Multi RS Solar

	To ensure a trouble free operation of the Multi RS Solar, it must be used in locations that meet the following requirements:   a) Avoid any contact with water. Do not expose the product to rain or moisture. b) Install the Multi RS Solar upright and vertical. Ensure 30cm clearance above and below it. c) The Multi RS Solar must be installed on a non-flammable surface and the construction materials surrounding the installation should also be non-flammable. d) Do not place the unit in direct sunlight. Ambient air temperature should be between  -40°C and 60°C (humidity < 95% non-condensing).   e) Do not install the Multi RS Solar in an environment where the air could be contaminated with particulate matter such as soot, dust or salt. For example conductive soot from the exhaust of a diesel generator could be drawn into the unit and cause short circuits inside it. f) Do not install the Multi RS Solar where flammable or corrosive gases or vapours could come near the installation. g) Do not obstruct the airflow around the Multi RS Solar. h) If the Multi RS Solar is installed in an area used for general storage, ensure that no flammable materials such a cardboard boxes are stored close to the installation. Ensure that the end user is aware of these requirements.
	This product contains potentially dangerous voltages. It should only be installed under the supervision of a suitable qualified installer with the appropriate training, and subject to local requirements. Please contact Victron Energy for further information or necessary training.
	Excessively high ambient temperature will result in the following: ·        Reduced service life. ·        Reduced charging current. ·        Reduced peak capacity, or shutdown of the inverter. Never position the appliance directly above lead-acid batteries. The unit is suitable for wall mounting. For mounting purposes, a hook and two holes are provided at the back of the casing. The device must be fitted vertically for optimal cooling.
	For safety purposes, this product should be installed in a heat-resistant environment. You should prevent the presence of e.g. chemicals, synthetic components, curtains or other textiles, etc., in the immediate vicinity.

Try and keep the distance between the product and the battery to a minimum in order to minimise cable voltage losses

In order to utilize the full capacity of the product, batteries with sufficient capacity and battery cables with sufficient cross section should be used. The use of undersized batteries or battery cables will lead to:

See table for MINIMUM battery and cable requirements.

Use a torque wrench with insulated box spanner in order to avoid shorting the battery. Maximum torque: 14 Nm Avoid shorting the battery cables.

The Multi RS Solar Dual tracker model must keep the individual tracker inputs isolated from each other. That means one solar PV array per input, do not attempt to connect the same array to multiple tracker inputs.

The Multi RS Solar is built using Staubli MC4 connectors. There are many other brands available, but some manufacturing variations mean that they may make poor contact and cause excessive heat. There are also inferior brands on the market which will likely cause problems.

In case the PV array is located in colder climates the PV array can output more than its rated Voc. Use the MPPT sizing calculator on the solar charger product page to calculate this variable. As a rule of thumb, keep an additional 10% safety margin.

The maximum operational input current for each tracker is 13 A.

MPPT PV inputs are protected against reverse polarity, to a maximum short circuit current of 16 A for each tracker.

When the MPPT switches to float stage it reduces battery charge current by increasing the PV Power Point voltage.

The maximum open circuit voltage of the PV array must be less than 8 times the minimum battery voltage when at float.

For example, where a battery has a float voltage of 54.0 volts, the maximum open circuit voltage of the connected array cannot exceed 432 volts.

Where the array voltage exceeds this parameter the system will give a "Over-charge Protection" error and shut down.

To correct this, either increase the battery float voltage, or reduce PV voltage by removing PV panels from the string to bring the voltage back within specification.

The Multi RS Solar will test for sufficient resistive isolation between PV+ and GND, and PV- and GND.

In the event of a resistance below the threshold (indicating an earth fault), the inverter shuts down and disables the ac outputs (mppt keeps charging the battery as this has no impact on safety due the isolation to the battery side).

If an audible alarm and/or email notification of this fault is required, then you must also connect a GX device (such as the Cerbo GX). Email notifications require an internet connection to the GX device and a VRM account to be configured.

The positive and negative conductors of the PV array must be isolated from ground.

Ground the frame of the PV array to local requirements. The ground lug on the chassis should be connected to the common earth.

The conductor from the ground lug on the chassis of the unit to earth should have at least the cross-section of the conductors used for the PV array.

When a PV resistance isolation fault is indicated, do not touch any metal parts and immediately contact a suitably qualified technician to inspect the system for faults.

The battery terminals are galvanically isolated from the PV array. This ensures that PV array voltages cannot leak to the battery side of the system in a fault condition.

First: Confirm correct battery polarity, connect the battery.

Second: if required, connect the remote on-off, and programmable relay, and communications cables

Third: Confirm correct PV polarity, and then connect the solar array (if incorrectly connected with reverse polarity, the PV voltage will drop, the controller will heat up but will not charge the the battery).

Proceed as follows to connect the battery cables:

The terminal blocks can be found on the printed circuit board, see Appendix A.

Do not invert neutral and phase when connecting the AC.

The inverter does NOT provide full galvanic isolation between the PV DC input and AC output. Therefor it is possible that DC voltage and current from the DC PV connections could be detected on the AC side.

Full galvanic isolation is provided between PV DC, and Battery DC.

This can be used to connect a PC/laptop to configure the inverter with a VE.Direct to USB accessory. Can also be used to connect a Victron GlobalLink 520 to allow for remote data monitoring.

Note the VE.Direct port on the Multi RS Solar cannot be used to connect to a GX device, and the VE.Can connection must be used instead.

Used to connect to a GX Device, and/or daisy-chain communications to other VE.Can compatible products such as the VE.Can MPPT range.

Used to connect to the device via VictronConnect for configuration.

Note that this Bluetooth interface is not compatible with VE.Smart Networking (i.e Smart Battery Sense).

The Multi RS Solar has a tolerance for irregularities on the AC input like fast frequency changes or voltage changes to improve reliability when connecting to generators.

Using a generator with the Multi requires firmware version v1.11 or later.

If using a generator; it is recommended to adjust these settings in VictronConnect: Under the General setting page, set the "AC input type" to "Generator" and switch on "Moderate generator load changes". This enables the Multi RS Solar to absorb sudden load changes and slowly transfer them to the generator, thus reducing speed and voltage variations in the generator. From the Grid settings page, switch the "UPS function" off. The 'UPS function' restricts the acceptance of an AC input to a very precise sine wave so that in the event of an interruption in the AC supply it is possible to maintain an apparent continuity of supply to the loads. This is incompatible with most generators and should be disabled when using a generator to improve reliable acceptance of the AC supply. Navigate to the Relay settings page, set the "Relay mode" to "Generator control". This will reveal more settings to control the generator start / stop functions of the relay. See the generator control section of the VictronConnect chapter for more details.

See Limitations chapter for additional charging power limitations.Limitations

The Multi RS Solar includes a built in AC PV inverter detection system. When there is a feedback of AC PV (a surplus) from the AC-out connection port, the Multi RS Solar will automatically enable an AC output frequency adjustment.

While no further configuration is required, it is important that the AC PV inverter is configured correctly to respond to the frequency adjustment by reducing its output.

Note the 1:1 rule of AC PV inverter size to Multi RS Solar size, and minimum battery sizing applies. More information about these limitations are available in the AC Coupling manual, and this document is required reading if using an AC PV inverter.

The frequency adjustment range is not configurable, and includes a built in safety margin. Once the absorption voltage is reached, the frequency will increase. So it is still essential to include a DC PV component in the system for complete battery charging (i.e. float stage).

It may be possible to adjust the power output response to various frequencies on your AC PV inverter.

The default configuration has been tested and works reliably with the Fronius MG50/60 grid code configuration.

If you are new to Victron, please start with small system designs, so that you become familiar with the necessary training, equipment and software required.

It is also recommended to hire an installer that has experience with these more complex Victron systems, for both the design and the commissioning.

Victron is able to provide specific training for these systems to distributors via their regional sales manager.

Mixing different models of Inverter RS (ie. the model with Solar and without Solar) is possible. However mixing Inverter RS with Multi RS is not currently supported.

DC and AC wiring

Each unit needs to be fused individually on the AC and DC side. Make sure to use the same type of fuse on each unit.

The complete system must be wired to a single battery bank. We do not currently support multiple different battery banks for one connected 3 phase system.

Communication wiring

All units must be daisy chained with a VE.Can cable (RJ45 cat5, cat5e, or cat6). The sequence for this is not important.

Terminators must be used at either ends of the VE.Can network.

The temperature sensor can be wired to any unit in the system. For a large battery bank it is possible to wire multiple temperature sensors. The system will use the one with the highest temperature to determine the temperature compensation.

Programming

All settings need to be set manually by changing the settings in each device, one by one. For now synchronising settings to all devices is not supported by VictronConnect.

There is a partial exception to this - changing the AC output voltage will temporarily be pushed to other synchronised devices (to prevent undesired power flow imbalance via the AC output). However this is not a permanent settings change and still needs to be manually set on all devices if you wish to change the AC output voltage.

Charger settings (voltage and current limits) are overridden if DVCC is configured and if a BMS-Can BMS is active in the system.

System Monitoring

It is strongly recommended that a GX Family Product is used in conjunction with these larger systems. They provide highly valuable information on the history and performance of the system.

System notifications are clearly presented and many additional functions are enabled. Data from VRM will greatly speed support if it is required.

The Multi RS Solar supports single phase, and three phase configurations. It does not currently support split phase.

The factory default is for stand alone, single unit operation.

If you wish to program for three phase operation, it requires at least 3 units.

The maximum supported system size is 3 units in total, with a single unit on each phase.

They must be connected to each other via VE.Can connections, with a VE.Can terminator (supplied) at the start and the end of the bus.

Once the units are connected to the battery and via VE.Can they will need to be configured.

Delta configurations not supported

For units in 3 phase configuration: Our products have been designed for a star (Y) type three phase configuration. In a star configuration all neutrals are connected, a so called: “distributed neutral”.

We do not support a delta (Δ) configuration. A delta configuration does not have a distributed neutral and will lead to certain inverter features not operating as expected.

In order to configure a 3 phase system the Multi RS Solar will need to be correctly installed, and running firmware version v1.13 or later.

Configuring a system for three phase or single phase is done in VictronConnect in the System menu.

The factory default System configuration setting is "Standalone". Tap the box to bring up a popup menu where you can select "Three phase". There are two three phase options to choose from, either clockwise or counter clockwise, depending upon the phase rotation at the installation site. You'll need to apply these same settings to each unit individually.

Select the correct phase that each particular unit is connected to. There can only be one unit per phase. Do this for each individual unit. It is also advisable to physically label each unit and also give a matching custom name in the product info settings.

Prevent CAN network islanding: This setting determines what the system does in case of a broken CAN connection between the RS units, and enables the "Number of inverters in the system" setting below. Default is enabled. If three RS units are configured in three phase, each individual unit will only continue to work if it sees at least one other unit. This feature is only relevant in combination with the "Continue with missing phase" feature. Number of inverters in the system: Enter the total number of RS units installed in the system. This should be set to 3 for a 3 phase RS system. In case a CAN connection is broken between two units the network is split into segments, this setting is used to determine the largest and shut down the smaller segment to prevent them from continuing on their own unsynchronised. Note that setting the option "Continue with missing phase" to disabled overrules this behaviour in such a way that it always ensures that all three phases must be powered at all times, so a broken CAN connection in a 3 phase setup will shut down all units. Minimum number of inverters to start: Choose the minimum number of inverters that must be present per phase when starting the system. In case a CAN connection is broken between two units the network is split into segments, this setting is used to determine the largest and shut down the smaller segment to prevent them from continuing on their own unsynchronised. Setting this to 3 means that all 3 units in a 3 phase Multi RS system must be present to start. If the “Continue with missing phase” option is also enabled, once the system is operational it will not shutdown if the number of inverters operational per phase drops below this figure (as long as the remaining inverters can power the load). Continue with missing phase: It is possible to configure the system so that if one unit is offline (for example due to it being physically switched off or a firmware update in case there is no grid connection to allow pass-thru), the other units can continue to operate and provide AC output power to their respective phases. By default, the 'continue with missing phase' is disabled. Switching one unit off with the physical switch will make that unit switch off. If the unit is one of three units that are in three phase, then the others will also turn off as well. If configured with 'Continue with missing phase' enabled, and minimum number of units is sufficient, then output to the other phases will continue even though its down to less phases than configured. The 'Continue with missing phase' configuration option SHOULD NOT be enabled if there are specific three phase loads connected that require all three synchronised phases to operate (such as a three phase electric motor). In that situation maintain the default 'disabled' setting for "Continue with missing phase". Caution Attempting to run a three phase load with only two phases operating could result in damage to your appliance. Caution If you have configured the system to continue to operate with a missing phase, and there is an issue with the VE.Can communications between the units (such as the wire being damaged), then the units will continue to operate, but will not be synchronising their output wave forms. System instance: Units with the same instance number work together on the AC side. Changing the System instance setting allows multiple groups of Inverters to be on the same VE.Can bus, but not synchronised, and segmented into different AC outputs, without interference. Continue with the same programming settings on the rest of the units.

Note on redundancy and continuous output during firmware updates

A three phase system can be firmware updated without losing power on the AC output.

Make sure that there is stable AC input available when starting the update and the unit currently being updated will switch to AC-passthru mode.

The AC synchronisation mechanism used for 3 phase has a 'protocol' version embedded.

Units can work together even with different firmware versions, as long as they are running the same protocol version.

This allows for continuous uninterrupted supply even when updating firmware, as the units will individually update one at a time, while others continue to synchronise and provide the stable AC output.

If Victron needs to change the 'protocol' version number, it will be clearly noted in the firmware change log. Always read this before updating.

In the event that there are multiple protocol versions running on the same VE.Can bus, all units will indicate error #71 until they are all updated to the same version.

Known Issues