Victron MultiPlus 12-3000 under performing in 2024 Tab 400 Black Canyon

2024 Tab 400 with MultiPlus 12-3000-120-50-120v and 400 amps of BattleBorn batteries ( Black Canyon ) with SmartShunt 500A/50mV is under performing. At various SOC above 50% the Victron system will run the Alde heating system at 950 W without shore power, no problem. However, as soon as I tell Alde to heat faster by toggling from 1kW to 2kW the MultiPlus will kick off and present a " Low Battery " notification. The above will occur at all SOC with shore power disconnected.  Any thoughts ?

Comments

  • rfuss928rfuss928 Member Posts: 1,027
    edited December 13
    A wild guess would be that there is too much voltage drop somewhere in the battery to MultiPlus wiring.  Assuming the wire gage used is adequate I would check that all terminations and connections are tight.  Measuring voltage drop across the various connections and wire runs while running at 1kw should point to the trouble area.  I would start by measuring the voltage at the MultiPlus input compared to the voltage across the battery at 1kw.  This will confirm a problem exists and verify the MultiPlus error is likely valid.  The voltage drop at 2kw will be double your observations at 1kw.
    The MultiPlus will draw close to 200 amps to run the 2kw Alde.  It would take only 0.01 ohms in all the battery to MP wiring to cause a 2 volt loss at that current.  That is a pretty low resistance threshold to accomplish in high current wiring...

  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,986
    The Alde on the 1KW setting uses 7.9 amps, on 2kw uses 15.8 amps.  So, on the 2KW setting that would be about 1700 watts if my math is even close.  (15.8 amps x 110V).  That is a really large surge, and the reason the Multiplus is not dealing with it.  Owners have reported this same sort of behavior with the new fangled hair dryers:  even a small "travel dryer" these days asks for 1800 watts.
    Want faster heating on the Alde while boondocking?  The propane setting provides more BTU, and usually "faster" heating. 
    And, welcome to the Forums!
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • elbolilloelbolillo Member Posts: 421
    wshagel said:
    2024 Tab 400 with MultiPlus 12-3000-120-50-120v and 400 amps of BattleBorn batteries ( Black Canyon ) with SmartShunt 500A/50mV is under performing. At various SOC above 50% the Victron system will run the Alde heating system at 950 W without shore power, no problem. However, as soon as I tell Alde to heat faster by toggling from 1kW to 2kW the MultiPlus will kick off and present a " Low Battery " notification. The above will occur at all SOC with shore power disconnected.  Any thoughts ?
    Why would you want to run the Alde via the inverter instead of LP?
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (23,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
    2024 - 3 Trips - 35 nights - 9 National Parks, 3 National Forests
  • wshagelwshagel Member Posts: 4
    elbolillo - Thanks for the comment - I totally agree with you - the reason for my post was to find the reason that the MultiPlus was shutting down at just under 2kW when it should be able to deliver up to 3kW.
  • wshagelwshagel Member Posts: 4
    pthomas745 - Yes your wattage calculation was about right - the Victron app says the AC load hits a little over 1900 just before the MultiPlus shuts off - the reason for my post was to find the reason that the MultiPlus was shutting down at just under 2kW when it should be able to deliver up to 3kW.
  • wshagelwshagel Member Posts: 4
    rfuss928 - Thanks for the volt drop test suggestion.  I will get out my multi-meter.  This is a NuCamp newly manufactured ( Jan 2024 ) unit - So the results should be interesting.
  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,986
    @wshagel There are not many items in the trailers that draw that much "surge" power.  The AC units all max out at 900 watts or so, which we know the Multiplus handles easily.  Any item that "makes heat" at those wattage levels is going to strain any setup (GFCI outlets, wiring, etc) for those few seconds until everything catches up. 
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • elbolilloelbolillo Member Posts: 421
    @wshagel I did read on one of the forums that someone had a faulty Multiplus and when they replaced it with a new one the issue disappeared.

    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (23,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
    2024 - 3 Trips - 35 nights - 9 National Parks, 3 National Forests
  • rfuss928rfuss928 Member Posts: 1,027
    wshagel  
    Do you know what the low voltage limit is for the MultiPlus?
    Is it adjustable?
    If the voltage loss is similar to my example above, 2 volts at 200 amps, then there is 400 watts lost.  That is significant heat somewhere, likely everywhere along the MP to batteries wiring.  Thermal imaging has been used to find trouble spots by another member.

  • ChrisFixChrisFix Member Posts: 739
    wshagel said:
    elbolillo - Thanks for the comment - I totally agree with you - the reason for my post was to find the reason that the MultiPlus was shutting down at just under 2kW when it should be able to deliver up to 3kW.
    While listed as 3000VA (volt amps), it only delivers 2,400 continuous watts MAX at a specific ambient temp, with decreasing max watts as it heats up. Add in some losses for how it is wired, etc, you're getting close to its max output running the Alde on 2K electric. So it may be a defective Victron Multiplus, or may be a characteristic of how it's actually wired by nuCamp.
    After two years of looking and considering...finally the proud owner of a 2021 T@B 400 Boondock!
    2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E with Redarc Trailer Brake Controller
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