question

Nicholas Wessels avatar image
Nicholas Wessels asked

Multiplus Quattro AC frequency Hz variations

I've been trying to get to the bottom of why we have some flickering LED downlights in our house, especially those on dimmer switches. Dimmer switches are notoriousely sensitive to frequency variations.

I've been looking at my Multi's AC Output metrics from the VRM and I noticed that the frequency can sometimes drop as low at 48.34 Hz.

According the Multi's specs, there should be about a 1% variation on the 50 Hz output, which I calculate should only go down to around 49.50 Hz.

Can anyone tell me if this frequency variation that I am having is unusual for a Multi, or is that normal? I am wondering if this points to some type of fault?

This issue is occurring when we are running off the grid on ESS settings.

See screenshot below:

MultiPlus Quattro Inverter Chargerfrequency
1 comment
2 |3000

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

8 Answers
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

Hi @Nicholas Wessels

The Multi cannot change the input frequency, so it has nothing to do with the multi's frequency.


2 |3000

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

Nicholas Wessels avatar image
Nicholas Wessels answered ·

@Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff)

I am worried about the output frequency, not input frequency. If you look at the screenshot, the input and output frequency are different.

Or am I misunderstanding you?

3 comments
2 |3000

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

Nicholas Wessels avatar image
Nicholas Wessels answered ·

Here is another good example, AC Input is 50.10 Hz and output is 48.58 Hz for exactly the same time:


2 |3000

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

Nicholas Wessels avatar image
Nicholas Wessels answered ·

I also see that dip in AC Output frequency corresponds exactly to the spike in Battery Voltage leading me to believe it could be related to ESS. See below:


2 |3000

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

Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

Hi @Nicholas Wessels

Please ask your installer to check your system, battery voltage is all over the place - there may be issues with DC wiring, DC Connections, DC fuses or the batteries themselves.

Real frequency variations between input and output can only happen when AC-input is disconnected.

Your installer can also explain how things work and do measurements.

2 |3000

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

maremotomoto avatar image
maremotomoto answered ·

why my frequency is nonstable by passthrough?... can´t understand the Problem?


1600342046931.png (48.8 KiB)
2 |3000

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

Nicholas Wessels avatar image
Nicholas Wessels answered ·

@Schalk van der Merwe sorry but I never really got an explanation on this issue but in the interim I did replace my batteries to a much more sizeable 20kwh Lithium Ion battery which may have stabilized things.

However I have noted that the output frequency never exactly matches the input frequency.

Output appears to usually be about 0.1 hz less than the input frequency but still within an acceptable range.

2 |3000

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

Trevor Bird avatar image
Trevor Bird answered ·

For what it’s worth, I have an intermittently flickering dimmer feeding a LED light too but my problem has nothing to do with any inverter as it occurs when on mains. It is very annoying and the fault would not occur with an incandescent light. Is it possible the problem has nothing to do with the Victron equipment? I also have the same fault with a sensor light at my front door. I have not looked into it but it has occurred after incandescent lights have been replaced with LEDs.

1 comment
2 |3000

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