wa8yxm: The inverter has a power inrush limiting function... doesn't help. With nothing on in the TT, the inverter has the most trouble engaging the generator. When the AC is running it will lock with generator on the first or second try. When the AC cycles off, the inverter drops the generator and starts hunting again.
Learjet: No. A cap across the output of the generator will tend to cancel the inductive slide of the pf. AC compressors/fans push the pf way over into the inductive side of 1:1. (which really messes up my last theory) A non-corrected charger will too. The effects of pf are meaningless when plugged into shore power because as far as the RV is concerned, pf, peak power and average power are not factors. Not so with small generators.
Gunny: a more elaborate reply would be appreciated.
UPS feature
If this setting is ‘on’ and AC on the input fails, the MultiPlus switches to inverter
operation practically without interruption. The MultiPlus can therefore be used as an
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for sensitive equipment such as computers or
communication systems.
The output voltage of some small generator sets is too unstable and distorted for
using this setting* – the MultiPlus would continually switch to inverter operation. For
this reason, the setting can be turned off. The MultiPlus will then respond less quickly
to AC input voltage deviations. The switchover time to inverter operation is
consequently slightly longer, but most equipment (most computers, clocks or
household equipment) is not adversely impacted. Recommendation: Turn the UPS feature off if the MultiPlus fails to synchronise, or
continually switches back to inverter operation.
Page 21 of the manual - again should not be an issue but worth a try.
roln wrote: If the AC load becomes too high (above the set limit), the unit switches back to the inverter mode and adds its inverter power to any incoming AC from shore power or the generator.
So, (and this is for my information only) let's say you have 2 honda's paralleled. Now if the AC load becomes too high, the Victron's inverter power will synch up with the 2 gens who are also synched up? wow....
Excuse me if it's been said, but I haven't seen it: Is this a new problem, or has it never worked? If new, what's changed in your system?
Wild stab.. are you sure that when you lower the input current requirement the Victron is actually doing that? In other words, you can plug it into shore power and verify that the charging rate actually does diminish?
I too have a whole house setup and I really like it. My Prosine will start my air when even 2 Hondas in Eco mode won't. Your problem is very interesting to me and I hope we can solve it.
It worked with the Generac and shore power but not the Honda. Does a Generac have floating neutral? If not, then that would make the Honda different from the other two sources that worked maybe.
Roln, thanks for the info. I was not familiar with an inverter/charger, so I was thinking you were talking about the converter/charger in the TT. Sounds like a really cool set up, I'm going to have to look into that, I wasn't aware that such a set up existed. Thanks for taking the time to edu-ma-cate me, and sorry I can't help with your problem.
BTW, what model Victron are you using and where did you buy it?
* This post was
edited 07/02/09 12:06pm by BurbMan *
Burbman: I'm not sure what the model number is but it is a 2,500 cont./5KW PK. Multi-plus. All of the big power inverter/chargers are expensive. Figure on $2,000, a couple of hundred either way. I found mine accidentally while prowling around on E-bay. There was a marine store in TN that was discontinuing the Victron line and selling what they had for less than 1/2 of retail. I got it from them directly. They had about 10 units. Surely gone by now, but if one keeps after something for a while, a good price turns up somewhere. I looked for the Victron for around 2 years. I would never have paid list. I also fell into some AGMs at about 1/3 off from the factory.
I don't know if the other brands can do multiphase stacking, but the Victrons can be stacked for 240 and then stacked up to 5 units on each phase (over 20KW total.) They can also be stacked and synched at 1/3 intervals to make three phase power. Can also be stacked 5 deep on each of the three phases. I'll never have that kind of money. I read that the Prosines can be stacked for 240, but I don't know about stacking them deeper on each phase or whether they can do three phase. In this class of inverter, they are not pocket units. They weigh around 50 lbs.
BFL13: I don't know if the Generac is floating or not, but I'll look. I have experimented with grounding the Honda's "neutral" but it doesn't change anything. I tried to send you a PM but you have it turned off.
* This post was
edited 07/02/09 03:07pm by rolnrolnroln *
You may have other things on AC power that you don't know of. An electric water heater element can be 7 to 10 amps AC, the ref may switch to AC automaticaly if 120v is present, that is another 3-5? amps AC load. May just be the charger is set to high an amp .
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