# Multiplus current limit not working in ESS mode **URL:** \ **Category:** Q&A and troubleshooting\ **Tags:** expert, multiplus, ess\ **Created:** [7 January 2025 15:04 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853 "2025-01-07T15:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 15:04 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/1 "2025-01-07T15:04:36Z")
I have dual multiplus 2 5kva (120v) paired at 180 degrees for US/NA with ESS enabled. When I don’t have enough solar to cover consumption, the battery drops to the minimum soc (in optimized w/o batterylife). In that scenario, I find the system is exceeding the current limit that is set to avoid tripping the breaker limiting ACIN to a safe level for the cable size (ACOUT has 100a capacity but ACIN is current limited by older cables to under 50a). I’ve already had cases where the safety breaker has tripped. In systems without ESS, the current limit is never exceeded on ACIN, but in this ESS system that limit is apparently ignored. I’ve seen several other older posts talking about this same issue, but have yet to see any solution that doesn’t involve eliminating ESS features. Has there been any progress on this issue? ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 15:37 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/2 "2025-01-07T15:37:06Z")
Have you tried limiting the input current via VE-Configure or only via the ESS function ‘Limiting the AC import current’? ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:13 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/3 "2025-01-07T16:13:06Z")
In ESS there is only limit charge, not limit ac import current, at least as far as I can find. The current limit settable via veconfigure or GX is the one that is being ignored. I can set it to 20 and I’ll still see it pulling in 40 amps from ACIN. ---
**Author:** ![A-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@A-P](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/A-P)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:14 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/4 "2025-01-07T16:14:06Z")
Do you have Peak Shaving enabled? ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:18 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/5 "2025-01-07T16:18:01Z")
I have this option in ‘Peak Shaving’ regardless of whether ‘always’ or ‘only above the Min SOC’ Firmware ? ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:20 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/6 "2025-01-07T16:20:40Z")
I can’t use that option as I don’t have the external meter required. ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:22 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/8 "2025-01-07T16:22:44Z")
THAT would of course be a good argument … and a case for a small retrofit … ---
**Author:** ![A-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@A-P](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/A-P)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:25 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/9 "2025-01-07T16:25:45Z")
Sorry, accidentally deleted my last post but you can see the history. Do you have this setting configured to “AC Output Only”? You shouldn’t need a meter. ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/original/2X/6/636ef5989078fc6b5c0f46bcc6fd261d47163bd0.png) ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:31 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/10 "2025-01-07T16:31:00Z")
I really don’t have a need for an external meter. All my loads are on ACOUT, and the source panel is in another building. I’d have to use an ethernet capable meter, which is a lot of unnecessary expense. ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:33 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/11 "2025-01-07T16:33:36Z")
I did not have “Position of AC loads” set correctly. It was input and output, I’ve now changed it to output only. So far that doesn’t seem to have made any difference anywhere. I’m rebooting the GX now just to make sure. ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:34 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/12 "2025-01-07T16:34:35Z")
So there are other loads in the building BEFORE the SplitMultis that MUST be taken into account … right ? from the old Forum … [https://communityarchive.victronenergy.com/questions/251188/ess-grid-metering-internal-vs-external-meter-under.html](https://communityarchive.victronenergy.com/questions/251188/ess-grid-metering-internal-vs-external-meter-under.html) ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:38 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/13 "2025-01-07T16:38:36Z")
I have no loads before the splitmulti’s that are of concern. That is, they aren’t zero, but they are part of a separate building connected directly to a 200a panel and not subject to the 50a limit that applies only to ACIN on the multis (due to an older lower gauge underground cable that will be costly to upgrade). ---
**Author:** ![A-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@A-P](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/A-P)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:39 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/14 "2025-01-07T16:39:40Z")
I would also confirm that ESS Grid Meter is set to “Inverter / Charger”… they introduced peak shaving in Venus OS v3.0, and then later introduced Peak shaving with an external grid meter in v3.3. ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:39 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/15 "2025-01-07T16:39:50Z")
So I also did not have peak shaving set to always. Now that I’ve changed it to always instead of only above SOC, it appears to be correctly staying below the current limit. I think that fixed it thanks! ---
**Author:** ![A-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@A-P](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/A-P)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:40 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/16 "2025-01-07T16:40:14Z")
Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:45 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/17 "2025-01-07T16:45:12Z")
Great that it works now 👍 … we are all learning here through our ‘swarm mistakes and solutions’ 😀 😀 😀 ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [7 January 2025 16:45 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/18 "2025-01-07T16:45:23Z")
I now have a much better understanding of what peak shaving does. Much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![stgnet](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/user_avatar/community.victronenergy.com/stgnet/32/12977_2.png) [@stgnet](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/stgnet)\ **Post date:** [8 January 2025 16:18 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/19 "2025-01-08T16:18:59Z")
For anyone in the future running into this issue, the key takeaway is that if you want the ACIN current limit to be obeyed in an ESS system, even when below minimum SOC, it is absolutely necessary to set peak shaving to always. ---
**Author:** ![Netrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ab992/32.png) [@Netrange](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/Netrange)\ **Post date:** [8 January 2025 17:09 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/20 "2025-01-08T17:09:56Z")
then … please mark this as a ‘ **solution** ’ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/victron/original/1X/21a9a7b5db7c6339715f993568736a7053199995.png) [@system](https://community.victronenergy.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [22 January 2025 17:22 UTC](https://community.victronenergy.com/t/multiplus-current-limit-not-working-in-ess-mode/17853/22 "2025-01-22T17:22:28Z")
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