that could be way greater than the set threshold.

SMPSs used in various devices like chargers, if they don't have good PFCs circuits, are notorious for drawing big reactive power.

Alex

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corey-frazer avatar image corey-frazer commented ·
Hi @Alex Pescaru , thank you! That's brilliant. Makes a lot of sense. I have been educating myself on reactive power today.
It seems MultiPlus inverters do not have a way to measure reactive power.
Would adding a power factor correction capicitor to the circuit that supplies these devices be a reaonable work-around?
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Alex Pescaru avatar image Alex Pescaru corey-frazer commented ·

Will work only for a certain current draw that will require a specific capacitor value.

For a different load, that capacitor will have to have a different value.

What I am trying to say is that a good PFC, that is able to compensate for entire range of currents, is more complex than a simple capacitor.


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