Hello everyone!
Currently we're running a single 10kW Quattro off-grid, and considering to add a second parallel one to increase peak-load acceptance.
However, these peak loads happen only during the sunny summer season. During the dark winter days current Quattro is more than enough.
I assume that two Quattros use twice more energy running near idle load? Hence, I wonder is it possible/easy/how to turn off the second Quattro for the winter and leave only one running?
Thank you in advance!
No. In parallel they operate as one unit. You will likely see this error.
The only way would be to reprogram the system to stand alone and then switch one off.
Thanks, @Alexandra ! Is it only reprogramming via VE.Configure or would one need to physically make some changes too? Just trying to understand how time-consuming it would be if done twice a year.
The main one would be to remove the ve bus connection between the two.
In theory you would want to remove the unit from the system electrically. But I dont see that as totally necessary. How it is wired? From one AC in and to one AC out?
Electrical isolation is best. That is why I asked about the electrical set up. Can you just disconnect with breakers/isolators? Physically removing the device is not necessary.
Currently, I don’t have the second Quattro, hence the question :) Thanks for help!
p.s.
> From one AC in and to one AC out?
That seems not the parallel way, but maybe I misunderstood. Out of curiosity, have you tried such configuration? Feeding one inverter to the other for PowerAdsist?
I have 2 MP2 in parallel. I have on a few occasions turned one off and reconfigure the other back to stand alone. All I did was turn the switch off on the second unit then reconfigure the first. Never unplugged the Vebus from the second unit and didn't mess with wiring at all. Never had any problems doing that.
i have in diferent systems any 3 MP3 parallel in this moment i turn on of this off the system go offline in service mode
And all i read and found about this is this the rigth way..
Only way to only turn one of.
But than you also have a brake
wint VE Queick Bus open the parallel turn the other of and do the one you want work in single mode but without any brake i think is inpossible
I would disconnect the output connections from the powered down unit. Otherwise, AC power from the load side of the active Quattro will back feed into the output of the Quattro that is turned off.
These must be dropped and the system turned off.
Once a unit has been reconfigured as standalone, the remaining unit will need to be wiped so it can be added back as a parallel system.
Done this many times myself for troubleshooting, makes it easy to power either on individually if there is a problem.
I think the official position on electrical safety is a regulatory and safety concern not really a victron related question.
You would obviously want your equipment to be safe as well. But a unit switched off and installed with correct isolation would be safe indefinitely.
The complete isolation if you are being serious about the parasite watts would be necessary as there would still be capacitors and electronics there.
