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In the absence of mains power, the MultiPlus-II system employs a frequency shift method to manage solar inverter output. It slightly increases the AC frequency, which is a recognized signal for modern solar inverters to reduce their output.

This frequency adjustment is a form of indirect communication between the MultiPlus-II and the connected solar inverters, ensuring that the system doesn’t generate more power than can be stored or consumed during a grid outage.

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When the ‘inverter’ LED is lit, it means your MultiPlus-II is in good shape and actively supplying power to your connected load.

This indicates that the inverter function is engaged, converting DC power from your batteries to AC power for your appliances or equipment. It’s the green light that tells you your system is currently in inverter mode and everything is working as it should.

If you have devices running and this light is on, they’re being powered by the inverter.

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The recommended sequence for shutting down your MultiPlus-II 230V is actually to use the on/off switch first before disconnecting it from the DC power source.

Here’s how to do it and why:

• Switch-Off First: Use the on/off/charger-only switch to turn off the unit. This step ensures that the inverter/charger stops operating and prepares the system for a safe shutdown.

• De-Powering After: Once the unit is switched off, you can then proceed to completely de-power the MultiPlus-II by disconnecting it from its DC power source.

• Safety Consideration: This sequence is recommended for safety. Turning off the switch first reduces the risk of any electrical incidents or shorts that could occur if you were to disconnect the DC source while the unit is still operational.

• Residual Voltage: Remember, even after turning off the unit and disconnecting it from the DC power source, there may still be residual voltage present. So, avoid touching any terminals or opening the unit.

In other words, switching off your MultiPlus-II 230V before disconnecting it from the DC power source is a safety measure to ensure a controlled and risk-free shutdown process.

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Connecting the AC cabling to your MultiPlus-II 230V involves several safety considerations to ensure proper operation and to prevent hazards.

Safety Classification:

• Your MultiPlus-II 230V is a safety class I product, which means it must have an uninterruptible grounding point. This is crucial for safety purposes.

Ground Relay Operation:

• The product includes a ground relay (relay H) that automatically connects the Neutral output to the chassis when no external AC supply is available.

• When an external AC supply is provided, this relay will open before the input safety relay closes, ensuring earth leakage circuit breakers function correctly.

Fixed Installation Grounding:

• In a fixed installation, the uninterruptible grounding can be assured via the grounding wire of the AC input cable.

Mobile Installation Grounding:

• In mobile installations, such as with a shore power connection, the grounding will disconnect when the shore connection does.

• In these cases, ensure the casing is connected to the chassis (of the vehicle) or to the hull or grounding plate (of the boat).

Preventing Galvanic Corrosion:

• Specifically for boats, avoid direct connection to the shore ground due to the risk of galvanic corrosion. Use an isolation transformer to mitigate this risk.

Torque Specifications: When securing connections, apply the correct torque to the bolts:

• M4 bolts: 1 Nm

• M5 bolts: 3 Nm

• M6 bolts: 5.5 Nm

• M8 bolts: 12 Nm

Limit on Aggregation:

• The unit has fixed trip limits and should not be aggregated above 30kW on a single point of common connection.

Locating AC Terminal Blocks:

• The AC terminal blocks are located on the printed circuit board within the unit. Refer to Appendix A for the exact location and connection overview.

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Connecting multiple MultiPlus-II 230V units in parallel is a great way to increase your total inverter power.

This setup is ideal if your power requirements exceed the capacity of a single unit.

To do this:

• Ensure all units are connected to the same battery or battery bank.

• Use identical cables for all connections to maintain consistency and efficiency.

• The setup process involves configuring each unit to operate in parallel mode, which you can do using the configuration software provided by Victron Energy.

• It’s essential to ensure that the settings for each unit are identical to avoid any operational conflicts. Once set up, the units will work together seamlessly, providing a higher power output collectively.

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The family group numbers in the context of Victron VE.Bus products provide quick reference information about the device’s characteristics, particularly regarding the type of microprocessor and the voltage they operate at.

Here’s what each number represents:

• 18: This group number indicates products that do not have VE.Bus capability.

• 19: This is assigned to VE.Bus products with old microprocessors that operate at 230VAC. So, if you see a firmware with ’19’ at the beginning, it is designed for 230VAC systems with older microprocessor technology.

• 20: Similar to the ’19’ family but designed for 120VAC. This means that the VE.Bus product has an old microprocessor and is intended for regions with 120VAC electrical systems.

• 26: This group number is for VE.Bus products that have new microprocessors and operate at 230VAC. Products in this family would be using more recent technology and are compatible with a 230VAC setup.

• 27: This is the counterpart to ’26’ but for 120VAC systems. It indicates that the VE.Bus product has a new microprocessor and is designed for areas where the electrical systems run on 120VAC.

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The ‘DC input low pre-alarm’ setting in VictronConnect is designed to give you an early warning that the battery is approaching a critically low voltage level before it actually reaches the shutdown threshold.

Function:

• This pre-alarm alerts you that the battery voltage is getting close to the ‘DC input low shutdown’ level, allowing you to take action to reduce consumption or initiate charging before the inverter shuts down to protect the batteries.

Relative Setting:

• The pre-alarm level is set as an offset relative to the ‘DC input low restart‘ voltage. Since the ‘low restart‘ level is already set above the ‘low shutdown’ voltage, the pre-alarm is essentially a higher level than both of these, occurring before either shutdown or restart conditions are met.

Interconnected Changes:

• It’s important to note that when you adjust either the ‘DC input low restart‘ or the ‘DC input low shut-down’ levels, the ‘DC input low pre-alarm’ level changes as well because it is tied to these settings.

• If, for example, you raise the ‘low restart‘ voltage, the ‘pre-alarm‘ voltage will increase by the same amount, maintaining its offset from the restart level.

Usage Tips:

• When configuring your system, you should determine the pre-alarm level based on how much advance notice you need to respond to a low battery situation, and how quickly your battery voltage tends to drop.

• This feature is particularly useful in systems where manual intervention is necessary to start a backup generator or to switch off non-essential loads to conserve power.

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The ‘Absorption Voltage’ is a setting in the ‘Charger’ section of VictronConnect for your MultiPlus inverter/chargers, that is part of a two-step (or sometimes three-step) charging process for batteries.

Function:

• During the “Absorption phase”, the charger maintains the battery at a constant voltage, which is the ‘Absorption Voltage‘.

• This phase follows the initial “Bulk Charge phase” where the battery was charged at a constant high current.

• In the “Absorption phase”, the voltage is kept steady while the current gradually tapers off as the battery becomes more fully charged.

Purpose of Absorption Phase:

• This phase allows the battery to reach full charge in a controlled manner, which helps to prevent overcharging that can occur if the voltage were to remain too high for too long.

• It also ensures that all cells in the battery reach an equal charge level.

Setting the Value:

• The correct ‘Absorption Voltage‘ will depend on the type of battery and its specific charging requirements.

• Manufacturers typically provide optimal charging voltage recommendations for their batteries.

• For instance, many flooded lead-acid batteries have an absorption voltage around 14.4V per 12V unit, but this can vary, particularly with different battery technologies like AGM or Lithium-ion.

Usage Tips:

• It is important to set the ‘Absorption Voltage‘ correctly to ensure the battery reaches full charge without causing excessive gassing or heating (in lead acid batteries), which can damage the battery over time.

• Not reaching the correct absorption voltage can result in undercharging, which also impacts battery life and performance.

Always consult your battery’s datasheet or manufacturer’s recommendations to set the correct ‘Absorption Voltage’. This ensures that your batteries charge efficiently and their longevity is preserved.

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Probably hasn’t been updated or they are giving info on the lowest cost product.

Technically, the Victron Cerbo GX is the more advanced successor to the Color Control GX, offering enhanced capabilities and connectivity.

The Cerbo allows for the same monitoring and control functionality as the Color Control GX but with a more modern interface and additional features such as built-in WiFi and more extensive data logging.

When managing multiple MultiPlus-II units, the Cerbo GX is fully capable of ensuring compliance with grid standards such as NRS-097 by coordinating the inverter outputs for balance and stability.

It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with Victron’s remote management platform, VRM, for comprehensive system oversight.

Therefore, if you already have a Cerbo GX, it’s the preferred choice for managing your MultiPlus-II setup, negating the necessity for a Color Control GX.

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Setting the upper voltage limit of your inverter to align closely with the maximum voltage tolerance of your computer’s power supply is a wise approach to safeguarding your equipment. If your computer’s power supply has a maximum input voltage rating of 240V, adjusting your inverter’s upper voltage limit to a slightly higher value, such as 242V, offers a couple of benefits:

• Closer Alignment with Power Supply Tolerance: Setting the limit to 242V (which is just about +5% above the nominal 230V) provides a safety margin that is more in line with your power supply’s specifications. This reduces the risk of exposing the power supply to voltages higher than what it’s rated to handle.

• Enhanced Protection: By setting the upper limit at 242V, you’re essentially ensuring that your inverter will not pass through any grid voltage that exceeds this threshold. This can be particularly useful in protecting sensitive electronic equipment like computers from potential overvoltage conditions.

• Balancing Protection and Functionality: While setting the upper limit lower provides more protection, it’s also essential to balance this with functionality. If the grid voltage frequently hovers around 237V-240V, setting the limit too close to this range (like at 242V) might lead to more frequent switching to inverter power, especially if the grid voltage tends to fluctuate.

• Grid Stability Consideration: Ensure that the grid voltage in your area does not frequently exceed your new set limit. If it does, the inverter may frequently switch to battery power, which might not be ideal depending on your usage pattern and battery capacity.

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If your MultiPlus-II inverter reaches the upper voltage limit you’ve set (such as 242V in your case), it will not turn off the inverter itself. Instead, the inverter will switch from AC pass-through mode (where it’s passing the grid power directly to your loads) to inverter mode, where it starts supplying power from the DC source (typically a battery bank).

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Here’s what happens:

Switching to Battery Power (DC Mode):

• When the input AC voltage exceeds the upper limit you’ve set, the inverter interprets this as an overvoltage condition. To protect connected devices, it will automatically switch from using grid power to using battery power, thereby converting DC from the batteries to AC for your use.

Inverter Mode Operation:

• In this mode, the inverter will supply power to your connected devices by inverting DC power from the batteries to AC power. This ensures that your devices continue to operate with a stable and safe voltage level.

Returning to Grid Power:

• Once the grid voltage falls back within the acceptable range (below the set upper voltage limit), the MultiPlus-II will automatically switch back to using grid power. This transition is designed to be seamless to maintain a continuous power supply for your devices.

Protection and Efficiency:

• This feature is particularly useful for protecting sensitive electronic devices like computers. It ensures they are not exposed to potentially harmful overvoltage conditions. However, it also means that the inverter will be drawing power from the batteries during these periods, which could impact battery life if overvoltage conditions on the grid are frequent.

Monitoring and Adjustments:

• It’s important to monitor how often these switches occur. If your inverter frequently switches to battery power due to regular overvoltage conditions, you may need to reconsider the upper voltage limit settings or consult with your utility provider about the stability of the grid voltage.