House batteries and charger

Topic: House batteries and charger (Read 3708 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #25 – March 20, 2024, 10:48:44 am

Quote from: fatheeler – March 20, 2024, 10:36:58 am

Scott I also got the multiplus, did wind up mounting where the old inverter was have not noticed a a lot of issues with heat, top can get warm to the touch but not bad,if was to do it again think I would mount on an angle for a little convection, I ran the 6/4 wire into a junction box then ran SO wire to the inverter, I think I had read that Victron does not recommend solid wire in the connection

Multi plus II ? Or II X2 the X2 is a different beast altogether for the installation.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #26 – March 20, 2024, 11:48:20 am

Quote from: dsd – March 20, 2024, 10:48:44 am

Multi plus II ? Or II X2 the X2 is a different beast altogether for the installation.

i

It's the Multi-Plus 2 12v 3000 watt 2x 120 has a fair amount of room

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #27 – March 20, 2024, 12:40:47 pm

Wire I'm using

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #28 – March 20, 2024, 01:04:28 pm

Must have been a real joy to run

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #29 – March 20, 2024, 10:25:35 pm

Well a couple of beers and a good night sleep seemed to help my sniffling attitude. Made up the mount brackets to give room for the aqua hot door. This will also add additional ventilation. The main lower mount is in a rib and the top mount on the right side picks up a rib in the center hole and i added riv nuts to the two locations. I had installed a length of 2" 90 deg aluminum angle to hep support during installation. Put a couple of 1/2 inch block to lift and will remove once mounted to accommodate ventilation. No possible way to use 4-4 wire. If you must have 4-4 wire this unit will not work. Also noticed that the primary positive post cant have a 300 amp connector installed. To close to another connector. With my fine wire 6-3 it is a pain to install wires . Ended up reading directions and see note that a release 2.5 mm tool must be used during installation. No other explanation. I ended up doubling the pig tail length to accommodate installation and bunching it up after to attach strain relief. Power IN strain clamp too small. Power out is 50% bigger? Will power up tomorrow hopefully Upper mount just pathetic and does very little interlocking. Would be fine for vertical mount but lacking for horizontal. Will leave one of the blocks in I guess

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #30 – March 21, 2024, 07:36:24 am

I pulled the main cover off and those holes with the rubber gromets in the corners go straight through. I used those for mounting.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #31 – March 21, 2024, 10:00:14 am

They recommend ferrules on the stranded wires that go into the input and output. Makes insertion very easy. You don't need to release the tab to insert(with a ferrule), only on removal. A small flat blade screwdriver works well for removing the wires.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #32 – March 21, 2024, 11:30:50 am

Once they are released they accept the wire easily. They should have made the designing engineer install one in a 30 inch tall box. They would have made some changes.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #33 – March 28, 2024, 09:35:11 pm

Oh what fun. Inverter is installed. Cables have been run. Still need to secure cables in under storage compartment. Powered up Battery monitor system and fired up the inverter.
First thing I realized was inverter must be on to pass thru AC power. It also shuts down AC power by the accessory control panel I purchased. I think I actually like that. Hooked up Victron interface module that also is an accessory and was pleased to find it relatively easy to program with the help of a utube video for it. Set the voltage set points for everything and let it go to work. Seems to be acceptably quiet even with Hi charge demands. Charger nicely smoothly started at 115 amps and progressed down to zero at end of charge. Very nice. So the end I think has Justified the system. Still have a lot to put back together, like the entire kitchen and bathroom wall on the passenger side. Also had both vents off the roof and found that the air vent for the microwave was misaligned by an inch at the factory. It's long enough to resolve and properly install. I really like the amperage adjustment in the inside panel. You can dial in anything between 50 to .1 amp supply. Really a nice feature IMO. So if your mooch docking at a freinds house with a long cheap cord you can set it to the desired amperage maximum while watching the voltage drop. Also hooking up to a 30 amp is without a thought now and if the power drops the inverter will automatically assist during a ac starting.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #34 – March 31, 2024, 10:18:51 pm

Been thinking of the DC/DC charger to prevent overloading the alternator. Think I want to see how it works once.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #35 – March 31, 2024, 11:02:27 pm

The Balmar Voltage Regulator can be set for Lithium Batteries.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #36 – July 06, 2024, 12:27:47 pm

So to follow up I did install the 40 amp DC to DC charger to protect the coach alternator. I had checked every thing and thought it was working correct. Couple days before our departure date I double, triple checked that it was working correct. On ground power 220 volt working correct. On battery working correct. On generator I came across an issue. It was creating the L2 output by consuming L1 power. It was not passing power from the generator L2 to output of Inverter L2. Rechecked everything and put a service call into Victron. At this point I was wondering if I had programed the inverter wrong? Double checked programming and saw nothing about inverter input, although the manual shows the different internal switching for different configurations. Next day still no call back and we are getting close top a hard departure time. Being that the inverter will not manage the L2 leg I decided to do a work around by disconnecting the L2 output from the inverter and jumper int L2 from my surge protector back to the L2 in the circuit breaker panel. I would now manage L1 and saw no load for L2 because it was disconnected and worked okay. BUT I now was only using half of what I wanted and lost all the reasons to purchase and install this thing. Well we get to North Carolina and plug the coach into a 20 110=v circuit that we never had issues with before and it trips the GFI as soon as the load control is set above one amp.

So as a workarounds to that we went to a non GFI and it worked normally. In looking in the logic it grounds the neutral during DC battery inverter use. This explains the GFI issue. I personally really like what a GFI provides. So a couple days go by running the one AC on the L1 leg without issue. I noticed a HI battery warning and a SOC was down to 65% coach was running off inverter and battery. 20 amp breaker had tripped with Victron set to 18amps. Cord and connections all room tempiture at this time. Reset and all was good but noticed as you increased the permissible power load rate to about 18 amps AC that suddenly without adding any addional DC loads thre discharge would jump up to 63 amps DC. Shut the inverter off and load would disappear. SOC 100%. No clue what is going on now. So Ive been running with the inverter off and the battery charger on to manage the batteries. I will be removing when we get home. Oh and about the service tech call back. They did inquire if I was happy with ther prompt call back and if our issues were resolve. shame they Never called!!!I will say that the Victron smart shunt is at the other end of the spectrum. It works perfect and is a pleasure to use. I highly reccomend it. So far not at all for the inverter.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #37 – July 07, 2024, 04:39:15 pm

Glad you got some use out of the mk gels.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #38 – September 15, 2024, 09:45:48 pm

Quote from: dsd – July 06, 2024, 12:27:47 pm

Shut the inverter off and load would disappear. SOC 100%. No clue what is going on now. So Ive been running with the inverter off and the battery charger on to manage the batteries. I will be removing when we get home. Oh and about the service tech call back. They did inquire if I was happy with their prompt call back and if our issues were resolve. shame they Never called!!!I will say that the Victron smart shunt is at the other end of the spectrum. It works perfect and is a pleasure to use. I highly reccomend it. So far not at all for the inverter.

So... it's been 2 months since this post and we were reading the saga because we're getting ready to order something replace our old Prosine. Any updates on this?

We've pretty much ruled out the 120x2 version, so it would be MultiPlus original or MultiPlus II 3000/120/50 installed essentially in place of the Prosine.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #39 – September 15, 2024, 10:41:36 pm

Why not the 120x2 version?

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #40 – September 16, 2024, 01:05:59 pm

Quote from: kgrover – September 15, 2024, 10:41:36 pm

Why not the 120x2 version?

We really don't need 2 leg output (we don't boondock) and our installation would also be what Scott had to do if we did 120x2.

A little concerned with some of his last reported issues with the inverter itself, which is why I'm hoping for an update/recommendation.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #41 – September 16, 2024, 02:39:58 pm

No issues with our original Multiplus. And this inexpensive, simple switch accomplishes the Assist function on any of our 50 amp loads when hooked to 10-15 or 30 amp service using lithium for house batteries. Does require Soft Start for AC operation. EZ monitoring on Cerbo GX.

https://youtu.be/gbKBoIvXNPA

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #42 – September 16, 2024, 05:56:03 pm

Quote from: Michelle – September 16, 2024, 01:05:59 pm

We really don't need 2 leg output (we don't boondock) and our installation would also be what Scott had to do if we did 120x2.

A little concerned with some of his last reported issues with the inverter itself, which is why I'm hoping for an update/recommendation.

Ah,

I've had no issues with mine. I've run it on 50a, 30a, 15a supplies just fine. I've not had any issues with the generator either.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #43 – September 16, 2024, 07:25:34 pm

Well It was a lot of retro work to install the double leg inverter. I have been extremely dissatisfied with it and its operation. I'm confident I'll be able to sort it out but actually put it on the back burner. I think it will end up going back to Victron and I'm confident they will take care of my issues. It is not internally switching from different powers sources and in there schematics they show an internal relay in the neutral circuit and I don't think it is switching causing my GFI issues. Still not being able to kneel happily makes working on it no fun. So disconnecting the L2 leg ( the reason I wanted it) more less resolves most of my issues. 20/20 hindsight its a hard pass for me. I so wanted to be able to mooch dock at a couple of our family destinations and currently it will not participate on a 15amp GFI outlet so it's junk to me. Hopefully I'll be more motivated next year. Non issue most of the way we use the coach boondocking.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #44 – September 16, 2024, 08:04:58 pm

I'm curious.
I installed my Victron 3000 multi 12v several years ago. All was fine until I had to move the coach to my street to allow construction on the house. I thought no big deal,I will use my 50 amp to 120v power cord to keep all the batteries charged for the few days I'm parked on the street. I used this cord numerous times when I still had the original Freedom inverter installed and never a problem.
I plugged the 120v cord in and immediately blew a breaker in the house. I then tried another outlet/circuit in the house and the same problem. I eventually gave up on the idea of using the 120v power cord.
I had a Mobile RV tech come and check my set-up to see if I did something wrong, he found no problems with my install. I put this issue on the "way back burner" to someday address.
Scott, does this sound like the same issue you have with your Victron, won't work with 120v power source cord plugged into the 50amp outlet with an adapter?

I feel for your knee issue!
I have my Victron isolator installed but was unable to finish the install before I had my knee done. Now I can't get on my knee to finish exchanging the wires and other electronics to the isolator and new solenoids and breakers mounted with the isolator.
No luck in finding a mobile tech on the far NW side of Chicago to try and finish the job before Winter.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #45 – September 16, 2024, 08:30:26 pm

I wonder if the Victron charges the batteries too high a current for 120 volt circuit.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #46 – September 16, 2024, 09:05:46 pm

Obviously the posters here set their Victrons charging profile to not exceed the amount of power coming in?

My magnum system works fine on 50 to 15 amp power cord downsizing. I can't Imagine a Victron not being able be set to reduced input power. I have used that function many times on my coach .

Interested in the details. DSD is probably the most technically inclined owner I have ever met.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #47 – September 16, 2024, 09:32:24 pm

Quote from: dsd – September 16, 2024, 07:25:34 pm

Well It was a lot of retro work to install the double leg inverter. I have been extremely dissatisfied with it and its operation. I'm confident I'll be able to sort it out but actually put it on the back burner. I think it will end up going back to Victron and I'm confident they will take care of my issues. It is not internally switching from different powers sources and in there schematics they show an internal relay in the neutral circuit and I don't think it is switching causing my GFI issues. Still not being able to kneel happily makes working on it no fun. So disconnecting the L2 leg ( the reason I wanted it) more less resolves most of my issues. 20/20 hindsight its a hard pass for me. I so wanted to be able to mooch dock at a couple of our family destinations and currently it will not participate on a 15amp GFI outlet so it's junk to me. Hopefully I'll be more motivated next year. Non issue most of the way we use the coach boondocking.

The original Multiplus can be set to any input amperage. It's easy with the Cerbo GX interface but not sure how to do it directly on the inverter. You can also select charge only, invert only or both. We routinely use this feature with the 120v adapter when driveway camping. With lithium and the switch discussed in the YouTube video posted we can use the Multiplus and lithium to run any electrical device, including AC with Soft Start. Obviously heavy load run times are limited by battery not input.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #48 – September 16, 2024, 09:40:13 pm

SORRY FOR POSTING WRONG YOUTUBE VIDEO.

In my post, above, I spoke about a simple way to achieve access to all 50 amp devices on the couch using the original Victron Multiplus inverter. Unfortunately, the video I first posted used the smart face selector, which was produced by a.m. Solar. That device and a.m. Solar no longer exist. And, although we had one on order when we did our original lithium install, hey a.m. Solar was unable to deliver.

The solution we found, however, was a simple manual switch but I inadvertently selected the wrong YouTube video to illustrate its installation. I've now deleted the incorrect YouTube video and inserted the one I originally intended. If you're reviewing this thread for the first time, you won't notice my error. But, for those who had originally looked at it, please go back and review the correct one I've now posted.

Re: House batteries and charger

Reply #49 – September 16, 2024, 09:52:20 pm

We long ago removed the bath GFCI outlet and replaced with a regular non-GFCI outlet. Too many problems made the change practical. We are aware of how GFCI outlets work, but RVs are a different animal and the GFCI downleg fed other outlets, that may have contributed to issues.

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