I need opinions please. My Mecer inverter was struck by lightning. I want to upgrade to the Victron Multiplus-ii. What is your opinion on Victron please? Everything I've read says it's amazing but I would like to hear from people who use it.

Thank you 

 

The most amazing thing about them is the price!

Good day Rinelda and welcome.

I use a Victron Multiplus II and it is amazing. P1000's reply above is taking a jab at Victron because they are generally more expensive than similar product offerings from other companies but the warranty, support, online community, software, firmware updates etc. still tips the balance in their favour in my opinion. 

Please give us details of your installation for us to make a more informed recommendation regarding the MPII.

 

Thank you VisN,

I'm typing as it is on the quote: 

(2) Victron multiplus-II 48/5000/70-50 4000w Inverter/charger.

SmarSolar Mppt 150/100-Ve.CAN Tr

Cerbo Gx with touch.

I currently have 4*48V lithium Ion batteries and will be connected to the Victron inverters. 

 

I really appreciate your reply and help

Those are tried and trusted components so you should be fine.

Victron can be considered the Mercedes of domestic inverters, but like a real Mercedes, there are pros and cons.  Here are a few things you should know:

1. Victron uses different modules to make a system.  So you need more "stuff".  More wires, connectors, etc.  This also needs more time to install.  Other systems normally are single-box solutions.  Your installation could look more like a mad scientist experiment than with other inverters.  😆

2. Victron inverters are referred to as low frequency inverters.  They use 50Hz toroidal output transformers (usually 2 of them) to do the low-to-high voltage step-up.  Most other inverters are "transformerless" designs.  Toroidal transformers are big and HEAVY.  They are also rather expensive, especially if we talk of a few KW.  They give a totally galvanically isolated output which has advantages over the normal inverters that have some DC HV bus connected to the AC output.  Now, toroidal transformers are very efficient but they DO have losses.  I expect about 3%.  This loss needs to be added to the H-bridge switching losses that all inverters, including Victron, use.  So I think that a Victron might have slightly less efficiency.  Oddly enough, the no power idle current on Victron inverters is normally better than other designs.  Victron also has sleep/ power saving modes which other inverters don't have, but I am pretty sure that no Powerforum member would be interested in these modes anyway.

3. Victron make a lot of IP65 rated products.  This has historic reasons due to their origin in the boating/yachting sector.  This means they are 100% water proof.  It also means they are throw-away products.  They cannot be repaired.  The electronics are cast in resin or rubber compound.  The Multipus itself can be opened and repaired.  The MPPT on your list, as far as I know, is potted in rubber.  So the MPPT is not serviceable.  (Go to Youtube and search for Victron MPPT repair and you find a lot of angry people with hacksaws and angle grinders trying to literally only replace a blown fuse.)

4. Victron only keeps spares for 10 years.  Now, I don't have too much of a problem with that per-se, if they would repair down to component level.  I know someone with an old inverter which is considered unrepairable because they cannot source the three PCBs used on that device.  THIS I consider a very, very poor show.  Sometimes, when things go wrong, PCB tracks can get burned and that would require a completely new PCB for a reliable repair.  But mostly, individual components can be replaced.  Either they can't or won't do that - so it seems.  I refer to a specific case I know of in Cape Town.  Perhaps they have some brighter techies up north.  Who knows.

5. Victron normally has no, or very minimalistic user I/O control panels/displays and relies on doing everything via Bluetooth or WiFi.  People like it.  I personally don't.  I think we already have too many devices in our homes that radiate EMF.  But hey, I am a nut case when it comes to that.  So you can scratch out this point.

So if you have the money, go buy yourself some blue bricks. 😀

If using blue nova rack power, don’t use Victron. It can’t read it and has endless issues

Just don't use BLUENOVA !

Read about my 7 year of troubles with BN : https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EfpoteQjc/