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mrkjamesbb avatar image
mrkjamesbb asked

Multiplus shuts down while plugged into shore power on “charge only” mode

Hi,

I have a Victron Multiplus Compact 12/2000/80 inverter/charger.

I use it in my travel trailer with solar panels and battleborn batteries.

I wired the inverter’s “AC out” into the trailer’s breaker box and the shore power cord on the trailer into the inverter’s “AC in“ in order to take advantage of the built-in automatic transfer switch.

I only plug into shore power when I need to use the trailer’s air conditioner. When plugged into shore power, I switch the Multiplus to “charge only” mode as my battery bank and this Multiplus will not power the air conditioner if shore power is lost. It’s start up requires around 4,000 Watts.

However, sometimes when I’m plugged into shore power, the Multiplus will turn off for a few seconds, killing the AC power, and then turn back on again even though shore power was not lost.

This is inconvenient when trying to sleep as I have to jump up and turn off the air conditioner before the Multiplus turns back on and is suddenly tapped for the large load required by the air conditioner. This results in a loud buzz from the Multiplus and the error light flicking on for a second before it returns to normal functioning.

I’m guessing this happens because the Multiplus has parameters to shutdown temporarily when the shore power current, voltage, and/or frequency drops below a certain amount—something one would not notice if the shore power was not entering the trailer via the Multiplus. I do understand these parameters are in place to protect whatever load device you have plugged in, but for me, it’s a inconvenience.

I’m wondering if there’s a way to change these parameters in order to prevent this from happening.

Please point me in the right direction so I can fix this. I have the VE bus. If you could help me with this, I would be very grateful.

Thank you,


Mark

MultiPlus Quattro Inverter Chargershorepower
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5 Answers
JohnC avatar image
JohnC answered ·

Hi @mrkjamesbb

It's likely gagging on the aircon 'start spike' because you've removed the ability of it's own inverter to cover it. It will honour it's own passthrough limit, and won't tolerate the spike.

Try leaving it turned just 'on', the functionality will be the same, and that spike will be covered by it's own inverter, right up to it's passthrough limit plus it's own inverter spike capability.

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rickp avatar image
rickp answered ·

If losing shore power isn’t a concern, the MP in the “On” setting will assist sagging shore power to keep everything happy. It’s likely that other high inrush loads, maybe other ACs, are causing the shore power to sag outside acceptable voltage for your MP. The factory setting will accept anything from 94-143 volts, so it sagging (or surging!) outside that range might damage your AC, so it might be a blessing in disguise.

There is also a WeakAC setting for badly distorted incoming voltage. I have not messed with that, but it might be worth reading up on. Also, check to make sure the factory ranges haven’t been narrowed by whoever set the device up initially.

Factory settings are in Section 5. Configuration on page 17 of the online manual.

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mrkjamesbb avatar image mrkjamesbb commented ·

There’s no way I’m leaving the MP in “inverter” mode while plugged into shore power with the air conditioner on. If there is a power outage, the inverter will attempt to run the air conditioner with the batteries. This will immediately blow one of my fuses. I’ve had a 250 amp fuse blow before doing that, and now I always stick it in charge only if running the aircon.

I rarely plug into shore power and only need to if I wanna run the air conditioner. The only loads I use are AC fans, AC phone chargers, and a toaster. Everything else is DC. It’s a small trailer.

The turning off while plugged into shore power and on charge only mode happens without the air conditioner on. It’s definitely not turning off because the aircon’s load. The MP is picking up on a sag (or surge) in the shore power and automatically turning off for a few seconds in order to, like you said, protect my load appliances.

It mainly happens at campgrounds out in the boonies and happens less if I use my adapter and plug into a 50 amp plug rather than the 30. I’ve experimented at the same campground.

I’m on the road right now for the next six months and don’t know how to change these settings or what settings to change.

I did recognize the “weakAC” setting as possibly something that may fix this issue while researching today, but I’m not sure exactly what it does. I understand that it works for a dodgey generator but not sure if it’ll also work for a dodgey campground. It sounds like turning it on will allow AC shore or generator power to flow through the MP on charge only mode and into my trailer’s breaker box even if it sags. In other words, there’ll be no need to change any parameters as the weakAC will allow voltages outside of the factory parameters to flow without cutting the MP and, therefore, the power. I think?

Will the weakAC override the 94-143 volts and allow voltage lower than that to flow into my AC breaker?

I installed and set it up. I changed the battery charging settings per battleborn’s instructions. Everything else is factory.

Thank you for your help


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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake mrkjamesbb commented ·
If you are blowing a fuse then you haven't sized your system correctly. The multiplus 12/2000 can provide 4000W peak. That means you should have around 350A fuse and correctly sized cable.


AC2 output would also be a great option for the HVAC.

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rstarr avatar image rstarr shaneyake commented ·
I’m in the same position as he is, yes fuse size could be increased but that’s not the issue. I have a 200a battery bank. The AC would drain it in an hour or less under a 120a load. The real question here is why does it cut out? No other rv’s In the park having this problem...
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eric-thomas avatar image eric-thomas rstarr commented ·
I am in a similar situation. Blew a 300A fuse when the AC compressor kicked on. Granted, my shore power is a 20A line, but before I installed the Multiplus, it had no issues running the AC.
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harold avatar image harold mrkjamesbb commented ·
You can leave it at inverter on

But programm an assistant (via VEconfig) the out relais to switch off at a certain SOC or voltage!

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harold avatar image
harold answered ·

@mrkjamesbb 3 idea's:

- Did you try to connect you airco at the AC2OUT?

- Keep the Multi on, so for the peak is can 'assist' (and maybe programm an alarm via Asistanst for when the shore power realy is lost)

- You could allso programm assistants for switching on a certain load.

Harold

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rstarr avatar image
rstarr answered ·

I’m curious if you found a solution to this issue. I have virtually the same setup and experienced this but at one campground. Unfortunately it’s one of our favorites. I’ve notice it more at night, my theory is because with cooler temperatures at night the ACks in other rigs cycle more frequently causing sags or spikes. My input voltage is good and I’ve maxed out all the settings to try and find a solution. Are you struggling g with this still?

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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake commented ·

I would recommend @harold suggestion, put the AC or any heavy load on the AC2 output.

It will turn off automatically if you lose the grid connection but will keep the inverter running and power assist could help with any voltage sag cause from your own AC as it can carry some of the load for a few seconds.


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rstarr avatar image rstarr shaneyake commented ·
Are you referring to a second AC output from the multi? My 2000w only has one output. My camper is a 50a so I can run it on the other leg but I leave it this way so I can assist with a small generator. Just wondering why if it’s a pass through on a contractor does it drop it with dirty power?
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shaneyake avatar image shaneyake rstarr commented ·

Aww, okay. Then AC2 won't work for you.
The reason the input contactor opens when there is dirty power is to protect the inverter. The input contactor is always controlled via the grid logic, regardless of inverter mode. You can try widening the acceptable voltage using VE.Configure.

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rstarr avatar image rstarr shaneyake commented ·
I have since swapped my system to a new camper and wired it a little different. My Multi is powering one leg and my Air conditioner is on the other leg. I don’t have a Easy-Start installed currently and every time the compressor comes on it disrupts the incoming power on the Multi. Since I can duplicate the issue at Will I’ve tried to test my I comi g power and frequency but don’t see any issues.
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the-doon avatar image
the-doon answered ·

Any reason you can’t wire the air con before the inverter? This way it only works when plugged into shore power and you can leave the inverter in the on position.

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