wildebus
Forum Member
The Victron Multiplus (and sister Easyplus and EasySolar) have an configurable Inverter, which can be setup to best suit the installation it is in.
To configure the Multiplus, you use an application called VE.Config (Victron Energy.Configurator). This is a free application downloadable from Victron Energy and to use on the Multiplus you need to use either an Victron MK3-USB Dongle to connect the Multiplus to your Computer, or do this remotely via Victrons web-based VRM.
There are various tabs in VE.Config, but just concerned with the Inverter one here ...
There are settings for the voltage parameters - I'd recommend leaving them at the default unless you have a specific reason to change them (mine above are different). Similarly, you would usually leave the other check boxes and entries as they are, but the section I do want to cover specifically is on the AES section in the bottom half.
AES is generally read to mean "Automatic Energy Selection" and used on a Fridge to automatically switch between 12V, 240V and Gas power sources.
However, in Victron Energy speak, AES stands for "Automatic Energy Saving" and is a technique used to save power when AC power is not actually needed, but still immediately available when called on.
The first setting in AES is setting the Start and Stop power thresholds. Exactly what these should be does depend on your own AC products and how you want to use them. As an example, I used a Multiplus with a Mains AC Fridge. You want the Inverter to 'wake up' when the Compressor kicks on, and then off again when the compressor turns off. You also probably don't want the Inverter to start up when you open the fridge door and the little light comes on.
So that section is a matter of trail and error to get the right numbers for your needs.
The next section decides what type of AES is being used - Search Mode or Modified Sine Wave (MSW).
AES - Modified Sine Wave
What MSW does is alters the output waveform to reduce the no-load power. (note this is only when there is no load or a load lower than the Start Power threshold set earlier. When the Inverter actually switches on, it outputs a Pure Sine Wave - and one which is usually cleaner than the one from the National Grid!)
If you were to check the voltage output from the Inverter when in AES Modified Sine Wave mode, you would see the voltage reduced.
Below shows the voltage change when the Multiplus Inverter is in AES MSW and EHU is removed - the voltage drops from the incoming voltage (in this case around 240V to 245V) to 145V.
What you see as a user of the Inverter is that if you turn on a mains device that is below that "On Threshold" is that you don't get full power as the voltage stays low. As an example, I mentioned the Fridge Light... in AES MSW mode, if I open the fridge door, the internal light comes on and actually stays on even though the inverter has not come on (it is actually in a specific mode - neither on OR off), but the light is not as bright as usual.
This MSW mode might or might not be suitable for your setup. In terms of energy use, it is better than just leaving the Inverter switched on, but is not the most efficient AES mode.
AES - Search Mode
Search Mode saves more power than MSW mode when in standby. This works by the inverter coming on momentarily every few seconds, seeing how much demand there is and either stays on of there is demand, or goes back to sleep otherwise for a few more seconds.
Because this means the inverter is essentially off for most of the time, the power use is significantly reduced compared just being left on.
There are some side-effects and downsides to this AES Mode. Taking the Fridge again as an example, when you open the door, the light will flash on each time the Inverter does its search and then goes off. Actually a handy way to check the Inverter is on or not, but it does mean if you want to look in the fridge in the dark, it could be a pain!
Another thing that can happen is if you have a device that beeps when it gets power, it may beep everytime the Inverter does its search. I have an Induction hob that does this and so it would beep every few seconds. Easily addressed by fitting an spur on/off switch and just having that turned off by the switch until you want to use the Hob.
Something I noticed with the spur I fitted was that the Neon light in it would cause the Inverter to stay on regardless. I don't know the exact reason for this, and actually used it to my advantage as a way to turn the inverter on regardless of low power. However, this might be something to be aware of if you have a mains device that has a Neon light in a spur switch and you want to be able to leave that switch on but have the Inverter in AES mode. In that situation you might need to chose the MSW option for AES (or change the switch?).
I'll post the energy differences between all the different ways to setup the Inverter in the next post.
To configure the Multiplus, you use an application called VE.Config (Victron Energy.Configurator). This is a free application downloadable from Victron Energy and to use on the Multiplus you need to use either an Victron MK3-USB Dongle to connect the Multiplus to your Computer, or do this remotely via Victrons web-based VRM.
There are various tabs in VE.Config, but just concerned with the Inverter one here ...
There are settings for the voltage parameters - I'd recommend leaving them at the default unless you have a specific reason to change them (mine above are different). Similarly, you would usually leave the other check boxes and entries as they are, but the section I do want to cover specifically is on the AES section in the bottom half.
AES is generally read to mean "Automatic Energy Selection" and used on a Fridge to automatically switch between 12V, 240V and Gas power sources.
However, in Victron Energy speak, AES stands for "Automatic Energy Saving" and is a technique used to save power when AC power is not actually needed, but still immediately available when called on.
The first setting in AES is setting the Start and Stop power thresholds. Exactly what these should be does depend on your own AC products and how you want to use them. As an example, I used a Multiplus with a Mains AC Fridge. You want the Inverter to 'wake up' when the Compressor kicks on, and then off again when the compressor turns off. You also probably don't want the Inverter to start up when you open the fridge door and the little light comes on.
So that section is a matter of trail and error to get the right numbers for your needs.
The next section decides what type of AES is being used - Search Mode or Modified Sine Wave (MSW).
AES - Modified Sine Wave
What MSW does is alters the output waveform to reduce the no-load power. (note this is only when there is no load or a load lower than the Start Power threshold set earlier. When the Inverter actually switches on, it outputs a Pure Sine Wave - and one which is usually cleaner than the one from the National Grid!)
If you were to check the voltage output from the Inverter when in AES Modified Sine Wave mode, you would see the voltage reduced.
Below shows the voltage change when the Multiplus Inverter is in AES MSW and EHU is removed - the voltage drops from the incoming voltage (in this case around 240V to 245V) to 145V.
What you see as a user of the Inverter is that if you turn on a mains device that is below that "On Threshold" is that you don't get full power as the voltage stays low. As an example, I mentioned the Fridge Light... in AES MSW mode, if I open the fridge door, the internal light comes on and actually stays on even though the inverter has not come on (it is actually in a specific mode - neither on OR off), but the light is not as bright as usual.
This MSW mode might or might not be suitable for your setup. In terms of energy use, it is better than just leaving the Inverter switched on, but is not the most efficient AES mode.
AES - Search Mode
Search Mode saves more power than MSW mode when in standby. This works by the inverter coming on momentarily every few seconds, seeing how much demand there is and either stays on of there is demand, or goes back to sleep otherwise for a few more seconds.
Because this means the inverter is essentially off for most of the time, the power use is significantly reduced compared just being left on.
There are some side-effects and downsides to this AES Mode. Taking the Fridge again as an example, when you open the door, the light will flash on each time the Inverter does its search and then goes off. Actually a handy way to check the Inverter is on or not, but it does mean if you want to look in the fridge in the dark, it could be a pain!
Another thing that can happen is if you have a device that beeps when it gets power, it may beep everytime the Inverter does its search. I have an Induction hob that does this and so it would beep every few seconds. Easily addressed by fitting an spur on/off switch and just having that turned off by the switch until you want to use the Hob.
Something I noticed with the spur I fitted was that the Neon light in it would cause the Inverter to stay on regardless. I don't know the exact reason for this, and actually used it to my advantage as a way to turn the inverter on regardless of low power. However, this might be something to be aware of if you have a mains device that has a Neon light in a spur switch and you want to be able to leave that switch on but have the Inverter in AES mode. In that situation you might need to chose the MSW option for AES (or change the switch?).
I'll post the energy differences between all the different ways to setup the Inverter in the next post.
The following is a screenshot of a couple of days in the life of the Multiplus, during which time it was configured in different modes