Victron Multiplus 2 Testing + Closer Look

We’re taking a closer look at the Victron MultiPlus-II. It's not just an inverter—it's also a battery charger and grounding relay, all in one. With its solid reputation, is this the right choice for your off-grid setup? Let’s break it down.

Efficiency Test
The MultiPlus-II claims to be 96% efficient. I’ll test it with a 1700W load to see how close it gets to that number. We’ll also do a max load test with a total of 5200W using several appliances to see how it handles peak demands.

Victron rates their inverters in volt-amperes (VA) rather than watts. For example, a 5000VA inverter is roughly equivalent to 4000W if your appliances have a power factor of 0.8. The MultiPlus-II can handle peaks up to 9000W.

Standby Power Consumption
In standby mode, the MultiPlus-II uses about 18W, but it has two energy-saving modes:
- AES Mode reduces standby power to 12W by adjusting the inverter’s operation, though this narrows the sine wave.
- Search Mode drops consumption to just 2W by turning on only when a load is detected. However, it’s not ideal for small, constant loads like clocks.

Connections Overview
Here’s a quick look at the key connections:
- Battery Input: Where your battery connects.
- AC Out 1: Powers essential appliances, even during a power outage.
- AC Out 2: Only active when grid power or a generator is available, ideal for non-critical loads like water heaters.
- AC Input: For grid or generator input, ensuring clean power for your appliances.
- VE Bus: Used for programming the system.
- Inverter/Charger Switch: Toggle between normal operation and using only the battery charger.

Standout Features
- PowerControl prevents overloading your generator or grid by setting a maximum input current and diverting extra power to your batteries.
- PowerAssist pulls extra power from your batteries during peak demand, then switches back to charging once demand drops.
- Seamless Backup: When the grid goes down, it switches to battery power in less than 20 milliseconds, keeping your essential appliances running.
- Flexible Setup: Works in single-phase, split-phase, or three-phase systems. With the Victron app and VRM portal, you can monitor your system remotely (though you’ll need a GX device, which costs extra).

Energy Storage System (ESS)
You can also configure the MultiPlus-II as part of an ESS. This lets you store solar energy and even send excess power back to the grid when your batteries are full.

Downsides
- Extra Hardware: You’ll need an MK3-USB dongle (around $70) to fully program the system.
- Complex Setup: It can be tricky to program if you’re new to this type of system, but there are plenty of guides to help.

[Slimey]

hell yes regarding ESS. I would like a deeper dive into that topic.

[GrumpyOldPatriot]

Great information for anyone thinking about Victron...Been running a Victron eco-system since 2021. Quattro 48v, 3000VA, 2 - 70A charge controllers, Cerbo-GX and shunt. Combined with 25Kwh of battery storage and 6800 watts of panels. Runs whole house flawlessly. Keep up the great work!

[Kanuka-Forest]

AC out 2 does not only work when there is AC coming in from the grid or generator. It can be programmed to work when the batteries reach a certain charge percentage, or voltage level (fully charged) and there is excess power available from solar input that would normally be shutdown from the MPPT and therefore go to waste. This excess solar power can be diverted to AC2 out to power a non critical load like a water heater or a spa pool. When the battery falls below a certain charge percentage or voltage, the AC2 out relay opens and cuts the power to AC2 out and the power from the solar panels is diverted back to charging the batteries. A very useful function, but it has to be programmed correctly.

[fxm]

Great timing. I'm looking specifically at purchasing this unit right now. Much appreciated.

[Gary-whce]

Nice video and easy to understand the unit. The ESS topic sounds interesting for sure. Thanks!

[atabetuatara]

Great video. Love the details & straight to the point style! If you can make a video about the Sol Ark 12K setup that would be great, although I know it's not easily available in the EU (or so I heard).

[halilkacmaz]

you can’t directly multiply the AC amps by AC voltage to get the appearant Power, there is also a power factor. Basically you need to use AC power meter. Since power factor is 1 for DC you can simply multiply VxI but for AC since you are running a fan there is some inductive resistance as well.

[MrGeozac]

Nice testing, i have the same inverter. It has different efficiency according with load output, sweat spot is below 1000 watt.

[angyp]

Would be good to see something on ESS.

[danielsalt]

About buying extra dongel for programming. Do you always need to do it? If you wire a campervan system with solar and batteries and most parts being from victron. Must you buy the dongel and do any programming?
The only thing i want it to do is to primarily work as 24-230 when turned on, and to know when shorepower is plugged in.

[satsan]

Could you please make a video like this configuration.
1. I want to run a 10 BTU A/C unit about 12 hours in the morning to evening.
2. Off Grid, 12 and 24 and 48 V, a/c unit (Which system is current is efficient and effective)
3. House use to reduce the electricity bill, and this configuration is just only for the A/C unit.
You're making very useful videos. Thanks.

[jamie]

I really like your videos. Thanks for being so helpful.
Have you done any solar panel installation on asbestos roofs? I have an asbestos roof and have no idea how to secure the solar panels to it. I am in Zambia - lots of sun, but not so much tech support.

[salioubah]

Great video as usual .Nick can you please make video about Victron auto transformer for it benefit of use for someone who use 220 volts in West Africa?

[laurentsosson]

Hello and congratulations for the video
I come to you for the multiplus
can we use the ACin input not permanently on the network but just connect it to a 230V 20A socket (France) to just supply the ACin input to charge a park battery at night rate and use the ACout during the day to restore the energy to my electrical panel?
because connecting the ACin to the network bothers me a little because it requires a lot of steps because if there is a risk of injection into the network it is necessary to go through a Consuel I would especially like to be in self-consumption and from time to time be able to close the multiplus with a source inverter in my prolonged absence and switch to the direct network
laurent

[FourthWayRanch]

How are these controllers at sharing loads between solar, battery and mains/grid/generator.
Offgrid cloudy days need some genset power

[MonsolaireMaxime]

Bonjour et merci de ton retour. Il me manquait l onduleur Victron, sinon j ai le cerbo gx le smart shunt et 14 MPPTs(75/15 100/30 100/50), tous mes panneaux en parallèle avec un onduleur Master Power type Voltronic pour basculer sur le réseau. Je vais m acheter le 24/3000VA pour remplacer mon Master Power. Avec la machine à laver plus le résiduel je suis à 2300 voir 2500W maximum pendant 15 minutes environ. J avais besoin de savoir si le multiplus était capable de les supporter vu qu il est donné pour 2400W maximum. Même si je dois traduire, j ai bien aimé ta vidéo et je vais te suivre. Oui très intéressé par la configuration, j espère que tu feras une vidéo la dessus.

[JenkinsUSA]

Hi and thank you for this. Do you know if the pass thru AC is in sync with the inverter, this is important when switching from battery to AC and back. I had a big name 3600w solar generator which caused problems when switching even though it was 20ms on a 8000 btu window AC. Only happened when switching from AC to inverter and back. Thanks!

[Neceization]

@cleversolarpower is this inverter suitable for pure off-grid use in a remote cabin? Or does it have to be tied to the grid to work?

[ruffnersedurifa]

Hi can you do Hybrid solar setup? its Proc and cos and also computations? thanks

[Andreas-qq]

How about grounding when the grid goes down. Do you need separate grounding from the Multiplus and how would that be wired? I assume grounding from the grid is available under normal conditions