offgrid

I have an off-grid cottage that currently has two damaged panels I got a few years ago, plus various bits of gear, and I plan to expand on my power generation (still small scale this year, hopefully massively with a grid connected ESS reselling power next year.)

My goal is to have 24/7/365 power output this year, even when my family isn't there. My current setup is as follows:

2x250w (damaged) solar panels on the south facing roof of the "utility" building. While they are damaged, I have seen output levels as high as 450w.

Venus GX

MultiPlus Compact 24/2000/50-30

BlueSolar Charger MPPT 150/45

BMV-702

In addition, I have about 35 watts of loads I want to run 24/7/365 (small esxi server, PoE switch, a few webcams, and GSM modem). The loads are a mix of AC and 24VDC. During the summer months I would prefer to have an addition ~100 watts of load constantly, but I am fine with shedding loads in low battery situations.

The area is prone to extreme winds and snow, when I was in the area and tried to check on it at Easter, there was 130cm of snow on the ground, making it impassible. The location is not quite Arctic, but it is a hair over 63 degrees north, so the shortest day of the year will be *VERY* short. In addition, the outdoor lows over the winter sometimes get to -35c.

I am looking at getting 4 new 275w panels, and while I know it will not be ideal, I would place 2 of them on the north facing roof, and two on the south facing wall under the roof line but as elevated as possible so that hopefully they will not get covered in snow over the winter. I expect that only the panels mounted vertically on the wall will have any meaningful output in the middle of winter. I am hoping to get enough output from them that this system can remain online year round, but I do not know if that is realistic.

Question 1) My "gut feeling" is that I should hook up each of the 3 pairs of panels so that each pair is in series, and each series of 2 is in parallel with eachother. Is this correct?

Question 2) Is there any good/easy solution for automatic load shedding at low power levels (such as a Venus controlled circuit breaker)?

Question 3) If it would help, I could actually put 3 panels on a south west facing wall, where they also may produce some power during winter, but they won't have any direct sunshine at any point. Is this of any value if I would have two panels in direct sunlight? Would the MPPT be limited to the current max from the string in direct sun, or would it actually benefit from some small additional current? What problems, if any, would having this sort of missmatched string size have? (all panels are 32v, so even a string of 3 is under the voltage limit for the MPPT)

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I’m after some technical assistance with an off-grid Victron system that we are having a few issues with.

The system is comprised of 1 x MultiPlus 24/5000/120, 3 x BlueSolar 150/7, a 24V EpzV battery bank and an auto-start Generator.

The main issue we are having is that the system keeps on dropping out due to low battery voltage.

The generator is programmed to come on well before the low battery cut-off voltage and has been confirmed that auto-start is working correctly. The only issue with the auto-start generator is that the site is fairly remote and only visited a few times a month, so I’m guessing the generator is eventually running out of fuel.

After a recent site visit, it was found that the BlueSolar MPPT’s were not producing wattage. There was PV voltage of around 73V and battery voltage of 25V which were both shown when connected to the MPPT via the VictronConnect app, but no flow of current to the battery bank / inverter, even with a load of around 1kW. It looks like the MPPT’s were operating correctly, then all three have dropped out. I’ve attached a chart of their daily performance over a 30 day period showing when they dropped out.

So I guess the real issue is that the system is solely reliant on the generator, which is running out of fuel after a few days.

Any thoughts on why the MPPT’s would cut out ? I had thought blown fuses but they were sensing battery voltage and all three units are having the same issue.

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Looking for guidance on how to prioritize DC / Solar / Battery in a mobile application.

I am looking to minimize costs when plugged into shore power. I would like to use my PV array to run the majority of my loads down to a voltage set point or SOC and once that threshold is crossed have the backup AC power kick in to run loads and if need be recharge batteries.

My system is a Multiplus 24/3000, Midnite solar 150 Charge Controller, 5.5KwH Tesla Module 1600 Watts of PV on the roof, and assorted other parts.

I looked into assistants and ESS but those look to be more of a stationary grid tie application, maybe I am wrong ? I am new to Victron equipment but not new to solar and the related gear.

Can anyone steer me in the right direction ? Thanks !

Hi everyone,

I am a very happy owner of a VE Phoenix inverter 12/500, attached to my solar off-grid system.

I'm using the most efficient refrigerator on the market, the Liebherr TP 1720 which averages to a mind blowing 7W power consumption which for a inner size of 145 liter is just insanely low.

While running the inverter in always ON mode everything works great and this inverter can easily handle the inrush current required, and eventually I am averaging at 11-12W consumption with the overall system, which I really can't complain about.

However, considering that the ECO mode could potentially cut another 5-6W to the above figure it would be great to take advantage of it. Unfortunately it doesn't seems to work with my setup.

When I set this mode, if the refrigerator is cold enough and doesn't require the compressor to start everything runs fine, but as soon as the refrigerator needs to turn on I get an error on the smartphone app related to something like "HIGH AC output alarm". Not sure what is the reason since I can't find much documentation on this error. All I can say is that I just have the refrigerator connected (with its original cable) to the inverter's AC output and nothing else.

When I get this error I just need to switch (on the phone app) to OFF and then to ON and the compressor starts just fine. I'm puzzled about the possible cause.

Concurrently I was just wondering whether the pulse sent in the ECO mode is long enough to allow the fridge's electronics to figure out whether it needs more power or not.

No matter what, to me it would be really great if the pulse duration could be configurable within the app, just like the interval between pulses.

I really would appreciate very much is VE could elaborate more on this topic.

Thank you very so much in advance for an answer and... for making such great products!!

(Just as a curiosity this above mentioned fridge uses a SECOP HXD30AA compressor)

I'd like to ask if anyone from the Victron community has solved this particular challenge.

I have two customers who have invested in a large shared system.

Its made up of

6 x 10Kva Quattro

2 X Fronius Eco 27

3 X MPPT 250/100

CCGX

5400Ah 48V OPzS Batteries

76Kw of PV

The system works well, each one has a kWh meter - (not smart) and they can see they consumption only if they physically go and read it.

They would like to see their kWh/ loads on VRM individually if possible. Can this be done by 2 x 3 phase Smart meters?

Can a CCGX be connected to 2 smart meters on the load side and allow them to be monitored via vrm?

Thanks

Nawir

Kenya

I have a Quattro 10Kw in a off grid config using Lithium batteries. Can you please advise the best settings for the Quattro. Do i need to install assistants.

Hello,

I set up an off-grid system with two 12V series batteries, I also have a BP-65 battery protector.

What is the correct setting value on the battery protector from 0 to 9 so that the batteries disconnect when they reach a 50% discharge.

I find no information about the relationship between the voltage of the batteries and their discharge value.

Thank you for your help.

Nuno Morais

Looking for a stable powered USB Hub to extend the range of Vedirect cables if anyone can advise make and model.

Off grid system, nice big bank of batteries powered with a 6kW wind turbine and backup generator.

We've had a new lot of kit installed which is run by a Victron Quattro inverter/charger and colour control.

Our old system (Outback inverters) worked by feeding the power into our bank of batteries and then, when there was excess wind power, dumping that power to storage heaters which were hard wired into the system. It worked well. Power would only be dumped to heat when the house's needs were all met and the batteries were fully charged.

The new system dumps power whenever wind speeds are high which sounds ok, but in practice it's not working well for us. We've had several low-wind days and our batteries are therefore low, and now the wind speeds are picking up: so power is being dumped even though our batteries are still on a relatively low charge (last time I looked we were at about 58% according to the colour control) and with the washing machine running (nothing else) the level of charge in the batteries was actually dropping, despite the wind turbine belting round, because so much power is being dumped.

The batteries rarely get above 80% charge, and are frequently below 50%. We live in an area with very good wind speeds and relatively little turbulence, so the turbine is very efficient for us. Or at least, it was, before we had this new kit installed.

In addition we've realised that whenever our diesel generator is put on (the remote start no longer works since the new installation--we'll get round to that later) all the dump loads come on. We're paying for the generator to run, in order to dump 6kW of heat we do not need before our batteries are charged.

We've queried this all with our installer and he says the new system is working as it should. I am not convinced. I do not want to pay to run a generator to produce mostly heat--I don't want to dump any power when the generator is making it, because I want to minimise the hours the diesel generator runs. And I want to be able to run the washing machine, tumble dryer, and a few other things too, especially on high-wind days, but the dump loads mean I don't have the power to do that.

This can't be right, surely.

Advice?

As far as i can determine this isnt actually documented (properly)

(from memory the docs mention "approaching full" of something along those lines)

Also.. and to add more confusion, Ive recently noticed with a BYD lithium system that the frequency shift only happens once the batteries are reporting 100% SOC. And not before.

We are trying to configure frequency controlled switches in line with the Quattros frequency ramp on SOC

Hello, Community Folks from the USA~

Abraham Solar is contracted to build an off grid energy system inside a metal shipping container--which has us all smiles (so far). The inverting & controls will be built for British style 3 phase, 50 hz: 230 volts from each phase to the neutral & 415 volts phase to phase. The solar arrays will be AC coupled with Fronius Euro style PV inverters & three Quattro 10k's from Victron.

Instead of using these: https://www.victronenergy.com/cables/rj45-utp-cable for the VE.bus connections & for ethernet connections to the LAN local area network, my networking guru suggests that we use shielded twisted pair assemblies, category 6a. The LAN will have ten or more cabled connections from various components.

Can I get input from Victron staff members or experienced installers on this matter? I see on other threads where non-Victron brand cables have caused big headaches for Victron support staff so I don't want to stir up trouble but the interior of this metal box should be electrically noisy with 30kW of Fronius plus 30kW of Victron so...I also don't want to stir up data trouble with too much EMF interference.

We do have a quality cable fabricator lined up to make our shielded cables. We'll also have occasional wi-fi inside the box in case a technician needs to access the network on a computer which doesn't have an ethernet port.

"Tryna do it right on our first try." Thanks & Jolliness~

Recently my SOC kept showing less and less (down to 46 % before I partially solved the problem) even though the battery showed 28,2 volts (24 volt lithium Ion battery -Easysolar 3kVA).

I set the charging values on the multiplus lower than the MPPT (since I dont have a bluetooth dongle yet I cant adjust the MPPT charging parameters) after reading about this here on the forum.

The SOC then bounced up to 100% -but the maximum SOC % is slowly going down again by a rate of 0,5% per day:

Now the SOC is showing 97% as todays highest although the battery voltage is the same (28,2 volt).

Any tips on how to solve this?

Eric

Hello,

can we transform any grid coupled pv system with the multigrid inverter to an offgrid system?

Or exists some pure grid inverters, witch doesn't work with multigrid inverter, if the grid fails?

Our pure grid systems works in germany.

Thanks!

Hi all,

a friend has an older off-grid solution with inverter 24/5000 and lot of lead batteries.

Now he wants to upgrade with Multiplus2, BYD Box Pro 13.8, AC-coupled Fronius and CCGX.

The question is, can he use the older inverter like a generator only for emergency power ?

And will the CCGX be able to communicate with the inverter ?

to illustrate the idea.......

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HI < I have the following installed and working ok until a recent shift in the weather so needed the generator,

1 x 10KW Quattry with 433 firmware updaed

Color GX with V2,23

2 x MPPT 150/100 with V1,39 ( 24 x 250Watt modules)

BYD Box 10 x 2 with V4.17

Good quality 1500RPM 15KVA Generator with very stable 231V output and 51HZ no reaction to loads( IE no slowing etc)

System has been working fantastically well under quite heavy loads until called for generator,

The system starts generator ok on demand at an SOC of 20%, and runs up genny ok, then connects to the Quattro input and goes through the normal sequence, starts bulk charge, after a few mins ( even as much as 15 mins) all seems normal, then for no apparent reason the AC input is dropped by the inverter, and the system reverts to invert, after a few minutes the AC in accepts input and goes to passthrough and then Bulk, and again after a few mins drops the AC input, and so it goes on,l imit inverter off,

On system Setup,

Battermonitor automatic, Sync VE BUS SOC On,/use solar charger current to improve Bus VE SOC on, Solar charger voltage control On, Solar charger current control on,Has DC System off, DVCC On, , SVS Off, STS On, Limit charge current On, BMS control On

Generator start stop, on Auto, SOC< Battery voltage and Load atr 5KW,

any ideas as to why the Inverter keeps dropping AC would be helpful, or if I have any setting incorrect or not activated please advise,

thanks,

First of all, happy eastern to everybody!

I've planing to build an 3 phase system wie Multiplus II inverters. For my off-grid installation I asked my, what happens if one of the inverters stops because of an error or defectiv.

Does the other two inverters work in 2 phase systems through, or does the compelte cluster stop working?

A lot of thanks!

Tom

I Am using ESS in an off grid system with hybrid batteries.

I only discharge till 50% Soc with Victron Quattro

My question is, while configuring the ESS, should I define the Absolute or the Useable Capacity?

Thank you

Can i connect grid-tied inverter on the output of off-grid inverter ac side, In order to reduce battery usage during the day and take more advantage of grid-tie inverter?

Hi,

I have a Quattro 48/5000 running firmware 431. Off-grid, Venus GX , 3 X Smart Solar Lead Acid Batteries.

On three occasions the unit has shutdown with an overload error - in each case I am sure that there was no overload. The incidents have been about 2 weeks apart.

The second time that this happened, BOTH the temperature AND overload LED were lit.

The most recent incident (today) just the overload LED was on. This time I spent more time trying to diagnose the issue. I tried to reset the inverter using the remote console - using the "Switch" option (ie on the remote console turning the switch to off then back on) - doing this caused the overload LED to go out while the virtual switch was off - but the fault remained when it was turned back to the on position. Physically turning the switch on the inverter to OFF, then back to ON did clear the fault and the inverter restarted.

The inverter is about 4 years old. It may be just a coincidence, but the issue has only started since I installed the Venus GX and updated the inverter firmware to 431 about a month ago.

I am really concerned about this as we are often away from home for weeks at a time, and while I do get notified of errors, if I can't restart the inverter remotely, we could be in real trouble with freezers etc.

Any ideas what might be causing this issue?

Is there anything I can do to help diagnose the fault?

Is there any other way to remotely reset the error?

Hi there,

We have an install where the customers' lights are flickering when loads turn on/off as well as being noticeably dimmer when large loads are running. The system is a Victron Multiplus 5kVA with SmartSolar 250V/85A and 400Ah of Carbon Lead batteries.

I have had Fronius AC-Coupled systems with light issues, but never DC-coupled. There are LED, fluoro and incandescent lights in different parts of the house and all react similarly; anyone knows what could be causing this?

kind regards

Dean