Hello I am new and only have had this setup (bought 2021 campervan) since January. At wits end, not the best electrician. We have a MP 12/3000, 4 x 100 Battleborn Li, 4 x 200 ah Rich panels, Rich 40A solar controller, Alternator charging, and Shore power. Have the Victron Connect app. (not an expert on it) On Charging only: Shore Power is trying to switch but clicks back to Inverter side and low batt/overload flashing simultaneously). Alternator does not charge, but it was just a week ago. I checked each battery separately and they all read 13.3. I have the Connect set up all default except discharge floor i have at 35%. I manually set SOC to 70% because i accidentally synced to 100. any ideas appreciated - Tightened every connection just a couple were a little loose. Jerry in San Antonio
And any blown fuses?
Battle born have guides.
You need to do some investigating with a multimeter to see if the battery voltage is repeated throughout all connections until you trace where the voltage changes. This can only really be done with some load on because without any load even a very poor connection can pass the correct voltage through.
well - Let me see if i can answer these replies and thanks… #1 only 1 blown fuse - reading lights that only use AC (both shore and inverter) no others. #2 I scanned the guide - I may try this but i really do not want to mess with it (or mess it up) if possible and the whole system has been working fine since i bought the vehicle in Jan. #3 I can do some more testing - I have verified all plugs and lights and pump and heaters (water and webasto) work with inverter and Shore Power… are you saying i should also check voltage? I don’t understand that - if they are working then voltage should be good or else they should blow a fuse? Finally = some stupid questions - i have read much of the manual and it is too technical/complicated for some things (for me). Does it matter when driving if inverter is on/off/charge only? Same question for shore power - i have only been using charge only for shore… and is there a way to have charging only with solar if wanted? and Lastly - recommendations for who i could take this to to diagnose…electricians? RV dealers? thanks y’all appreciate it
You appear to have been concentrating on the power out from the inverter whereas I was more interested in the input to the inverter particularly low DC alarms and the fact that your alternator stopped charging also suggests a possible DC problem, hence comment about checking with a multimeter for poor connections. The same applies for shore power inlet. It is hard to diagnose this type of thing remotely whilst educating someone on the basics. As for where to take it I am UK based so hard to recommend anything in Texas.
No worries - I am a persistent and (sometimes) patient person haha… What I thought I was concentrating on was strictly diagnosing why charging was not occurring. so, what i did was try different ways of charging 1st. Then though i would try charging batteries but it lead to discover that they were NOT low (red light kept saying low batteries) - one of the things i read to try. all batteries separately read 13.2/13.3. next used a multimeter on most connections but also plugs etc. 1st on shore power, then not with shore power but using the inverter. so, light that says Battery low is wrong or Connect info is wrong in telling 12/3000. As for Overload - my friend and i tried the things we read about except have no idea what a DC ripple is haha. - just appreciate the help. it does not seem like just turning the 12/300 off and then on “resets” anything. and i have not been able to figure out Connect “restart or reset”. Thanks Jerry. got a Grandson-in-law from the UK… we have always had a great time there. also- not the best time to be from TX or the U.S. for that matter - It’s crazy here. -
Hi Victron/Pwfarnell, How can i tell if the Power Assist / Power Control functions of the 12/3000 are functioning properly? Are there adjustments i can make. i ask because it seems to me that these are 2 of the things that the Alternator and the Shore power charging (that was working before) have in common.
Thanks Jerry
The Multiplus and alternator charging have nothing in common control wise. What they have in common is the DC system as both are charging the battery with DC. The alternator generates DC direct to the battery. The multiplus converts ac into DC to charge the battery. The is unless you have an ac alternator which passes through the Multiplus.
Power assist can be checked by setting a low ac input current limit then powering up a large ac load such as a kettle, electric heater, air conditioner or microwave and checking the Multiplus stops charging and starts inverting to make up the power.
I believe you still need to check your DC system to make sure you have voltage getting through everywhere if you have a normal DC alternator.
OK - I just assumed the Alternator went through the Multiplus because that’s what (i thought i saw in one of the system schematics on the Victron website) Do i set the low input current limit manually ? - I only have the Victron Connect and I do not think i have seen that setting - when i google it tells me to use a DMC or GX ? would you recommend i check the battleborn settings as this link shows ? Battleborn Programming
thanks Jerry
Real quick PW Farnell… i just tried chargunf battery with shore power again. Plugged in before turning on 12/3000… Then i switched to Charging only and IT WORKED. - until 1 minute later all lights went out and it showed no longer charging on Connect software – NO LIGHTS or warnings just stopped – ??? Jerry
I think it would be best to find an RV eletrician who can diagnose your system and knows Victron. We will have a hard time doing this remotely when we do not even know your set up. RV forums in your area may have some recommendations.