In the Victron Quattro II manual (doc 32424), the installation requirements are clear:
4.1 – Location:
“Place the inverter/charger units close to each other, but allow at least 10 cm for ventilation purposes under, above and beside the units.”
“There should be a clear space of at least 10 cm around the appliance for cooling.”
4.5.7 – Parallel connection:
The same 10 cm clearance is stated again, reinforcing that this is a general design requirement—not only for parallel installations.
Situation:
In our installation, due to space constraints, cables are routed starting approximately 4 cm above the top of the unit.
There is no ceiling or solid structure directly above—only the cable bundle—but the free vertical airspace is reduced.
The installer proposes performing a one-time full load test during commissioning and monitoring the internal and/or surface temperatures to ensure that the unit remains within safe thermal limits.
If the test is successful, this would be used to justify maintaining the current installation, even with less than 10 cm clearance.
Questions:
Can such a commissioning-time load and temperature test justify deviating from the 10 cm clearance requirement?
Would this still comply with Victron’s warranty terms and the relevant safety standards (IEC 60335-1/2-29 and IEC 62109-1/2)?
Or is the 10 cm clearance mandatory under all circumstances, regardless of test results?
We want to ensure full compliance with Victron’s safety, warranty, and CE conformity requirements.
It isn’t always possible to adhere to the requirements due to space constraints. This won’t void your warranty but it may affect performance due to derating etc.
Running at higher temps may affect the lifespan of equipment as well.
The system has many protections, so worse case you may see premature derating and/or temp warnings, depending on load.
You could also consider extraction fans to assist with airflow.
There’s no real issue with space — it is fully possible to move the cables up to provide the required 10 cm clearance above the unit. The space is available.
However, the installer seems reluctant to do this, and instead wants to perform some temperature measurements under load to avoid the extra cost and effort of adjusting the cable routing.
I’m looking for clear arguments as to why he must follow the 10 cm clearance requirement anyway — despite being willing to take temperature readings during commissioning.
Any support in explaining why this clearance is mandatory (even if test results look fine) would be appreciated.
Then get your installer to do it correctly, they should do this by default.
They are making their laziness your problem.
The manual states the requirements quite clearly as you are aware.
They are going to compromise performance and possibly lifespan. As the paying customer you should not have to motivate why.
Exactly my thought. It’s frustrating that I have to argue for something that’s clearly stated in the manual. I’m not asking for any special treatment — just that the installation is done properly, according to Victron’s requirements.
There’s no technical reason the cables can’t be moved — the space is there. But instead, the installer is trying to avoid the work and is now putting pressure on me, both economically and in other subtle ways, to accept a substandard solution.
After my first pushback, he did move the cables up slightly — to around 4 cm — by stretching the existing cables, but still not to the required 10 cm . There’s enough space to do it properly with correct cable management, but instead he chose a shortcut to avoid extra work or cost.
In mobile applications, you accept the consequences of running these systems in tight spaces, there is no other choice.
In a fixed, domestic install, where this isn’t a constraint, there is no reason not to meet the requirements of the manufacturer, which exist to make sure the system meets its documented performance and lifespan guarantees.
An experienced installer should know the requirements.
Installing it differently indicates they either do not know what they are doing, or they made a mistake and are now trying to avoid the costs of correcting it.
Hold them accountable, as the paying client, hiring someone who is supposed to be qualified to install these systems, it is not your responsibility to pay for it to be done properly or to accept a compromise when there is no reason for it.