Does a multiplus (charger only mode) better integrate in a system then the phoenix ip43 smart charger? I have a system containing two mppt, ip43 charger, smart inverter, cerbo. All in one system on 24 lead acid batteries. Reason for not using one multiplus is that I want my equipment always on inverter. I do want the smooth integration with multiplus charger capabilities especially with the two mppt’s. I am always connected to the grid with my system. But I do like that the mppts get priority for charging. I now using the cerbo “generator start” function to start the IP43. Maybe the multiplus charger only has a better function for this? Any thoughts?
The multiplus integrates 100 times better. Victron has given the IP43 Phoenix and other non-multiplus chargers very little attention, and as a result their integration is extremely limited. For example, they cannot participate in DVCC nor consume voltage readings from even Victron’s own batteries and Lynx BMS.
If you are looking for an integrated system, you must choose a Multiplus within Victron’s ecosystem.
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For better integration there is also the option to complain to Victron that the IP43 (and with it all customers that bought them) is treated that badly.
It’s a nice, small and quiet charger perfectly suitable for environments where a MP2 would just refuse to charge because the mains network is too far out of what it deems to be a healthy power supply (though this part is only true for the new wide input range version).
It’s a shame that is that neglected, it can’t be that hard to put it into the right categories in VRM (to make it show up as an AC input and do bookkeeping for the energy it delivers to the system) and to enable it to be controlled by DVCC - so it can get a lower priority than the MPPTs to only draw power from the network when the sun does not shine…
I have been watching the IP43 codebase on Github and see that they added the necessary support to the IP43 a little while ago (past year or two), but have not implemented it on the VenusOS side (VRM).
Because VenusOS is open source, anyone could add it, and I have considered it, but I don’t have enough documentation available (that I could find, anyway) to really be productive. But with some help from Victron or someone else knowledgeable, I would definitely take it on.