Help with quattro ignore ac in assistants

DIY
, , , , ,
1

Hello everyone
I have a Victron Cerbo, Victron MPPTs and Victron Quattro. I don’t use ESS as recommended by Victron.
I have AC-in 1 (grid) connected to the Quattro but I rarely use it. I’m practically off grid. AC-in is connected only for emergency charging of the batteries. For this purpose, I was using Node Red successfully, except Node Red randomly freezes. I don’t want to risk this happening just when my batteries need charging from the grid. So I’m looking to cut out Node Red completely by using quattro/multi assistants to control AC-in. I could use the cerbo or external smart switches, but I don’t want to go that route unless I must. Quattro/multi VS is not an option.
There are many related questions on the forums but I couldn’t find the answers I need. I have followed the instructions here but nothing seems to work for me:

  1. The major issue is that when AC-in kicks in, it supplies the loads first and only the
    left-over energy charges the batteries (see screenshot).
    grid use plus external control with charging
    grid use plus external control with charging1920×958 135 KB

What I need is AC-in to charge the batteries and the Quattro to continue inverting DC to supply the loads. Can I change the default behavior much as it appears to be normal?
2. It seems the link I’m using is old, as my PV Assistant Support is very different. (compare my screenshot with Victron’s).

victron version
victron version537×538 17.9 KB

fideri version
fideri version986×737 165 KB

Note that I don’t have any PV inverters or panels connected to the Quattro. Do I still need the PV Inverter Assistant although I have no other use for it? It seems the Generator Start and Stop Assistant in conjunction with the General Flag Assistant is enough?
4. My final question is just a curiosity: Does Victron recommend the depreciated Self-consumption Hub Assistant over the Generator Start and Stop Assistant?
Fideri

2

@Fideri The system cannot charge from AC and invert at the same time given both functions are performed by the same hardware. It is the normal behaviour to passthru when charging from AC and cannot be changed. You only need the PV assistant when you have AC coupled PV on the ACOUT of the system.

3

@ejrossouw
Understood, thank you. Someone suggested on some thread that if you use the cerbo’s generator function instead and put the quattro in invert mode, you can use AC-in to charge only. In that case, you have to wire the cerbo’s relay 1 to the quattro. Does this make sense?

4

No matter how you initiate it, the quattro cannot charge and invert at the same time. It is physically impossible. I have my testbench setup working with the generator function to have scheduled charging functionality.

5

Clear. Thank you.