I have done a few installs, training etc.. and as I’m expanding I wanted to get more indepth with paralelling and 3 phase etc.. I understand that Victron state that firmwares must be same but also as important is the product / type. The bit about type is the bit I’m struggling with, I am lead to believe type is the productid. Victron (or dealers) do not give/know this information before buying and the only way to determine this information it to unbox the mutlitplus and either open the case and read it on a sticker or to power it up and connect to it over a communication link?
Now my question is, have i understood type correctly? as in its the productid not just Multiplus-2 48/5000
e.g. in my example I have a Multiplus 2 48/5000 with a product ID of 2623 (firmware v498). So if I wanted to parallel / 3 phase I would need to get a multiplus 2 48/5000 with that same product id (2623) In which case, probably a difficult task after a short amount of time has passed on the initial purchase.
Again if my understading is correct, lets move onto another scenario… I have installed a parallel or 3-pahse system, bought all the multiplus at the same time, all same product id/type but then have a hardware failure and need to replace 1 multiplus… now I am in a situation where I am struggling to find the same type as the existing units in which case do I tell customers the whole lot need replacing? Or does productid not matter as much and then we make the newer model the master?
Hopefully someone can shed a bit more light on this and their real work experience.
The documentation is pretty clear IMO.
The ID needs to be the same, in your example 2623.
VE.config doesn’t let you configure a system with different IDs.
The IDs don’t change very often, the 48/5000 has the 2623 for many years now and I don’t think it will change anymore.
The ID only changes if there are major HW changes.
If you have a defective unit in many years and it can’t be repaired you will have to replace all units.
Thanks for confirming Matthias, I thought I understood but just from some minor research it seemed like there were several versions around. No real knowledge or db with the type code, year released etc.. so its all very unknown. Like it mentioned even trying to find out what the current type is being sold is a complete mystery until you go to purchase which seems bizare. At a loss as to why Victron dont just print this on the box so you can enquire with the distributor who can then look at their stock to tell you.
When I’ve read posts about people getting different types when buying at the same time and someone mentioned type 2623 and 2626 it made my wonder what revision are models on? Again would be nice if there was some information / person that you could query this with to make installers lives easier and give confidence to clients when recommending Victron over another brand.
I pressume based on your statement about the 48/5000 being on 2623 for many years that it still is? So new orders today are very likely to be this as I believe my distributor is waiting on new stock.
Your distributor should be able to tell you if/when the ID changes.
If the ID changes it also changes the product number.
So you actually can see it from the outside.
Same PN = same ID *
*The 48/5000 and 48/3000 are available with products numbers ending at 10 and 12 because they are manufactured in two different factories.
But they have the same ID and can be used together.
Although it’s not recommended to use 10 and 12 in parallel due to slightly different internal resistants.
Thank you, some distributors wanted larger volumes than I am purchasing at the moment but these ones were very good at sales and supply just not the technical stuff (or maybe I am yet to get the right contact with them.
Again thank you for all your info and hopefully I can get what I need now.