I have a Quattro-II Inverter and a 5500 Watt Generator is connected to AC-in-1 and shore power is connected to AC-in-2. The issue I am having is when running the generator I can only use about 2000 watts of the Generators power and it all passes through on L1 only - nothing on L2. It does not appear that the inverter is using any of the power from L2 coming from the Generator. Is there a setting someplace that is stopping L2 from being used while connected to the generator ( AC-in-1)?
I haven’t actually tried this on a Quattro-II, but many times on a Quattro, I’m assuming that the configuration is similar. You can only use one AC Input at a time, in your case AC In 1 would probably have “Generator” set as the grid code and some current limit set (maybe 10A?). The shore power would have a “real” grid code set to suit your locality. AC In 1 is “preferred” - that is if both inputs are active it will use input 1. What is the actual current limit setup and grid-code settings for your Quattro-II?
The quattro is a single phase unit, it has no L2 connections, neither for generator nor for grid.
If you want to use another phase, you’ll need to buy a second quattro.
I assume this Quatro is a 2x120? What generator? At 5500 watts it most likely is not a split phase generator. L1 and L2 are most likely in phase. In this case, what you are seeing is normal behavior. Some generators will allow both output legs to be combined, thus making available the full 5500 watts on L1 input of the quatro.
If this is not a 2x120 quatro, then the above does not apply.
The quatro 2x120 is intended for North American split phase applications with L1 and L2 on the inputs/outputs.
The quattro only uses L1, L2 is only connected from in to out over some relais.
If L2 is present on AC-1 in, it should also be present on ac-out.
…only if L2 is 180 degrees out-of-phase. If it’s a second circuit of in-phase 120, like would be the case with an Onan generator, a 2x120 unit, whether a Quattro or a MultiPlus, will ignore the L2 input.
If l1 and l2 from the generator are in phase, he can connect both to the l1 input and use his 4.5 kw.
The Onan can be wired both ways, depending on what the customer needs or wants. The 2 coils are fed seperately to a terminal board, the programming single/split is done with jumpers.
All in the manual.
The point is, his question is about why the Quattro is not using L2 input from the generator. The answer is, his L2 input from the generator is likely not 180 degrees out of phase. Beyond that, his installer can review the available options.
Derrick,
First thanks for replying…
Yes It is a 2X120 Quattro Inverter. I would assume the Quattro would have the capability of using all 5500 Watts of the Generator power for two reasons:
- The Quattro has two AC inputs… I think that is what makes it a Quattro vs. a Multiplus which only has one AC input. Also the Quattro has an L1 and L2 for the generator input. That tells me is is able to handle both legs of power… Just like the other AC input for shorepower.
- The Generator L1 and L2 would automatically be “In Phase” since the coils are off the same armature. Wouldn’t that automatically put them in phase?
Appreciate your help in thinking about this…
Mike
Justin,
Also, thanks for jumping into the discussion to help me solve this.
I have heard the 180 out of phase point. I am not an electrical engineer, however it does not make sense that Victron would make a separate inverter with two AC inputs (i.e. the Quattro-II) vs. just using an inverter with one AC input - i.e the multiplus which only has one AC input. I think the whole reason for the second AC input in the Quattro is for the Generator.
Also, I have seen some people bond the L1 and L2 from the Generator inside the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and use that as an input to the inverter. I am trying to avoid that because I took out the ATS becuause the Quattro does that automatic transfer already. I really don’t want to put the ATS back in to get around this issue.
This is correct, absolutely - I’m not speaking of AC-IN 1 or AC-In 2, I’m talking about L2 of whichever AC-In is being used.
A 2x120 unit like you have requires that L2 of the AC-In (regardless of AC-In 1 or AC-In 2) be 180 degrees out-of-phase with L1 of the AC-In. That is what makes US split-phase 120/240. When L2 is not 180 degrees out from L1, the Quattro-II or MultiPlus-II will ignore L2 input.
See the manual: 2. Description
Yes, but as ac-in 1 is dedicated to the generator you can connect l1 and l2 together without any further consequences.
Thanks Justin.. Please bear with me. So when I hook up to 50 amp shore power, the L1 and L2 are 180 degrees out of phase, that is what allows the inverter to use all 50 amps of shore power. Correct?
While the generator has an L1 and L2 (120 volt each) they are NOT 180 degrees out of phase. They are in fact IN PHASE, therefore the generator only looks at L1. Ignoring L2. Is that correct?
I guess the next logical question is why would Victron even have an L2 input for AC-1 In? It seems like a waste since people will always be connecting a generator (that is in phase) to AC-1 in, therefore making L2 useless on AC-1 in.
Last question. Ludo says I can not simply connect the two Live 120 wires from the Generator (L1 & L2) together into to L1 AC-1 in correct? It would then be 240 volt. Can the Quattro handle that?
I guess I am trying to figure out a work around to use all 5500 watts of my generator without adding back in my Automatic Transfer Switch.
Thanks again for your help!
No, the inverter slways only uses L1
Again no, the onan generator fi can be wired to split or inphase.
Wrong again, I explicitely told you you CAN wire gen l1/l2 together to quatro l1.
Correct. To be clear, as others have pointed out, the unit itself isn’t using L2 for anything, but it is passing L2 through for use, so for all effective purposes, this is exactly correct.
Also correct. In this case, it does not pass L2 through, so your L2 from the genny is sitting completely unused.
Simply, because there are many generators that do output split-phase 120/240, so it’s a very useful thing to have. And as others have mentioned, it may be possible to adjust the generator that you have so that it does output split-phase; that would be a question to research in your generator user manual.
A few things here; first 2 lines of in-phase 120 do not equal 240. To get 240 you need 2 lines of 120 at 180 degrees out of phase. 2 lines of in-phase 120 is just 120. THAT SAID I strongly encourage you to consult your generator user manual and/or an experienced systems installer before you try doing this, as you could easily inadvertently destroy something by doing this. Whether the generator itself can handle being wired that way depends on the generator, and whether you’d actually get anything usable from doing it depends on a number of things, certainly including whether the two independent legs of the generator’s output are perfectly in-phase, as if they’re not then you’re going to start getting some super weird output. Do not trust any random person on a forum telling you it’s okay to do that - after all, it’s not their equipment that’s going to be damaged if it doesn’t work. Read your user manuals and see if your particular generator has an accepted method of doing this, or if it gets a bit too dense and/or just outside your realm of comfort in poking around inside your generator then absolutely consult a professional.