Multiplus won't turn on

DIY
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I cannot get my multiplus to turn on, either to inverter or charger mode. Batteries are at 100%. 12v DC system is still operating fine. I tried to get multiplus (12/3000/120-50) to turn on through mk3 to usb cable to laptop as well but it still refused to turn on through victron config or victron connect however did recognise it fine

I have 3 MPPT (100/30) controllers, 3 solar panels, 3 lithium batteries, colour control, bms702, multiplus, cyrix li-load, ve bus bms.

Over the past month I did have a period where either solar or alternator seemed to trigger the inverter to go from inverting to off. I replaced the relay (connected to bms702) and that seemed to help then issue started again, now inverter doesn’t turn on almost at all (did once for a few secs randomly).

I tried covering solar up with tarps and blankets but no change.

Any ideas? I’m so stumped! Have tried backup BMS, checked fuses etc. Thanks and sorry for being a novice!

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Hi @GavDog,

Here is a step by step procedure that is used to isolate a potential fault and see if it is a warranty situation.

https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Pre-RMA_Bench_Test_Instructions/en/pre-rma-test-form---inverter.html

It’s mainly focused on isolating the Multi and connecting it to a known good DC power supply, but give it a read and then a run through if you can. It might help narrow down the cause.

2 Likes
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Thank you for your prompt support. I’m a bit worried about just unplugging everything from the inverter to go testing on just dc battery. There are no isolators on the solar panels. Can I literally just unplug/disconnect all wires without danger to equipment or me? Thanks

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If they are bluetooth enabled you can switch the charger off in settings so you are not disconnecting under load. (Or do it at night)
There may possibly still be an exciting moment. But wont draw an arc

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Sorry for saying this, but some items on that list are quite strange…
Playing devils advocate here:
All units after, say, 3 years, have dust present inside and maybe one or two DOA flies, i.e. insects… :slight_smile:
Italics mean exact words as in that procedure.
So no warranty ?..

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Thanks for that. Unfortunate the PV chargers are not Bluetooth enabled. They are the old type so no way of isolating PV. What happens with inverter unplugged when load comes back on from PV solar? Any probs with the cables now freed from the inverter? Thanks for your patience

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If ants have made a nest inside the unit and shorted out the circuits, is that a fault in manufacturing?

This pre-RMA check is for our dealers who receive equipment with a suspected fault to find out the possible cause.

All of these things are on a scale, and sometimes a unit that reports over temperature on small load is just full of dust with clogged fans.

That is not a warranty situation, it just needs to be cleaned out, and then re-installed in a clean dry room.

You are right that many units are in the field operating without issues with dead flies and dust inside, but then people aren’t looking into causes for why they aren’t working either.

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I would never recommend you do anything that you are not confident with.

In that case it is best to contact a professional installer for some assistance in further troubleshooting.

It’s also a very good idea for many reasons to have a way to safely isolate your solar panels, so that should be installed at the same time.

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Thanks again. My problem is that I can’t get anyone to come out to the boat and currently my engines are being worked on so I can’t leave the mooring so am currently stranded without power except 12v. I really therefore need to test to see whether i need to bring the multiplus in to a service agent and their how to safely do so.

Can you please explain the process to remove the multiplus safely to take in to an agent while leaving the boat on a safe condition.

E.g, if I disconnect the wires from the multiplus while there is no load to do testing, is it OK to then leave all of these unattached or do they have to be isolated or dealt with in some way.

Sorry I’m just completely handstrung as I can’t get help out there and also can’t take multiplus in our do any further testing without knowing how to safely remove.

Thank you!

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Do you have a multimeter so you can test DC voltage?

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Yep got multimeter, mk3 to usb with victron connect.

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Ps, 14.3v at the multiplus inputs and same at the batteries

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Hi @GavDog;

Here is an extremely detailed troubleshooting document, it is not prepared by Victron, but by one of our experienced independent authorised repair centres, Master Instruments.

This is just useful information, never perform anything that you are not comfortable doing. It is intended for experienced technicians, so some you can do yourself, but others definitely cannot. Only you know your level of experience, so take great care and no unnecessary risks.

Again I would strongly advise getting support, but understand you are on a boat and that might not be possible.

MultiPlus Quattro Testing and Diagnosis pdf (8.3 MB)

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Thank you so much. This is really helpful and greatly appreciate your help as I’m rather stuck and no luck yet getting anyone to come out so bit by bit I will start working through and ruling out what I can. The weird thing is that previously the inverter would come on even if only momentarily but now nothing so I’m not sure if something has completely died or not.

To stop power coming from the batteries to the inverter and to unplug the battery cables from the multiplus can I just remove the large ANL fuse?

Thanks again, am reading through the guide now on detail that you shared.

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Solved it at last. Turned out to be a faulty sensor cable from one of the batteries which was sending occasionally correct info to the BMS but sometimes was allowing it to overload which caused the relay issue and then motherboard issues on the multiplus! Thanks for the help

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