Victron Inverter Parallel

Q&A and troubleshooting
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1

Hello all,

We had an old system running fine for years with three Victron inverters (Phoenix Inverter 24/5000 230VAC PN# PIN245020000) running in parallel (firmware 1949159). Which means:
19 - VE.Bus - old microprocessor, 230VAC
49 - Model: Multiplus 24/5000/120-50 (Why is an Inverter identified as model “Multiplus”??)
159 - firmware version

Then one unit failed, and we purchased a new inverter with the same part number (PIN245020000). When we received the new unit, we connected it to the computer, and the device showed the following firmware: 2614497, which means:
26 - VE.bus - new microprocessor, 230VAC
14 - Model: Multiplus 24/5000/120-100 (again, an inverter identified as Multiplus)
497 - firmware version

On document: “VE.Bus firmware versions explained v24”, we have the following:
“Units with old and new microprocessors can be used together in parallel and three-phase installations without any problems. Combining virtual switch firmware (100 – 199) with assistant firmware (200 – 499) is not possible. It is important to always use the same, and the last, firmware in each unit.”

We can no longer configure the three units in parallel. We tried the following:

  1. Update the old unit to the latest version: 1949206
  2. Update the new unit to the latest version: 2614556

didn’t work

  1. Downgrade the new unit to the same firmware version as the old ones: 2614206

didn’t work

The VE Configure software always shows:
- “Devices must have the same firmware version.”
- “Only devices of same type are allowed”

From the file “VEBus firmware number.txt” we can get:
List of models:

  • 1949 MultiPlus 24/5000/120-50
  • 2614 MultiPlus 24/5000/120-100
  • 2649 MultiPlus 24/5000/120-50

Questions:

  1. Why did Inverters come with a “Multiplus” model firmware?
  2. Why same Part Number products come with firmware indicating a different model (14 vs. 49)
  3. Can I install firmware 2649206 on the new unit?
2

These models need to be the same to operate in parallel.
one is a 120-50, the other a 120-100.

150 to 199 are firmware versions with Virtual Switch functionality for the old and the new microprocessor.
200 to 299 are firmware versions with Assistant functionality, for old and new microprocessor.
so firmware version in the range 150 - 299 should run on both processors, BUT with the different model versions 50A transfer and 100A transfer, there is still going to be a problem..as the firmware won’t know the max value to use for ac input currents.

reply to question 3 above is no. The last 3 digits indicate the firmware, the first 4 are locked to the hardware. So you need to go back to your supplier and change the 120-100 for a 120-50.

3

Correct, needs to be the same. But all have the same PART NUMBER. All is the same product! All inverters have the same voltage and power (24/5000).

It’s three inverters with the same part number. None of them is Multiplus. The variations “120-50” or “120-100” don’t apply to Inverters, only to Inverter/Charger, where 120 means the charge current and 50/100 means the transfer switch capacity. None of those specs apply to an inverter.