In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
Victron MultiPlus idle consumption is the power the inverter uses with nothing plugged in. Off-grid, it can quietly use more energy than your fridge. Victron publishes three idle figures for most of its inverters: normal, AES mode and search mode. Here they are from the datasheets, with what they mean per day. Victron MultiPlus Idle […]
Victron MultiPlus GFCI tripping after an RV install is, in most cases, caused by a neutral-to-ground bond in the wrong place. The MultiPlus-II already handles bonding with an internal ground relay. This guide explains how that relay works, from Victron’s manual, and what to check. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and […]
This Victron isolators and protection guide covers the small parts that keep a mobile or marine system safe. Cyrix battery combiners and Argo FET isolators share charging between batteries. The Smart BatteryProtect cuts loads before a battery is ruined. Each one solves a different problem, and many systems need one of each. Specs come from […]
Getting the Victron Orion XS smart alternator settings right is what decides whether your house battery charges on the whole drive or only some of it. Victron’s Orion XS manual explains exactly how engine detection works, what the defaults are and what to do on Euro 6 vehicles. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the […]
Running two Victron MPPTs on one battery bank is common when you have panels on two roof faces, or more solar than one controller can take. Victron’s VE.Smart Networking makes the two SmartSolars charge as if they were one big charger. Here’s the wiring and setup, based on Victron’s MPPT and VE.Smart Networking manuals. Electrical […]
Victron Cyrix vs Argo FET vs Orion is the standard choice for charging a house battery from an engine. All three keep the starter battery safe, but they work very differently. One is a relay, one is an isolator and one is a charger. Here’s how to choose, using Victron’s datasheets. Electrical work can be […]
A Victron MultiPlus well pump setup depends mostly on one detail: whether your pump runs on 120V or 240V. Most deep-well pumps in US homes are 240V, and that changes which Victron units can run them during an outage. Here’s how to work it out using Victron’s datasheets and manuals. Electrical work can be dangerous: […]
A Victron Quattro whole house system is possible, but in a typical US home it means at least two units in split phase, a big 48V battery bank and a plan for which loads stay off. This guide uses the Quattro 120V datasheet to show what a pair of 48/10000 units can carry, and where […]
Running a rooftop unit is the big question with a Victron MultiPlus air conditioner setup. The short answer: a MultiPlus-II 12/3000 can usually run one 13,500 BTU-class RV air conditioner on battery, often with a soft starter. The battery is what limits how long. Here’s the math, using Victron’s MultiPlus-II 120V datasheet. Electrical work can […]
A Victron inverter microwave setup works well as long as you size the inverter by the microwave’s input watts, not its cooking watts. A “1,000W” microwave usually draws far more from the outlet. Here’s how to check, using Victron’s MultiPlus-II and Phoenix datasheets. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every […]
