Victron Quattro not syncing with AC from generator.

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warwickk asked Mar 28, '19

Victron Quattro not syncing with AC from generator.

Hi. Given the recent cloudy days I needed to charge the batteries in my stand-alone solar system which is based on a Quattro 48/8000/110 inverter – without firmware.

The generator I am using is a Kubota 9 kva (Lowboy) providing a steady 240 volts at 50 hertz on 15amp circuits.

I have tried various UPS configurations using the dip switches (and pushing the rest button) as well as trying varying loads on the generator – up to two coil heaters and a water pump.

What ever the configuration the inverter has not “accepted” the AC and trips the circut switch in the generator.

As an aside, the only indicator light that has ever worked on the inverter has been the “inverter on” light – this may or may not be relevant!

I have yet to try another generator.

Any ideas?

Thanks and regards

Warwick

MultiPlus Quattro Inverter Charger battery charging Generator

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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered · Mar 28, 2019 at 07:30 AM

Seconding WKirby,

Very common for large generators to have a bonded Neutral Earth link in them. Also there is probably another one in your AC distribution. That is likely causing the trip.

This is a job for a licensed 240V electrician with Victron experience to assess the site and determine the safest way to proceed.

There are many options depending on your configuration. I suspect for a hardwired lowboy, it will be removing the inbuilt link and using one on the AC output distribution circuit.

I made a long post here with further elaboration:

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/1702/multiplus-with-generator-and-residual-current-devi.html

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Answer 1 · 2019-03-28T06:55:32Z

wkirby answered · Mar 28, 2019 at 06:55 AM

Hi Warwick

There are a number of things that could cause this. We don't know the reason for the circuit breaker of the generator is tripping. It culd be over current or an earth fault if that is an RCBO type switch.
Have to tried to reduce the charging current of the Quattro, maybe it is overloading the generaor.
Also we don't know where the Neutral - Earth (MEN) bonding link is within your setup. This could be causing earth faults.

Please hve a read of the two articles below and see iff there is any information relevant to your system there.

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/multiplus_faq

https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2017/11/27/the-trouble-with-generators/

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