Victron multiplus

[chrisandbev]

hi,
at the moment i have a 300watt inverter that powers my wifes hair dryer and an extension lead that powers laptops phones etc.

i want to upgrade to a victron multi plus but i am not sure it is worth it can anyone let me know what size i need and also is it worth the extra money.

thanks chris

 

[Speve]

The Multiplus is a great piece of kit when you have the need to stay off grid however you would probaly need to check what batteries you have and the power available.
We have a Multiplus 2000ah with a 300a Fogstar lithium battery with dctodc charger and 400 w of solar on the roof.
If you are only looking to use hairdryer occasionally and charge computers I would say buy something cheaper

 

[Lenny HB]

I think you must have a bigger inverter than 300 watts, you need to tell us the power of the hair dryer.
For a small travel hair dryer you would probably need a 1600va which is 1300 watts, but depends on the hair dryer.

Multiplus is a great bit of kit with the auto pass through & being able to combine mains + inverter.
Very good battery charger even the 1600 has a 70 amp charger, 80 amps in the 2000 & 120 amps in the 3000.

 

[chrisandbev]

hi sorry i meant a 3000watt pure sine inverter. had if for a few years now i connect it to a 200amh lithium battery separate to the vans batteries it works ok for the amount we use it for, we are soon to be going away for 6 months at a time, we do not use camp sites very often so i am trying to make sure when we do i have the right inverter etc.

 

[LithiumConvert]

They are very heavy.

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[Wh05apk]

Surely if your inverter is currently 3000wand you rarely use ehu there is little benefit on. A multiplus?

 

[paddymcc]

Surely if your inverter is currently 3000wand you rarely use ehu there is little benefit on. A multiplus?

Agree, if you are rarely going to use hook up, especially if when you do it is a campsite with 16A bollards, then not much point in changing to the multplus. If you plan to use much more than a hairdryer in future then maybe. Ie it's particularly useful if you are having to supplement the campsite electric, so perhaps if using a microwave, hairdryer and electric kettle all at once.

 

[Lenny HB]

Agree, if you are rarely going to use hook up, especially if when you do it is a campsite with 16A bollards, then not much point in changing to the multplus. If you plan to use much more than a hairdryer in future then maybe. Ie it's particularly useful if you are having to supplement the campsite electric, so perhaps if using a microwave, hairdryer and electric kettle all at once.

I've decided to fit a Multiplus 3000 on the new van and we only use EHU about one night in a hundred.

I worked out by the time I'd bought the inverter a new charger for Lithium and built an auto changeover unit the saving would only be about £150.

Saves a lot of work fitting and if I had fitted seperate units the charger would be 30 amp with the Multiplus I get 120 amp charger. So if I have low batteries I can spend a couple Euro and hook up for a couple of hours on an Aire and get a good charge into out batteries.

As its probably our last new van might as well do it properly and as we get older may be using EHU more often (hope not).

 

[Tombola]

Of you already have a 3000w inverter, and the separate lithium and charger there really is no need for the multiples, if you current usage remains the same.

 

[LithiumConvert]

I've decided to fit a Multiplus 3000 .... As its probably our last new van might as well do it properly and as we get older may be using EHU more often (hope not)

They are very heavy and you may need to use your new van at 3500 Kgs as you turn 80.

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[Lenny HB]

They are very heavy and you may need to use your new van at 3500 Kgs as you turn 80.

Works out lighter.
3000va Multiplus 2, 19kg.
3000va Pheonix inverter, 19kg + 30 amp charger 1.3kg = 20.3kg.

 

[TinaLes]

A Carthago running at or below 3500Kgs with 2 adults and kit, water & Lpg....
Victron Multiplus 3000 quoted at 18/19Kgs
2 Fogstar Drift 230 amp/hr batteries at 25Kgs Each = 50Kgs and 460 amp/hour
Renogy 200 watt solar panels 12Kgs each, so 2 panels at least 24Kgs
Plus Cables, switchgear, busbar's & Fuses.
Well thats the best of 100Kgs gone of the already exaggerated net payload, no way without upgrading to at least 3850Kgs and even thats very tight. Without a C1 licence forget it.
LES

 

[LithiumConvert]

Works out lighter.

Valid Point. But, for those of us who need 3500 Kgs total, then neither option is a good starting point.

But, I am thinking about getting one for the house.

 

[Guigsy]

Or forgo the hair dryer, then you don't need the inverter, the extra battery, or half the solar. 70kg just to have your bonce dry a bit quicker seems a bit extravagant.

 

[Lenny HB]

Or forgo the hair dryer, then you don't need the inverter, the extra battery, or half the solar. 70kg just to have your bonce dry a bit quicker seems a bit extravagant.

I've got 'er indoors trained, she uses a Babyliss gas hair styler.

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[WESTY66]

I've got 'er indoors trained, she uses a Babyliss gas hair styler.

Have you got “er indoors” trained to let you have full air on the new van yet?

 

[scotjimland]

as we get older may be using EHU more often

yep.. for the electric blanket

 

[WESTY66]

yep.. for the electric blanket

I was thinking charging scooter

 

[Guigsy]

I was thinking charging scooter

There are probably much lighter and cheaper options than a 20kg inverter.

 

[autorouter]

hi sorry i meant a 3000watt pure sine inverter. had if for a few years now i connect it to a 200amh lithium battery separate to the vans batteries it works ok for the amount we use it for, we are soon to be going away for 6 months at a time, we do not use camp sites very often so i am trying to make sure when we do i have the right inverter etc.

I like the idea of a big lithium battery for the inverter, separate from the habitation battery. That's how I have my MH set up. I know the habitation circuits need to be 12V, but they are very low powered, up to maybe 200W, compared to a 3000W inverter.

My Multiplus2 3000 powers all the appliances like kettle, microwave and rice cooker, with a 600Ah bank of lithium. The 12V hab supply is totally separate. The 100Ah EFB hab battery lasts quite well with only the hab loads, and there is a 15A mains charger I can switch on to fill the hab battery from the lithium battery if it's getting a bit low.

One point worth noting is that hookup is available in many aires, it's not necessary to go to a campsite nowadays to get hookup. Hundreds of CCP aires in France, for example. They often have low power 6A hookups, so a Multiplus is great for allowing higher power appliances to run from these.

If you were starting from scratch I think a Multiplus is worth having. However if you already have a 3000W inverter that works, it's debatable whether it's worth changing it, especially if you don't use hookup much. Maybe increase your 200Ah lithium, and if it doesn't charge from the alternator at the moment, fit a big B2B.

I have a 70A B2B charging the lithium bank, and the hab lead-acid battery is charged by the original split charge system.

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[Lenny HB]

There are probably much lighter and cheaper options than a 20kg inverter.

Not if you want a decent one.

 

[Guigsy]

Not if you want a decent one.

I ment a direct DC-DC power supply to the battery, rather than going via 230v AC.

 

[Lenny HB]

Have you got “er indoors” trained to let you have full air on the new van yet?

I'll just order it & tell her afterwards, like I did with the OLED TV & the e-Bike.
Not sure how long my life expectancy will be afterwards.

 

[WESTY66]

I'll just order it & tell her afterwards, like I did with the OLED TV & the e-Bike.
Not sure how long my life expectancy will be afterwards.

Keep telling you it’s a lot easier to get forgiveness than permission

 

[peterc10]

yep.. for the electric blanket

Us too. Wife used to use hot water bottles but now we both have electric blankets. Not used much in Spain and Portugal, but France was a bit nippy when we were travelling down.

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[WESTY66]

yep.. for the electric blanket

Us too. Wife used to use hot water bottles but now we both have electric blankets. Not used much in Spain and Portugal, but France was a bit nippy when we were travelling down.

ANYONE who mentions electric blankets to Mrs Westy will have all 4 or 6 tyres let down

 

[Lenny HB]

Keep telling you it’s a lot easier to get forgiveness than permission

Might have just had a result, it's my birthday next week and while having lunch she said what do you want for your birthday.
So I said air suspension on the new van.
She said you are going to buy that anyway so what do you want for your birthday..

 

[Roger S]

You must be a charmer, I wouldn't get a choice

 

[paddymcc]

Might have just had a result, it's my birthday next week and while having lunch she said what do you want for your birthday.
So I said air suspension on the new van.
She said you are going to buy that anyway so what do you want for your birthday..

Nice one!
So what do you want for your birthday, a Morelo?