You got to love this man and his ideas and his effort for testning everything he comes up with! I love it!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, Ken. Just what I did my whole life long. I would do the same testing even without camera. But with, it is far more fun.

I realy like this guy, he can put a smile on your face while explaining his stuff, wish he was my neighbor !

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I would like to have all of you as my neighbours. OK, most of you... 😁

Thanks Andy for showing all of us how you test and run everything! This kind of real world testing really helps all of us.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I was also interested in how this works and if... win-win

Thanks Andy for reminding me of how lovely those crisp, clear winter mornings on the old Sunshine coast are!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, beautiful here at the moment. Only 6°C this morning. Fireplace is running.

@jackoneil3933

Жыл бұрын

​@@OffGridGarageAustralia Thanks for reminding me of that as well. It warms my heart to see a good bloke from the island south of the Black Forrest enjoying the I life dreamed of. Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

Great idea and that you show us this possibility. There are so many things that can be done with this setup.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

As I said, it opens up a whole new dimension of possibilities now... I was really thinking of digging a trench around the pool for a DC feed back to the garage and thought about this for well over a year. Not any more...

I'm also using grid tie with my off-grid system MultiPlus-II 3000VA. The micro inverters i have are "PVGS 180W" and "PVGS 350W" the 180w was 38€ and 350w was 45€. Both from aliexpress, They do support frequency shift so when the battery is full i see 53hz and they stop producing power. For the power meter i used a cheap 12€ Tasmota smart plug that monitors the AC Voltage,Current,Power and then made a small python script for the victron VenusOS that gets the data from the smart plug's api (This is done on the local network so the refresh rate is about 2 seconds) and imports them into the VenusOS and VRM as a "fake" power meter. I also am running ESS without any issues even offgrid. (I have grid but it's unstable and set the inverter to "inverter-only" mode so the ac-in is disconnected)

@KevIsOffGrid

Жыл бұрын

Top work :)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I'm interested in this script and a comprehensive manual send to me via email so I can make a video for everyone... 😊

@xpatrikpvp

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Sure, no problem. I will email you! (probably tomorrow because no time today)

Aaahhhh. Absolutely new topic for me. But it makes all the sense in the world. Interesting that the Multiplus is able to manage that "outsider" power and put it in the battery. There it is, a great solution for your winter extra backup power power. Loved the tech class... As usual! Keep it up Andy, you are the best solar and battery teacher on the interwebs...

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Ricardo. I wanted to test this out for a long time. Now is the time to get this project done. More to come!

I am learning so much on this channel! Happy to watch some advertisements for you. Will put it on repeat when the sun is shining(got no batteries for the house yet, boat and cabin are fine thanks to this channel)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha, thanks a lot Wiley. I appreciate your support.

Amazing project Andy !

This is so cool. The multi is such a cool tool

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It is amazing. With all these software assistants it the Swiss Army Knife!

AC connected PV demystified! Hope to see more about this, especially about the ET112 as I'm considering one for my ESS, be great to learn about those. Keep it up Andy! Greets from the UK in almost high summer ;)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for your support and keeping me alive 🍺🍺🍺

Very cool idea Andy

Thanks for the video Andy. This appears to be a rebranded Deye micro inverter. Deye inverters of all shapes, sizes and types are known to be versatile and provide good values for the money.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it seems advertised now as a Deye inverter on AliExpress. Feels very solid.

The Sol-Ark inverter also fully supports UL1741-SA. Lets see.. Sol-Ark, Outback;.. the SMA inverter supports the protocol but doesn't have an integrated battery charger / inverter (which is required to soak up or push power mismatches). Probably a few others. Sol-Ark is the best, though,

great system. great weather in Italy in winter. last winter we had maybe only 3 days of sun and it shone for 10 hours.

Finally a video of this micro inverter

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Exactly, one year warranty wasted... 😄

Thumbs up 👍 recharge and go for power up! 😊

You really are becoming a Solar Guru ... I worship at your feet oh master ;-)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Rise from your knees, Padawan 😂

@pmacgowan

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia May the Electrical Force be with you, as long as you are earthed of cause

@06:25 your local government(wifey)😂😂😂🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Ah finally trying my set up. My growatt will charge and add to the output if needed.

Interesting stuff.

Very interesting

Thank you for your Videos Andy! I also use a grid tie inverter that also uses Solarman app. I added a wifi switch (switchable socket). I use mystrom switch, that is really expensive but I like their data representation. This kind of wifi switch can also be accessed via rest api. So I can get realtime information from that switch and do what ever I want with the data. This extra switch adds also another possibility of deactivating the micro inverter. May be you find a comparable switch with Rest api in sunny hot Australia 🙂

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. That is a great idea and I will do something similar for this inverter which I can then integrate into the Victron System.

This same 2kW micro-inverter works great together with my campervan MultiPlus-II 3kW. Tested with sun fall and 450Wp split mono panel. Tomorrow hopefully good sunshine to test full charge. Already tested two wire BMS to stop charging which is mandatory!

@markeh1971

Ай бұрын

Hi, how did you get on with this. Using micro inverters to mains voltage as a small simple system seams such a good idea. It makes you think about all the “small” loads adding up. Take care M

@mhelander

Ай бұрын

@@markeh1971 since spring this setup kept battery charged without shore power or alternator over month already

I have a Sunsynk 8kw hybrid. (Grid tied) It can function as off grid and on its Generator port it can accept up to 4kw of AC from grid tied microinverters. I have 3.5kw feeding in. If I was islanded (off grid) it apparently can frequency shift to tail off output of the microinverters.... but I believe it will also disconnect the relay contact for that port when a specific battery SOC is reached. Also check out DEYE (same factory)

You can use a Shelly 3EM to measure the power and transmit it via WiFi to the Victron System and visualize it. This works fine in my system. Thanks for the content and greetings from South Germany. 👍👍👍

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

How do you read the Shelly in Victron though? It needs some kind of script or integration.

@freakazoidz23

Жыл бұрын

My third attempt to answer here... Yes, there is a project from Fabian Lauer (dbus-shelly-3em-smartmeter). You find it on the standard repository (don't want to mention it here). Hope this comment will not be deleted again... 😬

Very nice and interesting video 👍 Greetings from Germany

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Danke Dir!

With Hoymiles Inverter it works very well. "Moin" from german north sea coast.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, they work. I have seen this on Jens' channel. I just can't get them down here.

You need a master inverter AND microinverters that do UL1741-SA. Basically, the master inverter adjusts the micro-grid main frequency to control the micro-inverter outputs. UL1741 is the basic on-off protocol. UL1741-SA is the later version which allows dynamic control of the micro-inverter output. Micro-inverters that over-produce will push the voltage on the micro-grid up to the micro-inverters limit, and if the micro-inverter is working properly it will SHUT DOWN because that is how it detects islanding, and it is required to shut-down as a safety mecanism. The second problem is that the frequency servo is not instantaneous. The micro-inverters cannot follow the loads instantly. So the master inverter needs to have an integrated battery system that soaks up or provides the necessary difference until the frequency servo is able to adjust the micro-inverter output to match the changing load conditions.

Solarman is the app used by the Deye inverters and also has an online version that does give you a bit better access to the data. It also shows which data is real-time and which is not, and a basic explanation as to why (in summary, some data produces too much traffic to be sustainable in real-time).

Some have used enphase when it didnt do DRM and just a matter of keeping load up while the enphase produce power. Magnasine apparently could handle dumping full power into it but certainly people tried using 300w inverter to mimic the grid and then use enphase at their peril as the 300w couldnt cope should the load go. Some also reported those non-enphase micro inverters quality was lot to be desired often dying after 6-12 months of use compared to the more reliable enphase ones.

Andy, the runs from the fence will work.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It's limited sun only in the pm and the Winter sun is fairly weak already at this point. So, not really worth doing...

Hello handy I do that for years with sma inverter..... I notice 1 mistake...... The maximum power of a solar grid tie inverter on a multiplus is not the power of the multiplus but the maxi charging current. On my multiplus 3000 35A so 1450 w maxi. The best avantage of this method of production is that you can have in my case 4000 w during the day without starting a phoenix to assist the multiplus..... And most of the time you using energy straits of solar inverter , the Lifetime of your multiplus Wil be extended..... Nice demo. For info in Europe all the grid inverter since 2011 have the modulation capability via frequency variation .....from 100 to 60 % power reduction then turn off. Thanks for your happy video😅😘

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info, Eric. I could not find this info about the max charging current through the MP. I'll have another dig...

@ericverlaet4447

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia hello handy This is the system A muliplus 48/3000/35-16 Means 48 V battery, 3000VA 35 A(DC) charging current,16A input current (AC, grid).

SMA solar converters can input 3kW (AC) per string but handle up to 4.5kW without going boom. And they tie in to the inverter that controls the AC frequency to ensure it uses only what's needed and doesn't go boom 🙂

@Scat.original

10 ай бұрын

What are SMA solar converters?

I had a micro grid setup with an SMA inverter, there is a reason that I went back to full dc, good luck Andy...

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Do you want to share? Well, there is almost no way to get DC over to this side of the pool all the way from my garage, so AC seems the only solution.

@GapRecordingsNamibia

Жыл бұрын

Hi Andy, no, I agree that there is no easy way to get any form of dc from that location that does not involve any form of trenching, but, again you are testing which is what your channel is about,. For about 7 years I had an SMA sunnyboy 1.5 backfeeding into my multipluse, and for the most part ran ok, but about 2, 2,5 years in I started noticing hard resets occurring from the SMA when frequency shifting would be implemented via the multipluse, and sometimes when the victron would then lower its frequency back down the SMA would just not be able to sync back up and would sometimes try to connect out of phase that would de-sync both inverters causing the victron to also shutdown, leaving us without power, and having to be restarted. There were days where I would just totally switch off the SMA leading to loss of solar. In my last rewire I just parraled all the solar panels from the SMA side via braekers, and am pulling them into a separate mppt they are HV panels, I have noticed a gain in solar of about 500W which is not that much but still a gain none the less, and, more stable. Old setup would peak at1, 8 to 2Kw I am now seeing up to 2.5 to 2,7Kw in solar production. I will just never backfeed again because of all the issues, granted, there could be a problem with the sunnyboy, and it never ran at 1.5Kw it only ever peaked at 1Kw....... Thank you for all your work you do Andy.

I dislike any device that requires a cloud portal. The company goes bust or get bought, portal is gone and your device is (partially) bricked. Also, a full battery just stops the BMS to take power in, the batteries would not disconnect.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I'm in the process of connecting it to the Victron system. The cloud app is just what they use. It's not great though...

Hi Andy, discovered your channel in genuary, have been whatching all your video and I mean all 100% so interesting! I have an Epever inverter and Is doing the same with the micro inverter, also voltronic too, have made some video on it. 👋🏻👋🏻

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Miki. Wow, even I didn't watch all of the videos 😂 Welcome to the channel and sharing these info about your inverter. Great stuff...

@mikischiro

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia If you cant remember something just ask me than 😂😂😂 PS. You are a great Person.

28:23 will the goat eat the wires 😮

@OffGridGarageAustralia

11 ай бұрын

Yes, if we would have goats.

Some people already mentioned that you could use a Tasmota or Shelly device to measure the production. More interesting works be to directly query the API of the inverter so that there is no need for additional hardware. From this you can then create a fake meter in the VenusOS. I'm sure a lot of people here would love to support you with that, including me.

@DanBurgaud

Жыл бұрын

Are you suggesting incorporating MQTT into the solar ecosystem?

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

There is a solution for HA which queries the Solarman database (you can request and API access and token). It involves a bit of yaml coding though but several people have reported it working. I just don't have the time at the moment but maybe later...

Andy, there is easy solution to connect more than 5kW of grid-tie inverters - second MP2 in paralel 😉

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, coming at some stage. What happens though if one MP goes offline? Ah, I think the second one shuts down as well then as they are synced, right?

@stanislavmlcuch2085

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Yes, you are right. But how many times this happen? 1-2x per year?

With micro-inverters and UL1741-SA (frequency control), the hybrid inverter / battery charger must be able to charge or discharge the battery at the power rating of the worst case difference between micro-inverter output and the load. Because if it can't, the micro-inverters will over-volt the line and shut-down. That is why inverters with this capability have a specification for the maximum amount of AC-tied solar that can be attached. Then we get to the battery, which is actually a more difficult problem because the inverter needs to maintain headroom in the battery. This generally means it cannot charge it past 90% or 95% or so SOC. Otherwise there isn't enough headroom in the battery for the charger to be able to soak up differences in the micro-inverter output. THEORETICALLY the inverter/charger ("hybrid inverter system") knows this and will maintain headroom by purposefully directing the micro-inverters to produce less power than the load in order to drain a battery that is too full back to the 90-95% SOC needed. The servo works both ways. With LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries, this means that it becomes rather important that the SOC level be accurate and not drift. Because it has to be maintained at a level less than 100%. And as we know, that is really quite difficult to do with LiFePO4 batteries.

@awesomusmaximus3766

Жыл бұрын

I disagree the BMS will protect the batts and the grid tia shuts off at about 270 V and will also trigger the victron overvolt alarm shutting it down too I wouldn't trust it though

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

But spikes with 270V are not great and someone here mentioned actually that some of his equipment got destroyed. I probably use a 16A Shelly and disconnect the AC-inverter if the battery hits 90%SOC.

@junkerzn7312

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia There is no safe way to allow a micro-inverter to free-run without a hybrid master inverter dealing with the generation / load difference (in both directions). This master inverter is also responsible for adjusting the line frequency up and down to keep the generation matched with the load. It uses its battery charger to soak extra generation and its inverter to supply missing generation. And it will make adjustments to ensure that the battery SOC never goes above 90%. Thus the system is able to operate 24x7 this way without having to switch anything on or off (switching stuff on and off isn't a solution, the line voltage can rise or fall very quickly when there is a generation-v-load mismatch... within a few cycles). Hence why you need a hybrid inverter that fully supports UL1741-SA, with batteries and a built-in battery charger and inverter capable of soaking up the worst-case (temporary) generation-v-load differential as conditions change. Sizing components to match in these sorts of systems is extremely important. This is also a case where you need to actually spend money to get the right inverter... something bullet-proof, like a Sol-Ark, with actual fully-tested certifications. But once you do... well, then you have a fully operational micro-grid that works with both AC-coupled and DC-coupled solar. And that is a pretty cool thing to have.

Lol my local government my wife mann that made my day love your channel brotha

You can get RS485 over WiFi adaptors, although I ran a cable to mine about 20 meters away from my Quattro. You also need to setup the ET112 in the Cerbo and tell the system it's measuring a PV Inverter on the AC out. I have a 4kW SolarEdge inverter from 2015, which does shutdown when the frequency increases, most inverters should. Mine didn't shut down until the SOC reached 100% though, the MPPT chargers throttled back first, then the SE shut down and the MPPT chargers came back up to cover AC loads. PS my 8.74kW combined systems are producing up to 55 kWh a day at the moment.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, there is also the Zigbee connection possible with the ET112. I'm also looking into the Shelly setup and run a simple script on the VenusOS to integrate it as a meter.

There is good integration between Victron and Fronius. I have two Fronius GTIs on my multiplus output. No ET122 required. The Gx and Fronius talk over the LAN.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, the Fronius will work, I just need to wait for another 5 years to do it for my system...

wireless comms to the ET112 is via the Zigbee to USB converter & Zigbee to RS485 📡📶📡

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, thank you. I already have a Zigbee network so that may actually work...

Hey Andy, you need to have those trees trimmed to extend your solar power window. We enjoy your projects

@OffGridGarageAustralia

11 ай бұрын

Do you want to come and do it?

ive seen also some smaller units that go directly on the rear of the pannels ,one micro inverter for each panell,and price were realy decent to when worked it all out

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, if you follow the link under the video, you will find them. Starting from 400W. This larger inverter can also be mounted directly behind the panels.

Nice video. Was already thinking about adding a similar install at my office - a PV-fence at the parking lot. But there are some more owners 🤷🏻. Anyway for connecting the metering Victron has sth like a RS485 to Zigbee system. Did not use that, but application is described just like you need it.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I have a Zigbee network already, so can add this easily... Could be an option...

@fldutch

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia I‘m not sure if you can integrate Victrons zigbee devices into your zigbee network. They have a RS458 to zigbee adapter and one for usb to attach to a gx-device 🤔. If i understand the manual right, you have to use a dedicated zigbee connection for each smartmeter :/. Maybe trying a shelly solution using wireless lan might be a better option. But that might be some mqtt gefrickel.

Man, that was really weird to hear you say to tilt the panels North! The things we get locked into our brains, eh?

@OffGridGarageAustralia

9 ай бұрын

Depends where you live... But even in the northern hemisphere, I know a few people who have solar panels on their north side. Every bit counts and panels are cheap...

If you connect those kind of micro-inverters to a battery, the max power they use from the battery is the number they are rated for. So it doesn't harm if your panels can produce more power. The inverter just stops at the maximum point. (at least, this works for Enphase micro-inverters)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I was kind of expecting that as well, just not sure with this device...

We appreciate you sharing your solar with us, however annoying the camera may be.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It's not annoying at all for me. It all just takes forever.......... 😄

أنت شخص مبدع

👍👍👍

Andy congrats for your channel it's very informative and also funny. You mention HomeAssistant and there is an integration for Solarman that update the values every 60 seconds, I use it in my Deye Inverter and it's perfect. That 1.0 victron rule is dumm, my inverter is 5KW and I have 8.72 KW panels and it's perfect for dark days.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

You may have misunderstood the 1.0 rule. It has nothing to do with panels. It is for the connection of two separate inverters. www.victronenergy.com/live/ac_coupling:start

@CantFindInYoutube

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Thanks for the explanation, my Deye is an hybrid so easy to manage that, and has a third port the is bidirectional were we can connect the generator or micro inverter or use it has a smart port to for example heat the pool when there is extra energy. This 5KW inverter can produce 6.5KW from PV to charge the batteries at 115A but the transformer get's a bit hot so better to limite it to 80A becoming very similar to Victron. If you have homeassisant you should try Batmon thru HACS, it will read almost all your BMS and the victron smart shunt, you only need a bluetooth dongle with BLE. Don't replay I can't imagine all the work those comments give you.

deye (also micro grid inverters) supports this feature with frequency regulation

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I think, this is a Deye inverter...

Aren't you worried one day you might plug one of these things in and end up back in 1955?!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It already happend once to me... I'm from the future 🤖

Zero degree yesterday morning here. 3 KW day here.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

6 this morning but sunny and warm during the day. Not even Winter yet.

Ha ha @ 25:30. “We have all this space here where we can add more panels, this could actually work” > quickly checks to see if wife is watching :-D

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I'll do it step by step and after some time, she won't notice any more 😂

Many thanks Andy! Always love your videos :) I have a question that I think I know the answer to, but I'm not 100% sure - If I have a grid inverter (SMA Sunny Boy 2.5) connected to a 5kW Multiplus on it's output, (the Multiplus is connected to the grid but configured not to feed the grid) I configure the ESS Assistant on the MP2, am I right in saying that the MP2 can't do frequency shifting while connected to the grid? I have spent ages on this and the guy I'm helping wants to use the SMA but doesn't want to feed the grid . . . Many thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts/knowledge!

I use APsystem micro inverters and they work with my multiplus II. Microinverter disconnects when frequency is increasing. In Europ every inverter must switch off when frequency increases. I think it should even disconnect from 51.5Hz. Between 50Hz and 51.5Hz it decreases the power.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, great stuff...

"I have permission from my local government in the house, my wife, to put more solar panels.." Burped coffee when I heard that.

Die RS485 war vor 5 Jahren mit der Einführung von Profinet eigentlich schon komplett tot, aber Totgesagte leben bekanntlich länger. Ich baue derzeit extrem viele Hauptverteilungen auf PV, Eigenverbrauch, Privat- und Gesamtmesaung für EV Anwendungen um, die RS485 ist wieder gross im Geschäft. Es gibt ein Standardprotokoll für Messungen, PV und EV. Ich persönlich bevorzuge immer das Kabel gegenüber Funk, weil es immer funktioniert - in deinem Fall macht das aber nur bedingt bis keinen Sinn. Entsprechende Schnittstellen von RS485 auf LAN und WLAN sind erhältlich. Da ich nur professionelle Schnittstellen für den Automationsbereich verwende und die sauteuer sind, kann ich dir leider keinen Tip dahingehend geben. Ich find deine Clips ausgesprochen unterhaltsam und technisch interessant, bitte mehr davon! Gruß aus Liechtenstein

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Stefan. Victron makes the Zigbee to RS485 adapters which I could use and connect to my already established Zigbee network. I also have the option to use a Shelly smart switch as some mentioned here.

I hope your AC cables and power plugs are up for the task, transporting 2000 watts (8-9 amps) without burning out over time. Because the standards sockets are actually not built for that kind of sustained load over several hours. Hence we have the blue and red power sockets for this type of load (in Germany, if you remember ;-) )

@AndyM...

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that'd be a worry for me also, I'd be more inclined to hard wire the microinverter back to the main inverter directly, more work but less worry !

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

All good, these circuits are all made with 2.5mm cable and are running the pool pump for years, the hot water and also house water pump for the last 6 months from the off-grid battery system.

@AndyM...

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia Thanks Andy, I guess that'd be 2 kW peak and probably not sustained, which may help.....I take it the plug that goes into the socket from the microinverter is not "live" until it "sees" and AC source, ie it doesn't become a suicide plug !!!😵‍💫

@ssoffshore5111

Жыл бұрын

@@AndyM... The microinverters will not operate unless the sense a "grid" of some type.

@AndyM...

Жыл бұрын

@@ssoffshore5111 Thought so, thanks for confirming that 😀👍

Andy, connect a power over Ethernet plug from your route to the pool fence.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I wasn't aware the the energy monitor does not use ethernet but RS485. It's just the port which is a RS485 jack

You see, this is why I went with a Victron Multiplus. Was looking at getting a Sunsynk inverter, but you basically throw power at a multiplus and it'll turn it into something useful 🤣🤣

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I cannot believe, what the Multiplus can do. It fits all scenarios, really...

@HeinzMeulke

Жыл бұрын

Synsynk/Deye is also a bi-directional inverter, does the same thing. They are the new kid on the block so people don't know what they can do yet

@sarahjrandomnumbers

Жыл бұрын

@@HeinzMeulke I know it's a bi-directional inverter, that's partly why it was on the top of my list. They've also been around for a couple of years now, and everyone knows exactly what they can do, because it's meant for 1 thing, in home solar/battery energy storage. Seeing as I'm intending on moving my inverter into a van in the next few years, the obvious choice was Victron, not a transformerless inverter that will struggle to deal with surge loads as there's no grid backing it up.

@HeinzMeulke

Жыл бұрын

@@sarahjrandomnumbers For off-grid victron is a sound choice. I have a Deye and I am very impressed what it can do ( but offgrid most of the nice features will not be functional). Looks like you did your homework

UART/Serial TTL transmision over WiFi can easy be done with two cheap Wemos D1 mini (esp8266) running a telnet connection. For TTL to RS485 conversion use MAX485 or SN75176.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I found some RS485 wireless bridges on Ali. I may give this a go...

@Juergen_Miessmer

Жыл бұрын

​​​@@OffGridGarageAustralia Yes,of course. If there is something out of the box, there is no need to build it by your self.

if it is already using AC voltage, you can use powerline ethernet technology to deliver data. usually it support wifi/ethernet as long the powerline adapter inside 1 mcb

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I wasn't aware the the energy monitor does not use ethernet but RS485. It's just the port which is a RS485 jack.

Would be awesome if Marsrock offered a 110 VAC version too. I would buy it.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

11 ай бұрын

They don't? Get in touch with them and ask...

Good morning! Just something to mention… the MPII 5000 can invert 5 kva, that is true. But it can only transfer 3500 Watt (70A) from grid to the batteries. If you install more one day, it may lead into problems.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It can still handle 5kW of AC-coupled solar. See the Victron documentation here: www.victronenergy.com/live/ac_coupling:start

I live in the Scottish Highlands so my solar system is over-sized. As a result I have excess energy in the summer. It's a mix of AC coupled inverters and MTTP chargers. I have the Victron assistant on the Multiplus set at default values just as you. Frequency shifting works fine with my 5kva Growatt Inverter and my Samil Solar River Inverter. Downside of frequency shifting is that it has caused fatal damage to voltage sensitive equipment that are connected to the 'off grid' side of my systems. Equipment loss which I feel is a considered risk with this type of arrangment. I'm not sure if AC coupled inverters can be monitored by the current clamp which victron make - perhaps you could explore this option. Good video, I've been waiting for you to take on an AC coupled system for a while now!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

You are the second person mentioning this. I may consider another method and just disconnect the inverter using a Shelly and Home Assist when SOC hits 90%. Just before any frequency shifting occurs. It could also be related to the size of inverter as yours is a 5kW as well, while mine is only 2kw. I have not seen an option using a clamp sensor to control these inverters.

It gets better. Not only will the micro-grid shutdown, but because it is shutdown the micro-inverters can't be bootstrapped / restarted on sun-up the next day (for example). So in an off-grid setup with micro-inverters (also known as "AC-coupled" solar) you ALSO need sufficient DC-coupled solar to charge the batteries in the morning so the master inverter can turn on the grid, before the micro-inverters are able to contribute anything.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

That is only if the battery goes flat during the night and shut's down the Multiplus though. They you would be in a deadlock without DC chargers.

I'm using a 5kw Multiplus II in one building with a 4kw SolarMax P-Series in another (AC coupled). I didn't want to rely on "out-of-band" signaling between buildings - thus desired frequency signaling. Many grid-tie inverter country settings (including Australia on these SolarMax units) do not have this frequency control enabled (varies by date/manufacturer). I had to find another country setting that matched key specifications (voltage/Hz/limits) AND included frequency-based throttling (Switzerland is this case). I also looked at the "out-of-band" path - which offers endless options - but decided I didn't want to spend my time debugging python scripts or dealing with someone else trying to understand it should I be unavailable (get hit by a bus).

You can connect 2 Panels in serial and an second string in parallel. So you will have unter 60VDC and round about 16A per MPPT.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Well, not with my panels, they would be close to 80V Voc and the parallel current would be over 16A.

The ET112 Energy Meter can be installed in the Inverter AC Out Distribution Box which I recall is close to your Venus OS/RPi which minimises RS485 cable lengths. But you have two of them. So I suspect you intend to have two micro inverters (or another AC production source on Multiplus AC Out) and want to measure each separately. This would mean locating the ET112s close to the generation source (in the Pool Pump Distribution Box?) and hence how to communicate to the Venus OS/RPi. Others have mentioned Zigbee but looking forward to your solution.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I bought these meters cheap a while back for future projects (like this). I would need to get it installed close to the inverter in the pool area while the Venus device is in the garage. But Victron makes these Zigbee adapters which I could use.

Maybe of use to someone here: I have installed a 12kVa Growatt and a 10kVa Goodwe on a 15kVA (3phase 3x5kVA multiplus) system. Frequency shifting to regulate the power down slowly doesn't work, they simply stop producing at 52 Hz I believe. Then the multiplus starts reducing the frequency again until they turn back on and we go in an endless loop. These were in an ESS system, so not such a big deal, since the power rarely goes out.

@ericverlaet4447

Жыл бұрын

All the inverter can modulate from 100 to 60% you need to choose synergrid C10 C11 like we use in Belgium into the menu of the grid inverter during installation procedure. Also program the 3 multiplus to do that like Andy do....

@koffibanan3099

Жыл бұрын

@@ericverlaet4447 Hey Eric, I'm also in Belgium :) The Multi's are definitely set-up correctly and they are slowly ramping up the AC frequency when the battery is near 100%SoC and the grid disconnected. The Goodwe I'm sure I also set the grid code correctly, but it would just ignore the increasing frequency up until a certain cut off point and then drop out entirely. I remember checking if there were any additional settings, but came up empty. The Growatt, I'd have to check if I ever entered any grid or area codes.

@ericverlaet4447

Жыл бұрын

@@koffibanan3099 I just start a 3 phase 8000w in Germany, you have to select grid on startup vde in this case...working fine with multiplus... For the sma I have a grid Gard code to program all the paramètres inside inverter, 10 years ago I install a lot of windyboy on windmill and watermills.....

Andy, have you seen Dala's EV Repair? He has a video about using a Nissan Leaf battery with a Fronius Gen24 inverter, without changing the Leaf's battery voltage. It uses the full HV battery pack and an adapter which translates the CAN to Modbus faking the protocol to make it appear like an expected BYD battery!?! Fascinating.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

No, haven't seen this video. I'll have a look...

27:00 you can use the victron zigbee bridges.

You can use every ac inverter. You just have to integrate them in the vrm. You can use the EM24 or a tasmota device to do so.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

So flashing a Sonoff with Tasmota will work with the VRM?

@the_schmue2973

Жыл бұрын

Shelly devices will work fine too

Andy, Looking at my workshop grid tie I think the refresh time is so long because, at dust & dawn, it goes into a bit of a frenzy trying to MPPT and syncro with the mains - there, not as efficient as most off-grid electronics I think mine is 86% so in the low sun when it does connect it often trips as the load overpowers the solar input- having a pause of 5 min before retrying makes sense to avoid this dizzy spell

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Ah, right, that makes kind of sense... Still not great as others don't seem to have this problem...

👍

Question, you may have been asked this question many times but we here at media library were wondering why you just don't cut the tops of those trees down ? By the way we love your channel keep doing a good job

Yes video👍⚡ 🔌💡🔋

Nice Andy :). Is there list of which Grid tie inverters will work with the multiplus. Or in my case an EasySolar (as the older one I have is simply a multiplus with two MPPTs bolted to the side). Oh and do you know if Victron have software for Linux So I can connect my USB to rj45 link to the multiplus?

Andy look at the deye inverters. they even have an extra input for grid tie inverters. at least you can program it. those are really interesting 12kw 3 phase output and 48v battery

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

The Deye inverter will not fit my setup for many reasons. Totally unsuitable.

It would be interesting to know how this thing behaves, if you connect a generator to the AC-IN. It should still deliver Power, if the generators sinewave is not to bad. But in this case the Multiplus won't be able to increase the frequency to stop the gridinverter from delivering power 🤔 So, the only chance to get back control, would be to disconnect the generator via the AC-IN relay.

Sigineer, i dont know about all, have the frequency shift feature to shut down any or most grid tie inverters. These same inverters, i believe the larger kw variety can use 12s lithium ion so tesla models work with the 48v inverter. There is even charging setting for this configuration of 12s.

In case it won't stop delivering power, you could switch off the inverter with a double pole relay. Safety first 👍🏻

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that could be done through Node Red or Home Assistant with a Shelly or Sonoff.

You've probably seen the RS485 to Zigbee bridges already. Victron sell some (slightly more expensive), but they work well with the Carlo Gavazzi meters. Not so much with Actrel & Eastron, there I've only got it to work for monophase meters. Three phase installations, always need to be wired in my experience (would love to hear if someone has a solution)!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I have a Zigbee network inside the house for lights and smart plugs. Not sure if the signal would reach back to the garage. Maybe a repeater somewhere on the outside....

@koffibanan3099

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia You could (maybe should) make a separate Zigbee network for this application. I think it would easily reach the fence from the garage as it is open air.

Hello cuando pongas el fronius en ac coupling cargaras las baterías como toca

Has anyone attempted an off grid setup with victron and SolarEdge? Interested to hear how the frequency shifting work when that batteries were full.

@ericverlaet4447

Жыл бұрын

Yes no problems since 2011 every Solar grid inverter have this fonction in Europe

"the local government in the house...err. my wife" brilliant!

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Isn't that what it is sometimes?

@CollinBaillie

Жыл бұрын

Should have been "micro government" 😁

That's the first time I've heard you mention HomeAssistant. Are you thinking of setting that up? HomeAssistant has been crucial to my off-grid setup, not only for displaying data, but running automations based on SOC of my battery system. I emailed you a tutorial on setting up Victron to send data to HA some time ago :)

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

I have already set it up. More in the next video...

@hummmingbear

Жыл бұрын

@@OffGridGarageAustralia oh man, I think home assistant is going to open up a whole new world for you...

Hi Andy. So now you need a meter to measure the energy and its flow direction on the output. Maybe you should think about that 😉. Edit: haha, you already have such meters, great 😂

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I have a few options now, thanks to all of you...

andy: be aware that the efficiency from PV-AC-DC is less than PV directly to DC,I thinks its easier to run DC cabling and use Smart Solar Chargers. you could use optimizers on the garage and stay DC connected there.

I have been looking into options for adding more power. AC Coupling a grid-tie inverter on the Multiplus AC-Out (on it's microgrid) works but... the catch is the AC Coupled inverters cannot exceed the rating of the Multiplus providing the microgrid. In the event of a load dump (AC trips out) the multiplus will momentarily find itself handling a lot of AC current headed to the battery and a potentially huge voltage spike on the AC side before the Multiplus has a chance to alter the phase to stop the AC inverter which can cause damage to the multi-plus the AC inverter and any loads. Victron claim a 1.0 factor rule, which I believe means teh Multiplus providing the micro-grid can only support it's own rating in AC Coupled grid-tie inverters. The other technique you used in previous videos (cascasing) is not supported by Victron and unfortunately in my case I would still need another "Multiplus" as I have a Grid AC In for fallback to consider and a cheaper "Pheonix" inverter will not provide an AC passthrough. I figure I will end up with another multiplus, the pair cascaded to save power or in parallel.

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

It is different in your case when you're still connected to the grid. My AC-in is free, so it can be a gen or another inverter to feed power into the grid. I've read some comments about the AC coupling in the Victron forum... an alternative could also be using Node Red or HA to just disconnect the AC inverter with a Sonoff or Shelly. If things get out of control.

Servus Andy, von Victron gibt es RS485 zu Zigbee Konverter. Suche mal nach Victron und 392495… Sonnige Grüße aus Österreich! Robert

My EVE Lipo4 Batts are still going strong no problems at all

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

You haven't had them for very long, so unless you overcharge them, they will last a very long time.

hiya thanks for your help ,but i think i didnt explain properly why i needed shuch a high current bms,its not for the camper power itself ,its so i can connect the camper power to the bike powerand since the camper power is going through 120 amps of dc to dc boost converters from 48 to 82 approx ,if im calculating right there is going to need to be alot of current available,i know the bike when power turned right up can use upwards of 300 amp at 82 volts the bikes bms isnt available aqnymore so ive got to buy 2 new ones one for bike and one for camper

@katiekumcgil

Жыл бұрын

i live in sydney and have found it really hard to get advice bike stores now dont have this type of knowledge and its outside the scope of people that just do caravan power installs

Use the shelly em3 for wifi monitoring

@desktopdec

Жыл бұрын

Yep, Shelly work a treat

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

How do you get the Shelly EM into the Victron VRM though?

im currently researching a system for my micro camper for my electric bike,there will be 2 x 250 or 300watt panels on the roof and batteries will be 48 volt system of lithiums,these batteries also connect to the bike aswell via 3 dc to dc 40 amp boost converters in parallel im also looking at 4 or 5 really thin semi flexible panels that i can just layout in the sun when im camping and slide back under then bed when travelling,id love to go victron for all items but they arnt cheap here now in australia

@OffGridGarageAustralia

Жыл бұрын

Victron is not cheap, no. The quality, support and flexibility is very high though. You can just use one of these foldable solar panels as additional power source.