Maybe I've just done it too many times, but for me it is pretty much:

1. Upgrade the Multi firmware
  1.1 If you're scared of updating the firmware, put on your big girl panties and stop being scared.
  1.2. Register on professional.victronenergy.com for access to all the latest firmware.
  1.3. Consult the vebus firmware versions text document on that site to figure out what version of the firmware you need, or look at the sticker on the main processor inside the inverter, the first 4 digits tells you the same thing.
  1.4. Just do exactly what VEFlash tells you and don't try to be smart.

2. Using veconfigure, configure basic inverter values, such as the charge voltages for the batteries. The defaults is almost always perfectly good enough for a first try.

3. Enable the battery monitor and set the battery capacity.

4. Set the grid code to NRS097-2-1. When you do this the first time it won't ask for a password.

5. Go to the Virtual Switch tab and tell it not to use Virtual Switch. This enables assistants.

6. Go to the Assistants tab. Add the ESS assistant. Then click on "Start Assistant". You can usually pretty much accept the default values. It will prompt you for the battery capacity and ask about PV inverters on the output (you want to say no here... you will KNOW when you have to say yes).

7. Write the whole lot to the Multi.

Done, you have your first ESS setup going. Now you can tweak values if you want to. The only one I really find that needs tweaking is the Dynamic cut-off curve. The defaults are a bit high in some cases.

You can try it out for yourself. Download veconfigure tools. It has a "fake target with full options" feature.

Anyone wants to write a "cheat sheet", preferably a tested one... You can even consult your own Multi's configuration and make screenshots.

1 hour ago, plonkster said:

1.4. Just do exactly what VEFlash tells you and don't try to be smart.

Addendum: If the inverter goes like in dead as a door nail, you want that and no, it is not broken, click the button as per the software ... fast.
Don't diddle, click quick, or the window to upgrade closes.
No problem at all, I did it 15 times over ... just start again.

 

1 hour ago, plonkster said:

Anyone wants to write a "cheat sheet" ... 

Pictures with text descriptions are king.  I am game to do it, starting with Plonksters list above, by adding pictures to it, in MsWord.

Will document it all, even the cron jobs, from a WINDOWS point of view ... till we have those schedules in the front-end. ;-)

We can the ensure here we have it down pat.
 

Edited September 24, 20187 yr by Guest

Right guys, here is my first attempt at documenting Victron ESS. I was / I am critical of what is out there, and as I always say, if you want to crit someone else work, like I did, then I better do something better. So here goes.

Idea is that it is "plug and play", no dealer, just "Nike it" ... then come back and tune it once you have learned more.

Too much technical information and it throws 99.99% of humankind into a flat spin, thereby missing the bigger picture.

@Chris Hobson @PaulF007 @plonkster @Ronnie_V what say you guys, does it make sense?

I will make a video and post on Joetoeb for all newbies to get ESS going quick and easy, but first this doc to note it all.

What have I missed?
What needs more info for the Newbie on ESS, bare bones?

 

ESS Setup for Multigrid - 20180926.docx

Not bad. You have an "an timeout" instead of "a timeout" in one place, that was the only glaring grammar thing.

19 minutes ago, plonkster said:

Not bad. You have an "an timeout" instead of "a timeout" in one place, that was the only glaring grammar thing.

Fixed. Does that cover the basics, for newbies?

What is the next level of salient details one must know of, must tweak, for optimal performance?

On 2018/09/26 at 11:55 AM, The Terrible Triplett said:

Right guys, here is my first attempt at documenting Victron ESS. I was / I am critical of what is out there, and as I always say, if you want to crit someone else work, like I did, then I better do something better. So here goes.

I have most of my physical installation done, so am now starting to configure things 😀. A big thanks to @The Terrible Triplett for compiling this guide!

I have purchased the USB-MK3 adaptor for programming Multigrid-II and the USB-VE-Direct adaptor for programming the MPPT 150/70-Tr. Once programmed and configured,  how often is one likely to use these cables/USB adaptors? 

I was wondering whether it is worthwhile leaving these cables in my overall "installation" so that one can quickly connect the USB end of the adaptors to a Laptop?

2 minutes ago, NigelL said:

A big thanks to @The Terrible Triplett for compiling this guide!

Pleasure. If anything is not clear, let me know, we can update it.

 

3 minutes ago, NigelL said:

... leaving these cables in ...

I left the MK3 in the inverter yes.

Got a 5m VE.Cirect cable that goes from the MPPT to the VGX so the USB VE.Direct cable is spare seeing as as the VGX can upgrade the controller.

But I'll keep it .. just in case.

This is just so freaking awesome. Checked my devices in Chrome, see that the BMV needs an Firmware update ... click and it is done.

On 2018/09/24 at 7:11 PM, plonkster said:

4. Set the grid code to NRS097-2-1. When you do this the first time it won't ask for a password.

 

@plonkster I was told to use other in this setting by my dealer. Is this not correct?

2 hours ago, randomwalsh said:

@plonkster I was told to use other in this setting by my dealer. Is this not correct?

Either will work, but "Other" obviously doesn't implement the precise voltage and frequency levels required by NRS097-2-1. It is still safe, it still has loss of mains detection, but if you can use NRS097-2-1 it is better. Using "Other" will not sign off (assuming that is a thing you need to do) unless you add a Ziehl (again, assuming you are in a place where that is accepted, ie not in Cape Town).

For inverters other than the Multigrid or the Multiplus-II, you cannot use NRS097 anyway, you are forced to use Other.

2 hours ago, plonkster said:

Either will work, but "Other" obviously doesn't implement the precise voltage and frequency levels required by NRS097-2-1. It is still safe, it still has loss of mains detection, but if you can use NRS097-2-1 it is better. Using "Other" will not sign off (assuming that is a thing you need to do) unless you add a Ziehl (again, assuming you are in a place where that is accepted, ie not in Cape Town).

For inverters other than the Multigrid or the Multiplus-II, you cannot use NRS097 anyway, you are forced to use Other.

Ok yeah we mostly do quattro's at the moment.