I’m having several problems with a new install and would appreciate any ideas to help resolve. BTW, I’m ABYC Electrical and NMEA Installer and NMEA2000 certified. I’ve 15 years experience in boat electrical work. I’ve been to two Victron hands-on training courses. And I’ve a BSEE degree and a 35 year career as a EE.
The system is a 120VAC, 24 VDC setup newly installed on a boat in the Seattle area. Consist of:
2x Lithium Smart NG Batteries, 25.6V-200Ah
1x Lynx Smart BMS NG (connected to Cerbo GX via VE.Can, yes terminators installed each end)
2x Lynx Distributors
1x Cerbo GX Mk2 (ver.3.55)
1x Multiplus 3000 24/3000/70 (connected to Cerbo GX via VE.Bus)
(all new purchased in January 2025, installation completed in June)
…….
I powered up the BMS/batteries and the DC side looks good. Batteries at 27.6 VDC and all cells are balanced. Lynx Dist fuses good. The Cerbo GX displays battery voltage, current and SOC.
Issue 1:
When turning on the Multiplus I’m getting flashing lights that indicate a VE.Bus error; that is Inverter LED flashing, Bulk LED flashing in opposite phase, Absorption LED on steady, Float LED off. Also, the Cerbo GX reports “#15 VE.Bus error”. Also, the Multiplus Low Battery LED is on steady.
Note: 120VAC verified on the AC-IN, 27.6 VDC verified on the battery terminals. I have verified that the Multiplus is configured correctly, to the best of my knowledge, with the VEConnect program and with the VEconfig program.
I’ve tried 2 known good VE.bus cables (CAT5 Ethernet cables) plugged into all combinations of VE.Bus ports on both the Multiplus and the Cerbo. No change.
When I disconnect the VE.Bus cable and power on the Multiplus, there are no error LEDs and no VE.Bus error on the Cerbo GX. Any idea what to do to get VE.Bus comms working?
Issue 2:
With VE.Bus disconnected from the Cerbo (basically in standalone mode), I get no VE.Bus error indicated on the Multi’s LEDs. The “Mains” LED is ON. The “Low Battery” LED is off, I have verified that there is 27.6 volts on the terminals.
With VE.Bus connected to a PC via MK3 adapter and running VEConnect, the VEConnect program is showing “Pass Through” mode and I have verified 120VAC on AC1-OUT. The charger is showing “OFF”. I can’t find any way to turn it on. Bulk, Absorb, and Float LEDs are OFF. If I put the Multi in “Charge Only” mode, it still will not charge. Why won’t the charger charge? Especially when the Multiplus is standalone. It seems that it should go to Bulk until it reaches the 28.8 Vdc Absoption set voltage. ??
Issue 3:
With the shore power OFF and verified no power on the AC-IN terminals, and with VE.Bus disconnected, when I turn the Multiplus on there is still a “Low battery” LED on. I have verified 27.6 Vdc on the DC terminals.
The inverter with not turn on, probably thinking erroneously that there is a low battery condition even though I have verified 27.6 Vdc on the terminals.
……
Could it be that the Multiplus has gotten into some “hung up” state that turning off then on will not clear? Would factory reset be necessary? Would it help? How to do this?
Could the version of a new Multiplus cause a compatibility problem other system components?
I’m at a loss. Any questions, help, thoughts, ideas would be greatly appreciated.