Victron Multiplus-II 2 X 120v Hum/Fan

[jnm30327]

@Goldenchase Nice work! Looking at your pictures brings up an issue I am curious about. There are green, red, white, and black wires. I assume you stuck with convention on the DC side with red as positive and black negative(ground). What is your convention for two leg AC?

I am wiring AC side with 6/4 wire. Colors are red, black, white, and green. After working for several days with DC , I was wiring AC side to Multiplus and my brain said make black ground, white neutral, green L1, red L2. I woke up this morning thinking this was mistaken. Should be black L1, white neutral, green ground, red L2. I hate going back to the spring loaded wire terminators in the Multiplus with the heavy 6 gauge wire, but I don’t want someone in future to wonder why it is the way I have it now.

What do you think?

[richard5933]

I'd place a vote for sticking with the convention on this one. Red and black for L1 & L2, white for neutral, and green for ground.

Owning an older coach which was not wired according to the modern convention, I can tell you how much danger it poses to anyone having to work on the system in the future. I understand what you mean about the spring loaded clips, but they can be released so you can put the wires in their proper place.

You might remember which wire is which, and you might even tell the next owner, but every tech who works on this setup in the future will be at risk if they are anywhere near the 120v electrical system.

[jnm30327]

Trying to figure out how to operate the spring loaded terminals.

Do you just push in or to you have to pry something up or down? I have tried both but can't get a clean release.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by jnm30327

Trying to figure out how to operate the spring loaded terminals.

Do you just push in or to you have to pry something up or down? I have tried both but can't get a clean release.

There should be a slot just above the hole where the wire was inserted. Insert a thin-blade screwdriver into this slot. When you hit the sweet spot it will push against the spring and release the wire.

[jnm30327]

Heh. This is real time advice thread.

I just figured it out. I had the right hole. I was just not pushing hard enough. Push small screwdriver straight in and apply pressure until spring gives way.

I think I am going to try ferrules when I put the wires back. The stranded wires are sloppy to push in, and I think the ferrules will give a better connection.

[s1000pre]

Originally Posted by richard5933

When I installed the Victron in our coach I didn't separate out the loads and use the second output. That would have required installing a sub panel for the loads being shifted to the other output, and I just didn't have the oomph needed to do that. After living with it for a full season I think I would do it differently next time.

The problem isn't about remembering to disconnect the heavy loads if we are disconnecting from shore power. Only took the Victron shutting down a few times due to overload for us to make sure to shut down the a/c, electric water heater, etc. before pulling the plug on shore power.

What continues to cause a problem for us is when the shore power blips for a brief moment. The Victron senses the loss of shore power instantly and switches to running everything from the inverter to provide seamless power. When the power has a momentary outage like this (which happens from time to time, especially in more remote or older campgrounds) it takes a few minutes for the Victron to reconnect to it. During that few minutes, if there is a heavy load running like an a/c it will cause the Victron to shut down due to the overload situation or a low-voltage error.

Just my experience based on our install, but I suspect we're not the only ones.

Richard,

My multiPlusII is being delivered tomorrow. I decided to go with the MuliPlus so everything in the trailer has access to power including the AC while boondocking. I am using three Battleborn’s to power the Victron. I was under the impression, having the Victron would give me the same functionality as being hooked up to 30amp service. Is this not accurate? My original plan was to add a second 1,800 watt inverter on the Microwave circuit and power the kitchen outlet as well when needed.

[Biker]

Originally Posted by jnm30327

I think I am going to try ferrules when I put the wires back. The stranded wires are sloppy to push in, and I think the ferrules will give a better connection.

They recommend not using ferrules. For easier installation, I released the pressure with a small screwdriver like you would do to remove the wire. Gave me a more confident feeling that the wire was inserted completely.

[goldenchase]

Originally Posted by s1000pre

Richard,

My multiPlusII is being delivered tomorrow. I decided to go with the MuliPlus so everything in the trailer has access to power including the AC while boondocking. I am using three Battleborn’s to power the Victron. I was under the impression, having the Victron would give me the same functionality as being hooked up to 30amp service. Is this not accurate? My original plan was to add a second 1,800 watt inverter on the Microwave circuit and power the kitchen outlet as well when needed.

Once you take out the old inverter the Multiplus-II will service all AC outlets with inverted power.

[goldenchase]

Originally Posted by jnm30327

@Goldenchase Nice work! Looking at your pictures brings up an issue I am curious about. There are green, red, white, and black wires. I assume you stuck with convention on the DC side with red as positive and black negative(ground). What is your convention for two leg AC?

I am wiring AC side with 6/4 wire. Colors are red, black, white, and green. After working for several days with DC , I was wiring AC side to Multiplus and my brain said make black ground, white neutral, green L1, red L2. I woke up this morning thinking this was mistaken. Should be black L1, white neutral, green ground, red L2. I hate going back to the spring loaded wire terminators in the Multiplus with the heavy 6 gauge wire, but I don’t want someone in future to wonder why it is the way I have it now.

What do you think?

I used the same wire color convention that was built into the trailer at the factory from the 50 amp plug.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Biker

They recommend not using ferrules. For easier installation, I released the pressure with a small screwdriver like you would do to remove the wire. Gave me a more confident feeling that the wire was inserted completely.

Who are 'they' and where did you learn that 'they' recommend against using ferrules. Especially on fine-stranded wire which is common for use in RV installations, using ferrules is common and often referred to as best practice. I've even seen this in Victron manuals as a recommendation.

Ferrule use is nearly universal in parts of Europe, so I'm curious if you've found something against their use in a Victron manual.

With the new spring-loaded terminals on the Multiplus it's nearly impossible to securely insert the bare strands of the wires without ferrules, especially with fine-stranded conductors.

[jnm30327]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Who are 'they' and where did you learn that 'they' recommend against using ferrules. Especially on fine-stranded wire which is common for use in RV installations, using ferrules is common and often referred to as best practice. I've even seen this in Victron manuals as a recommendation.

Ferrule use is nearly universal in parts of Europe, so I'm curious if you've found something against their use in a Victron manual.

With the new spring-loaded terminals on the Multiplus it's nearly impossible to securely insert the bare strands of the wires without ferrules, especially with fine-stranded conductors.

I don't know the answer to this, but I would guess that ferrules are bad for the same reason that solid copper wire is also discouraged. That is, vibration is more likely to make solid copper wire come loose than stranded wire, and of course, trailers are vibrating a lot when underway.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by jnm30327

I don't know the answer to this, but I would guess that ferrules are bad for the same reason that solid copper wire is also discouraged. That is, vibration is more likely to make solid copper wire come loose than stranded wire, and of course, trailers are vibrating a lot when underway.

My question was not really about why 'they' would say it's not recommended, it was about the source - who 'they' are.

On things like this I really don't like the reference to be something 'they say' but rather prefer something from the Victron literature or some other authoritative source.

As anyone who has tried this can attest, getting all the strands of fine-strand wire into the spring loaded terminals on the new Victron Multiplus is nearly impossible.

Outside the US, the use of ferrules on stranded wire when inserting into terminals is very common place. Even Victron mentions using ferrules in many of their manuals. So, I find it strange that in this application they would recommend against it.

[Hawk-ination]

I just installed our Multiplus 3000 with 2 Battle Born batteries. Hooked up shore power for the first time. Making a humming noise. Is this normal?

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Hawk-ination

I just installed our Multiplus 3000 with 2 Battle Born batteries. Hooked up shore power for the first time. Making a humming noise. Is this normal?

Yes.

[Biker]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Who are 'they' and where did you learn that 'they' recommend against using ferrules.

AM Solar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xibjh7NCEa0&t=209s

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by Biker

AM Solar

Where did they say not to use ferrules?

When I did mine with the ferrules, I did not have any uncertainties about whether or not the conductors were pushed all the way in.

[Biker]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Where did they say not to use ferrules?

When I did mine with the ferrules, I did not have any uncertainties about whether or not the conductors were pushed all the way in.

Around the 3:05 mark. I'm a big fan of using ferrules but figured pass on using them after hearing It's not recommended by who I purchased from.

[richard5933]

Interesting. And, curious.

Wonder why they had such a problem with ferrules. I'm by no means an expert, but I have been using them for years without the problem they mentioned. Including using them when installing my Victron Multiplus with the spring loaded terminals. Like I said before, I think that Victron shows them being used in some of their manuals.

[waninae39]

ferrules are much better as the rap around the fine copper leads.
without it, you are likely to bend the wire such that some of the threads are no longer in contact

[Hawk-ination]

Just to clarify on this information, I believe the MultiPlus II came out after the date indicated of this install.

This information is referring to a MultiPlus, not the MultiPlus II, correct?

Originally Posted by Gman88188

It will keep you up and generate heat.

Cheers