Renegade Explorer RV w Victron inverter and Dragonfly Lithium battery operation question-We just picked up a 2022 Renegade Explorer 40ERB that I am trying to understand all of the operations of the rig at this point. The coach was purchased and used on one trip by the original owner then stored since and is in new condition with 3500 miles on it. During that period this Victron system had never been used or tested. My biggest issue at this point is the operation of a 4 lithium battery/Victron inverter system that I have yet to figure out how to get operational. The batteries are charging and am getting 13.8vdc power from them to the inverters input lugs. The issue is that there is no 120vac power coming out of the output lugs directly on the inverter. Tried every combination of switching on the inverter and the multi switch with no luck. Breakers good, power to coach from shore power is good when plugged in, nothing stands out as a reason for the inverter to not be inverting the dc power to ac. My issue is the manufacturer of this coach is 2000 miles away from me making communication very difficult. There is an RV dealership that deals with Victron components in California (Sports Truck RV) but is still 400 miles from me so need to see if there is a quick fix that I can do if possible prior to me driving that far to find out it is a quick fix. The Victron manuals that came with the coach has a ton of info on each component but not on the overall operation of this system. The solar, lithium, smart dongle and inverter system have never been implemented or put in service since new outside of charging of the batteries. Any feedback or experience with resolving this lithium/solar/inverter system would be much appreciated as up to now I have not been able to figure out the issue.
I have been documenting all of the testing that I have performed over the past couple weeks on this forum.
Based on your photos on the forum, the installer has wired another remote switch to the unit, which is likely what’s causing the problem… track down where that switch is, or just remove that wiring altogether, restart a few times, see if the issue is corrected. That makes 3 separate remote switches (Smart Dongle, Digital Multi Control, and this mysterious remote switch wiring) plus the switch that’s actually on the unit.
Editing to add: According to your troubleshooting on that forum, it sounds like the unit is in Charger Only mode, since you’re getting passthrough AC and charging while you’re plugged in, but nothing when not plugged in. Notably, the wiring in this remote switch appears to be right-pin and middle-pin, which is indeed “charger only” mode when (wherever this switch is) the switch is on. See pages 27 and 28 of the manual: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-MultiPlus-3k-120V-(firmware-xxxx4xx)-EN.pdf
Justin, thanks so much for your feedback on our Victron inverter issue. Sorry for the delay as Thanksgiving entertainment has taken over as priority it seems.
I tried to follow the wiring from the remote connections on the inverter and they go off into nowhere land buried within the chassis.
I’ve looked everywhere I could think of for a switch of sorts n have found nothing as of yet.
I can tell you that the two brown wires connecting to the remote connections on the inverter are not connected to the right pin and middle pin nor are they connected to the left pin and middle pin but instead connected to the far left and far right pins. I do not see this as an option on the manual shortcut that you sent me. Possibly wired wrong by the factory???
At this point do you recommend that I either remove the wires altogether until I can locate a remote switch? Or should I install wires as left pin and middle pin hoping the lost remote switch is in the “ON” position? Or may install a temporary switch locally at the inverter and connect to the left and middle pins? Does it make a difference on which wire goes to which pin as I would think not as the switch is just allowing it to make continuity between the two correct?
Tried disconnecting the two brown wires at the inverters remote switch connections then removed power to and from the inverter for 10 minutes before reconnecting. In addition no shore power or generator was running and all 120vac power went dead. 12vdc in the coach was as normal.
Don’t want to try changing the connections as shown in the manual until I hear further from the you the Victron expert.
On the Multiplus is see that the black switch is down on the “Charger only” position. If you want to activate the inverter part the switch needs to be in the upper “on” position.
Jo, thanks for the reply. In one of the pictures it was in the down “Charge only” position but has been tried in every combination of positions possible (Inverter, Digital Multi Control, etc) with the same results of no 120vac power feeding the coach.
The switch on the Multiplus is the “master” switch it overrides the “slave” switch on the control panel in the living space.
When you set switch to the “on” position on the Multiplus you can then use the control panel switch for the function you want.
Summary: Multiplus switch “on” control panel switch “on” and to be sure the ignition keys are out of the dashboard which may be a safety to prevent the inverter to come on during driving. It may take a couple of minutes for the inverter to activate.
Why? if you put the RV in storage you do not want to drain the batteries, so you switch to “Charge only” mode which disables the slave switch and inverter.
Do you have your phone connected to the Bluetooth of the smart dongle ? edit: i see on the RV forum you have…
My thought is that the previous owner did everything to protect the batteries from draining and now you have to find out how to get the system out of the mothballs again.
Different brands with it’s own systems makes it not really easier.
have you checked the breaker panel for any tripped over current breaker ?
Yes breakers are good and have never tripped.
Previous owner never used the RV outside of one trip and had zero clue on the system. Whatever the issue is was came directly out of the Renegade factory build.
Working with Renegade also to try and get info on this particular build such as documented testing on the Victron system from the factory, where this remote switch might be if installed and any other setup step that might be holding out the inverter from inverting.
I have read a little bit of the post on the RV forum he initially posted on and a s far as i can understand he already tried booting a bare device.
That’s why i have deleted my previous post…
I am still learning too and therefor asking myself:
Does the Multiplus remember the previous state when switching on again? So, when set to “charge only” in the on mode switching it off and on again that the charge only setting is remembered and stays that way?
LX, I’ve disconnected the brown wires going to the remote switch (which I still have yet to find), the cable going to the dongle and the cable going to the Digital Multi Controller with no AC output change from the inverter. In addition, shore power and generator were not feeding the coach.
I also then disconnected the 12vdc cables coming from the batteries and left off for 15 minutes. After re-connecting the battery cables only and switching the inverter to the “ON” position, I still have no AC output from the inverter when measuring with my volt meter and when looking at my Victron connect app on my phone.
All of these disconnects were directly from the connections within the inverter itself.
Please read my above concern with the brown “Remote” switch wires connected to something different than the manual shows and give me some feedback on it as I don’t want to take a chance of damaging inverter by connecting to the wrong points. Should be connected to the “Left” and “Middle” from what I can tell from the manual. Not the “Left” and “Right” connections.
LX, The only lights that come on the inverter are the ones to the left showing that the unit is “Charging” and that is when I am plugged into shore power.
Once the primary supply of 13.8vdc is the only power feeding the inverter all lights go off.
I have yet to be able to get any of the lights to the right to come on showing that the inverter is truly inverting and supplying 120vac power to the coach.
I will fill out the RMA attachment to the best I can and submit.
LX, I went to your shortcut to the RMA form yet it does not allow me to fill out anything where I need to type in information. It allows me to fill in the yes/no dots but that is it.
Can you please send me the RMA form to my email or let me know where online I can get it.
LX, I have done all of the testing on the form plus some with no luck. At this point I believe the inverter to be in a failed state on the 120vac output side.
What is the next step for me to get fixed or repaired? The original installer of the complete Victron system is located 2000 miles from me so the option of them removing to send in is not feasible. Is there someone closer to me that is a Victron dealer that can remove, test etc? I am an electrician by trade for 30 years can I remove the unit and send back to Victron myself?
What is my next step to cover under its warrantee?
What is it that you mean by “ You are not at the point of using what ever that brown wire is.
The real issue is getting the inverter to work. Or installing a bypass switch.”
Is this bypass switch connected to the left and middle connections of the remote switch or???
