Explain this!! Electrical drain overnight! (9 Viewers)

[Lenny HB]

If you wire all the 230v side through the multiplus you can control the threshold to when assist turns on better than when you have say the fridge and heating separately as the multiplus doesn't know how much power these are using so could still trip the ehu.

Trust you to make me more work Dave, now I'm going to have to fit a changeover switch.

 

[G1969]

Nail on head

All incoming mains goes via the Multiplus, the Multiplus will run in bypass mode until the max current from the bollard is reached (depending on your Multiplus settings) . When you exceed that current the inverter turns on and makes up the difference.

If you were on a 6 amp hookup running a 2kw load the inverter would need to supply approx 35 amps at 12v.

Hi Ade,

Reading this with interest, as we have virtually same set up.
I suppose could also happen in uk, if a power cut happens throughout the night.
Anyway glad you got to the bottom of it.

 

[eddie]

The Multiplus has three switch settings on the remote panel

Charge

Off

Inverter

If on inverter the panel can be set to reflect the amperage of the supply, and as already been explained, it will make up the shortfall IE Supply is 6amp, the load is 8amp the inverter will make up the ‘missing’ 2amp to avoid tripping the supply

If, the mains supply is disconnected or switches off, the multiplus will continue to make up the difference! in the scenario 8amps

If you select Charger it will only act as a charger, so does nothing when the mains is disconnected

Off is everything off

Edit: I did install it with the BUS so I could switch the inverter on and off through the App, but kept leaving the bloody thing on and flattened my Lithiums a couple of times, and once was pissed and really couldn’t understand what had happened

Sometimes looking at a switch panel is a Godsend!

 

[Lenny HB]

How about.. Pay a euro and plug in to ehu. When the time is up check the settings and see if inverter has switched on. Check everything while still plugged in to see if theres a draw.

The inverter has to be on for the pass through to work otherwise you get no mains. The inverter does not invert unless it needs to make up a current shortfall.

 

[funflair]

If you wire all the 230v side through the multiplus you can control the threshold to when assist turns on better than when you have say the fridge and heating separately as the multiplus doesn't know how much power these are using so could still trip the ehu.

We have the fridge and Alde supply before our Buttner, everything else backed up by the inverter, Alde load monitor on the incoming mains cable sorts out the bollard trip issue.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[WESTY66]

Ich bin ein Berliner

 

[ChrisL]

Ich bin ein Berliner

I am a jam donut?

 

[WESTY66]

I am a jam donut?

Yup, it seems that way

 

[AdrianChen]

The inverter has to be on for the pass through to work otherwise you get no mains. The inverter does not invert unless it needs to make up a current shortfall.

Did you consider using AC-Out-2?

 

[Lenny HB]

Did you consider using AC-Out-2?

Not so far might be an idea, I'm still learning about the Multiplus.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[eddie]

The advantage of using the Alde heating through the Multiplus is that the system may not have the benefit of the heat exchanger and the addition circulation pump

In that case you can have on road heating and hot water for free!

 

[Ditcha]

Trust you to make me more work Dave, now I'm going to have to fit a changeover switch.

Only really happens when you are on ehu so few and far between really

 

[Ditcha]

We have the fridge and Alde supply before our Buttner, everything else backed up by the inverter, Alde load monitor on the incoming mains cable sorts out the bollard trip issue.

Does the Buttner gear also have a load monitor on the incoming mains so it knows what the fridge and Alde are using ?

 

[Barclaybasher]

After reading this thread I am really happy that my van is still exactly as it was built in 2001.......

 

[Ditcha]

Did you consider using AC-Out-2?

That's another way of doing it running fridge and heating on AC out 2 my wee 1600/70/16 multiplus never had that option

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[WESTY66]

Only really happens when you are on ehu so few and far between really

That’s it!!!!!!
I’ve only hooked up twice to run some free leccy off a bollard, that’s why I’m not used to it operating that way, I’m usually on gas and battery for everything
It’s all a learning curve I suppose, but embarrassing when you learn everything does as it should but it’s operator error
So the few free Euro I’ve scavenged off the bollards, I’ve had to put back in this morning to charge back up!!
What a tool

 

[funflair]

Does the Buttner gear also have a load monitor on the incoming mains so it knows what the fridge and Alde are using ?

It has a load monitor but only watches what goes through the inverter I believe, in the winter on say a 12 amp hook up I set the Alde load monitor to 10 amps and the Buttner to 2 amps so can keep the heating on and boil the kettle or even run the air con heat pump to get faster warm up, if I wanted to prioritise battery charging I would wind the Alde down and the Buttner up.

 

[MichaelT]

That’s it!!!!!!
I’ve only hooked up twice to run some free leccy off a bollard, that’s why I’m not used to it operating that way, I’m usually on gas and battery for everything
It’s all a learning curve I suppose, but embarrassing when you learn everything does as it should but it’s operator error
So the few free Euro I’ve scavenged off the bollards, I’ve had to put back in this morning to charge back up!!
What a tool

I'm glad I've got a basic inverter I switch on and off as needed, but it does run our fridge so have to put that on gas if I'm using it for a long while.

 

[G1969]

I think the multiplus is great, and offer so many more flexibility. I presume you can just put it charge only mode prior to retiring, then if it runs out or power cut then it will not revert to inverting

 

[Lenny HB]

I think the multiplus is great, and offer so many more flexibility. I presume you can just put it charge only mode prior to retiring, then if it runs out or power cut then it will not revert to inverting

In charge only you don't get the pass through so you won't have any mains in the van.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Raul]

Here is a wild theory for those who really understand these things to pull apart.

EHU plugged in and runs out of credit - Multiplus switches to inverter mode - Inverter provides different AC using out of phase 115V down positive and negative wires - EHU still plugged into bollard where negative wire is earth bonded - Inverter sending 115V to earth - 12V battery powering drain to earth.

Answer, unplug the EHU as soon as credit runs out?

You are not even close, When credit runs out, and the ehu stops providing the Ac input, the multiplus disconnects from ehu via relay. If no AC IN present, the relay will not engage. It will only engage if mains are present, within parameter setting values, to allows synchronization.
It only works with the ehu earth while is synchronized and receiving AC IN. After AC IN disappears, the relay opens, and multiplus functions on its own settings as stand alone.
Also to have such a leak upstream, the inverter does not allow it, unless you have installed a ESS assistant with relevant country code for feeding upstream into the grid, via AC IN.

 

[Raul]

The Multiplus has three switch settings on the remote panel

Charge

Off

Inverter

If on inverter the panel can be set to reflect the amperage of the supply, and as already been explained, it will make up the shortfall IE Supply is 6amp, the load is 8amp the inverter will make up the ‘missing’ 2amp to avoid tripping the supply

If, the mains supply is disconnected or switches off, the multiplus will continue to make up the difference! in the scenario 8amps

If you select Charger it will only act as a charger, so does nothing when the mains is disconnected

Off is everything off

Edit: I did install it with the BUS so I could switch the inverter on and off through the App, but kept leaving the bloody thing on and flattened my Lithiums a couple of times, and once was pissed and really couldn’t understand what had happened

Sometimes looking at a switch panel is a Godsend!

You can set up a notifications on vrm, to email and worn you of your preferred parameters, I have SOC 20% warning, loss of internet warning, and sub 2C deg. There are loads of notifications you can set up.

 

[AdrianChen]

In charge only you don't get the pass through so you won't have any mains in the van.

My manual says this:

"3.1. On/Off/Charger Only SwitchWhen switched to ‘on’, the inverter/charger is fully functional. The inverter will come into operation, and the LED ‘inverter on’ will light up. An AC voltage connected to the ‘AC in’ terminal will be switched through to the ‘AC out’ terminal, if within specifications. The inverter will switch off, the ‘mains on’ LED will light up, and the charger commences charging. The ‘bulk’, ‘absorption’ or ‘float’ LEDs will light up, depending on the charger mode.If the voltage at the ‘AC-in’ terminal is rejected, the inverter will switch on.

When the switch is switched to ‘charger only’, only the battery charger of the inverter/charger will operate (if mains voltage ispresent). The input voltage is also switched through to the ‘AC out’ terminal in this mode.

NOTE: When only the charger function is required, ensure that the switch is switched to ‘charger only’. This prevents the inverter from being switched on if the mains voltage is lost, thus preventing your batteries from running flat".

What I have always wanted was the ability to have passthrough without the charger, but not having to use VRM or some clever node red stuff. (Some time ago there was a firmware "bug" that let you do this, but the new firmware doesn't allow it anymore).......

 

[Raul]

My manual says this:

"3.1. On/Off/Charger Only SwitchWhen switched to ‘on’, the inverter/charger is fully functional. The inverter will come into operation, and the LED ‘inverter on’ will light up. An AC voltage connected to the ‘AC in’ terminal will be switched through to the ‘AC out’ terminal, if within specifications. The inverter will switch off, the ‘mains on’ LED will light up, and the charger commences charging. The ‘bulk’, ‘absorption’ or ‘float’ LEDs will light up, depending on the charger mode.If the voltage at the ‘AC-in’ terminal is rejected, the inverter will switch on.

When the switch is switched to ‘charger only’, only the battery charger of the inverter/charger will operate (if mains voltage ispresent). The input voltage is also switched through to the ‘AC out’ terminal in this mode.

NOTE: When only the charger function is required, ensure that the switch is switched to ‘charger only’. This prevents the inverter from being switched on if the mains voltage is lost, thus preventing your batteries from running flat".

What I have always wanted was the ability to have passthrough without the charger, but not having to use VRM or some clever node red stuff. (Some time ago there was a firmware "bug" that let you do this, but the new firmware doesn't allow it anymore).......

You have two possibilities to do this: disable ac charger on ve bus settings, or just limit the DC amps provided by the AC IN.
Without vrm, you can get a ve bus dongle to access the inverter,

 

[Howard H]

Ich bin ein Berliner

It might as well all be in German, I am sure I am not on my own when I say I have not got a clue what you are all talking about . Mind blowing

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[WESTY66]

It might as well all be in German, I am sure I am not on my own when I say I have not got a clue what you are all talking about . Mind blowing

Howard my mate, Ich bin ein Berliner actually means “I am a doughnut” in German

Made famous in a speech by JFK on a visit to Germany in the 60’s

Top and bottom is there’s nothing wrong with the electrics, it’s the idiot that’s working them

 

[gus-lopez]

Ich bin ein Berliner

Yes

 

[Howard H]

Howard my mate, Ich bin ein Berliner actually means “I am a doughnut” in German

Made famous in a speech by JFK on a visit to Germany in the 60’s

Top and bottom is there’s nothing wrong with the electrics, it’s the idiot that’s working them

I know that it’s all this electric jargon that’s confusing.

 

[Raul]

And Hamburger if you are from Hamburg.

 

[WESTY66]

I know that it’s all this electric jargon that’s confusing.

Tell me about it

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}