Victron Multiplus not giving full charging amps

[jr_spyder]

I haven't taken any measurements or given much thought to the inverter. We've used it a few times to boil an electric kettle and it worked fine. In reality we will hardly ever use it. I bought e MultiPlus primarily as a charger, not so much for the inverter. I've converted virtually everything on my boat to 12vdc. It's a rare case when I need 120vac.

If I need to test the inverter to see if it's working to spec I'd need more advice.

I just ran the kettle off the inverter. It's a 1500 watt model and the Fluke says it pulled 133 amps dc off the batteries.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

How did you set the limit to your Victron? There are 2 methods - DIP switches inside the unit or via software. With software, there's the method using bluetooth and an app if you have the appropriate devices installed, or by attaching a MK3 adapter to the Victron itself and running the free software on a PC. The latter method gives you the most control and most information.

Originally Posted by ranger58sb

If you mean VictronConnect.... FWIW, I haven't found a way to do that?

Ditto with the "Reset History" command; online examples suggest there's a Reset History command in Setup, but that doesn't appear on our VictronConnect version. Had to use the BMV-712 to clear history (just after we installed new batteries the other day).

I should have been more clear: I meant the Bluetooth/Android version of the VictronConnect app.

Didn't mean the MK3-connected versions.

-Chris

[CharlieJ]

@jr_spyder
What firmware is the Multi running? Victron Connect > Gear symbol > Ellipses > Product info.

I don't see any problem with your programming but there are a few settings that I would change to strip down the unit to a basic stand-alone setup:
General > Dynamic Current Limit: Deselect unless you have a very small genset.
General > Enable Battery Monitor: Deselect. This battery monitor is simply the Multi measuring what DC current is in/out of the Multi.
Charger > Weak AC Input: Deselect unless your genset produces a really bad waveform.

Have you tried posting your question on the Victron Community forum? A lot of very sharp people are on that forum.

[Rumrace]

My Tesla does than in road side fast chargers. Goes up to 80% shuts down.
At home left on charge it starts back up and creeps up to 100. Someone explained to me why but I never understood it well enough to explain.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

My Tesla does than in road side fast chargers. Goes up to 80% shuts down.

At home left on charge it starts back up and creeps up to 100. Someone explained to me why but I never understood it well enough to explain.

Fast charging stresses the batteries so for better life high current charging is limited To typically 80%

At home charging will be slower so 100% is possible

[goboatingnow]

Reading the manual two things jump out

The default dip switch setting is for 75% of max charge

Weak AC setting and a battery temperature monitor maybe needed for max charging current

[jr_spyder]

Charlie, my firmware is v478, and I see v497 is available. Any reason not to upgrade? Going down that path they show a couple scary warnings that the upgrade shouldn't be attempted at home...

[jr_spyder]

Oh, and I'll go on the Victron forum too. Good tip!

[CharlieJ]

@jr_spyder #37:
Absolutely upgrade to 497. You will have to reprogram after loading the FW but you seem to have a handle on that. (Head slap: I should have asked what FW first post!)

I am surprised that Victron Connect didn't prompt you for FW update........

[jr_spyder]

Same head-slap here Charlie! That's usually the first thing I look for on anything with firm/software.

BUT - more importantly and perhaps more weirdly - I made the adjustments you suggested above and now the MP says its pushing out 115 amps, and my clamp tells me it's 110.4 at the MP. Magic - it's fixed!

App says volts ate 14.1 and my meter at the MP shows 14.1

Apparently you have a magic touch. Now to wonder which setting did the trick, and why.

Thanks,

JR

[rslifkin]

It's likely the Weak AC Input setting. Victron mentions in some of their documentation that enabling that will cause some reduction in maximum charger output.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

It's likely the Weak AC Input setting. Victron mentions in some of their documentation that enabling that will cause some reduction in maximum charger output.

I think the reverse is the case

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I think the reverse is the case

See a description from Victron here: https://community.victronenergy.com/...rom-a-tec.html

Also see section 3.1 here: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/multiplus_faq

This agrees with what I've read in the past that the Weak AC setting will reduce maximum charging power. As a result, Victron only recommends enabling Weak AC if you have a generator with output dirty enough that the Multiplus can't charge effectively from it otherwise.

[jr_spyder]

If that is the case it is interesting that my dealer set it for Weak AC. He never asked me, and I have a very good Westerbeke 8kw genset.

[jr_spyder]

Trying to do the firmware update but it fails with the error:

"Result: V26 - Updates can not be preformed with a DMC connected."

It suggests to retry - which leads to same fail.

It gives a link to a troubleshooting guide but that is for the bluetooth connection, not my USB connection. I cant find help specifically for the MK3.

This should be easy. Ideas?