Dual 300Ah batteries wired in parallel for 12V. A Multiplus II 2x120 is wired to shore/generator via a transfer switch, its battery posts are connected to a Lynx Distributor 1000DC via 0000 wire. The Lynx Distributor connects to the battery bank with 0000 wire (there is a smart shunt as well). Also connected to the Lynx are a MPPT 100/50 via 6GA and an Orion XS 50 via 4GA. All of that communicates (direct wire) to an Cerbo GX.
Now the issue that I’m finding. When running with low AC loads on the Multiplus (refer, AV equipment, etc) the Orion will report its output amps at ~45A. During this time the Solar output was in the 500W range. When I turn on a larger AC load, in this case the AC unit (~12A), the Orion output drops down to ~10A even though the demand on the Multiplus and batteries has increased.
I’m stumped by this behavior and hope that someone can provide some insight as to why this is happening. If further information is need please let me know.
Quick question - what’s the other side of the Orion XS connected to? I didn’t quite follow - eg its hooked to the 600Ah via the Lynx, but is that input or output, and to/from what? If you have a schematic, that might help.
The Orion “IN” is connected to my 200A alternator and the “OUT” goes to the Lynx.
The alternator is wired to a bus bar and from there it feeds the Orion and the chassis/start batteries, its pretty much the picture shown in the Orion install manual including fuses.
The Orion is a non isolated version as house and chassis have the common ground. The Orion status remains in Bulk mode through all of this and you can watch the output drop off in <30 seconds when the larger AC load is applied to the system. The Vin to the Orion (provided by the Alternator) does not change during this time.
Is the Orion getting hot? It’s output will fall with temperature.
Is the alternator hitting its limits, or if its “smart” for fuel efficiency and not putting out a full 13.8/14.4 depending on what its rated for?
Can you isolate parts of the system to simplify and see what is going on? e.g. disconnect Solar panels, turn off loads, and trying going through things step by step.
Other possibility - have you got the SmartShunt with all the stuff on the load side? e.g. am wondering if maybe its not giving the whole picture because ground isn’t ground (eg vehicle chassis ground, vs ground bus bar, vs starter battery, vs orion) etc.
BTW it might be better to talk watts (cuz when you say AC, do you means Alternating Current or Air Conditoner, and 12A AC is probably 1440W air conditioning, which is maybe 140A DC through the Multiplus).
The running theory from Allen Jones (video linked from the Facebook post) who did extensive testing is that this is caused by AC ripple and increasing the size of the battery bank can improve it. I’m seeing this on a 600ah AGM bank. Sound like getting to around 8-900 helps resolve it. That said there’s reports of this behavior on 1300ah banks…
Try limiting the Orion output to 45A to see if that makes any difference.