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Joshua Warren avatar image
Joshua Warren asked

Multiplus entering power assist unnecessarily; draining batteries

The power system (components listed here; all devices have the latest firmware as of this posting) I installed in my fifth wheel is entering power assist mode despite the AC input being less than the input current limit. For background, one goal of this system was to be able to run a pair (15 and 13.5 kBTU/hr) of air conditioners on 30A/120VAC single phase service, with the inverters/batteries supplementing the grid power for intermittent loads like a Keurig, microwave, etc. The trailer came with one air conditioner on L1 and the other on L2. Of course, when only single phase input is provided, the second inverter inverts from 12 VDC but its continuous output must of course be limited by the first inverter's charging capacity of 120A. After conversion losses this is inadequate to power the second AC without pulling from the batteries (side note for any Victron employees lurking: *please* implement a way for the second inverter in a split-phase system to accept AC input that's in-phase with the first inverter! This is obviously something that can be done in software and its absence is driving customers with RV applications out of their minds). To get around this problem I installed a 20A switch that allows me to switch the second air conditioner from L1 to L2. I thought that was clever.


But not really; the stubbornness of the Multiplus defeats my ingenuity. See pics below.


As you can see, it is drawing well below the input current limit from the grid, yet "assisting" and drawing down my batteries. The total draw is around 28-29A although it can't be seen in the pictures (but you can infer it from the "AC Loads").


Please help me figure out how to force the inverter to draw up to the input current limit before it goes into assist mode; I really can't stomach the thought that I paid ~$15k and put in dozens of hours of work to actually lose capability.


Edit: The system is plugged into a 30A 120/240VAC split-phase connection. Inside the rig I have a 50A breaker upstream of the Multis, and I cut the little metal link joining the two poles of the breaker so that I can switch L1 and L2 on/off separately. In the example above, L2 is cut off to simulate how the Multis behave when only given a 30A/120VAC input (the first inverter switches to grid input while the second simply inverts from the batteries, as I ranted about in bold above). It is connected through several long extension cords, hence the voltage drop. Nevertheless, there is sufficient input amperage available to power these loads from grid input alone (and it certainly should be pulling more than 23A when it has a 30A input current limit).


Here's a VRM link: https://vrm.victronenergy.com/installation/66058/share/6019a575

And here's a link to the RVMS file with the current inverter configuration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JUNAxmPHIBWKNB6Saglhysvo8FdTxRsx/view?usp=sharing


Thanks!

MultiPlus Quattro Inverter Chargercurrent limitpowerassistinput current
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3 Answers
Justin Cook avatar image
Justin Cook answered ·

@Jersey Dirtbag, where are you plugged in?

Everything here looks like you're plugged into a 20A circuit (and given its low voltage at 109vAC, not a very good one at that) while running a ~26.3A load, in which case the Multi is doing exactly what it's supposed to. Remember that setting the AC Input Current Limit to 30A only tells the Multi not to try to pull more than that, but ultimately it will be limited by the circuit itself.

Are you able to independently verify that the circuit you're plugged into is really a 30A circuit?

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Joshua Warren avatar image Joshua Warren commented ·

It's a 30a circuit and I'm plugged in via a bunch of extension cords, hence the voltage drop. But the multi doesn't "know" the capacity of the upstream breaker anyway so it should go right up to the current limit set in the Cerbo GX regardless of it being a 20a, 30a, or 50a breaker. Obviously a 20a breaker should trip if it tries to pull a continuous 30a.


My point is that the specified input current limit is 30a, the total AC output is about 29a, and yet the inverter is only pulling about 23a and inverting the rest from the batteries. I don't see how this could possibly be the desired/intended behavior. If I completely disconnected all of this stuff and powered up the air conditioners they'd hum along just fine on my 30a circuit without $15k worth of batteries and blinking lights.

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keit6473 avatar image
keit6473 answered ·
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Lou Cetrangelo avatar image
Lou Cetrangelo answered ·

I am experancing a similar issue. See my post today titled

"When battery is less then 100% and Multiplus is on generator with A/C on - battery will discharge"

When your battery bank is just less then 100% the charger part of the inverter goes into nearly full bulk charge and that is what is limiting the current to your A/C. In my view the inverter/charger should take care of the AC load first and what is left over send to the battery to charge. I am hoping that there is some type of priority setting that can do this.

As I pointed out if my battery bank is at 100% and then i turned on my air conditioner it will all opperate just fine and have a little extra to apply to the battery and other accessories.

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