Parts List for this system (affiliate links): 3000W 12V Multiplus 2 Inverter: www.currentconnected.com/product/pmp122305100/?ref=wp Lynx Shunt 1000:www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-lynx-sh/?ref=wp Lynx Shunt Main Fuse: www.currentconnected.com/product/lynx-s-fuse/?ref=wp Lynx Distributor 1000: www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-lynx-dr/?ref=wp Cerbo GX: www.currentconnected.com/product/cerbo/?ref=wp Cerbo GX Touchscreen: www.currentconnected.com/product/gx-touch/?ref=wp Smart Solar Charge Controller: www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-ssmppt-ved/?ref=wp SOK Batteries 206Ah: www.currentconnected.com/product/sok/?attribute_amp-hours=206Ah&ref=wp *Does off-grid solar confuse you?* Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com *Join our DIY solar community* #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com *Check out my Book* Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar! amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Energy! They will price out a system and get your house offgrid: ts.la/william57509 *My DIY Solar Equipment Recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):* 12V/48V Lithium Solar Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Complete Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html Plug-N-Play System Recommendations: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete "Add to Cart" 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html *My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:* *Signature Solar* Offgrid One-Stop-Shop. Best Value 48V LiFePO4, Victron and Offgrid Specific Heat Pumps: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Current Connected* SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp *Litime* My favorite 12V budget battery!: www.litime.com/?ref=XBIA62RFcalHns *Epoch Batteries* My favorite high-quality 12V battery: www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d *Renogy* A classic 12V solar store that has been around for ages! DC to DC Chargers and more! renogy.sjv.io/n1VjXx *Rich Solar* Renogy's biggest competitor! Similar products, but at a better price: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Battery Hookup* Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 5% off code: diysolar *Contact Information:* I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar *FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:* Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Compared to the split phase MPP Inverters you already have, do you believe the features of this Victron system, combined with split phase dual inverters, is worth the additional cost? Obviously, the real value feature here is the Victron Remote Management Portal for remote access.
Yeah, the Lynx distributor is fine, but mine is flakey on being red or green on Led status, and the Cerbo doesn’t know what’s going on with it over VE yet. Kinda bums me out . I sure would like to debug why it’s flakey.
Does the 12v wire from the Cerbo measure voltage? If so, shouldn’t it be connected straight to the battery to measure voltage without effects of voltage drop? Thanks for a great video!
Living off grid for 9 years, Victron never let me down, the only system with centralized charge current management depending on SOC (DVCC), free cloud service (VRM). Will thanks for you're clear explanation video.
I use to run a solar and battery system 15 years ago but now it's so different and advanced. You are amazing with your information, very glad we have someone like you helping the rest of us.
I chose to go down the Victron path early as I wanted the remote view and also full control of all my components from wherever I am. They are not cheap but the products and service you get are amazing. I have my Multiplus running for 2 weeks now and it is really the best inverter out there. It will cope with all kind of different setups and installations, on-grid, off-grid, mobile installations in a boat or RV, no problem. With the assistants you can get the Multiplus to pretty much do everything. I like the AC-out2 function when it for example can turn on your water heater (or EV-charger) if the battery is full but there is still enough solar coming in. I have now also successfully daisy chained two inverters in series with one being the Multiplus. It takes the output of pretty much any inverter as the AC input and can add up to 5kVA on top what the first inverter already delivers. What a powerful system 💪 I've got the Linx system already here for the next project, Shunt, Distributor and Power-in. It will be so much easier than the battery shelf 😂 Thanks for another great video, Will 🍻 Edit: Oh, I forgot, you can also easily connect (almost) any other BMS via RS485 to the Victron system and can then slow down charging if on cell gets out of balance until the balancer has caught up.
Aren't they lovely!! I cannot believe all the features they have. I am still diving deep into the various configurations and I am very impressed. I've used victron for years, but none of their inverters. They are nice!! You are smart to go directly with them early on. Fantastic equipment
I think you have the kindest, most polite way of talking. As you spoon feed us your knowledge, it's like you're, it's like you're making sure we're understanding haha
I am a 74 yr old great-grandma and agree with you completely. At this point in my life, I am without a home and have been researching the possibility of a bus conversion. As there will be 3 of us living together, we will need a system that can accommodate everything and it seems like the Viktron setup is a practical, dependable, and straightforward way to go. I like that feeling of security.
I spent my entire career doing technical training and development. That spanned from high school advanced physical science courses, nuclear power operators , techs and engineers. My last gigs were working in the HVAC industry...York lnternational Corp. and lastly the Trane Company. I have created and coached subject matter experts like engineers to do what we just saw this impressive young man deliver. This is one of the very best delivery's l've ever seen. His command of solar systems is top drawer. His delivery is flawless...clear diction, rate that he uses to deliver the content is outstanding. I have Victron solar components in my enclosed cargo trailer rv with 800 watts of panels. I designed and built it on myown while using his solar power primer book. Victron has come a long ways but l sure would have benefited from this video, even tho these latest components were not available. Hey wunderkind you really rang the bell....Victron is fortunate to have used his skills! 👍👍👍
Their products are so good to use stand alone without the cerbo. Thinking like the BMV gives you battery info on a screen or phone app. The smart solar has a Bluetooth connection to show you solar input
Will. I’m a proud Victron user and I’m glad you’re including their products on your channel. One thing I think you should mention is that people don’t need to purchase an entire Victron system at one time. Each device/component can operate independently of the others and you can slowly add devices to build your system as your needs and budget allow. The final point that I think is worth mentioning is that one of the great strengths of the Victron ecosystem is the integration of products so that you have single point monitoring and control over Bluetooth, WiFi, or internet. I’m looking forward to more from you on Victron.
My question is now, now that we are headed to the life of batteries in every day life, will we ever be able to plug our Rv/ Cargo Trailer in to the Vehicle charging port, for when these days the sun decides to sleep in a few days
Now that's info I need... buying the system in steps and setup progress. I currently have a very small stock solar setup with my new 5th wheel and want to upgrade slowly (everything too expensive to buy all at once.) to the system we need.
Great video on the Victron systems. I just purchased a system for my RV just like yours. SOK batteries, inverter, shunt, distribution, cerbo GX. Phase 2 adding solar soon. I had to go to Victron training that is touring the US currently to get a grasp on wiring system together after reading all the component manuals. This video is the perfect KISS (keep it simple) video to wire a basic system. Well done.
Will I been following you 6+ yrs I can see the progress, my English is not the best, but the way you explain you make everything to understand perfectly, btw thank you once again for all the time you take to put this kind of content, to show us how to do the right things. Hi from Puerto Rico.
Well done Will. Another great video. I recently installed Multi-Plus II 3000, MPPT 100-50, CERBO GX in my RV with 600AH LIFEPO4 upgrade. Thanks to your videos you gave me the confidence to do it. Victron was more expensive, but it really integrates nicely. Once I got all the cables, set up, and configurations set up properly, the system is working really well.
@@michaelcharge4783 like you my next fifth wheel will be our last one . I’ll buy a used one and upgrade to our likes. Solar is a big part of it so we can boon dock whenever we want.
You give the gift of knowledge of a complex but life-giving technology to the masses. You should be very proud of yourself. Thank you for staying humble and please continue to give more than you take to society.
Great video! Will does an excellent job with his careful, simple, description of the system. The world needs more educators like him. Victron's system sure looks great as well.
Here in the Netherlands, customer support for Victron is excellent! My neighbor had an inverter new in the box that he did not install for just over 5 years. When he did, it failed after a few hours. It was replaced under warranty with out any hassle.
This is the best Victron primer - even a year later! Better than anything from Victron! I’m adding a Multiplus II and Cerbo, with EG4LL batteries to an existing BVM-712 and Victron Blue MPPT Controller. This helped with the “big picture” of how things go together. Thanks, Will!
Will, I like your style and way of presenting this stuff! Cool approach, slow, dedicated explanation and patient! Great work and I really appreciate your teaching channel!! Greetings from South Africa!
Really glad to see you add a Victron Energy system to your video collection. I am crazy happy with my Quattro set up. You went into detail with the the CerboGX. I am sure that this will show people an alternative to all in ones. VE systems are so flexible and configurable, and you touched on that very well. Thanks Will.
@@donlatinohits I have four Jakiper 48V 100Ah server rack batteries. They have been working flawlessly for a couple of years now, and the entire system just runs without issues. The most stable system I ever installed. I also have an all Victron system based on a MultiPlus II 3000, and another based on a Phoenix 3000. Never issues with any of them, They just run and are extremely reliable.
Victron Inverters are really amazing with how many things you can do with them. You can use them in a simple system like a RV or cabin or a complex grid tied energy storage system for a dwelling or business.
Planning on adding a solar array to our 5th wheel camper sometime in the future. We want to be able to boondock and not need to run a genset or plug in and still be able to use an AC unit, microwave, and of course the fridge. I’ve been wondering what all we will need, how much, and how to set it up. This video sure helped answer a few questions. Will definitely be contacting Victron and speaking with them to figure out what all exactly we will need in order to set it up. Appreciate you bud, thanks
Oh man, I love my victron equipment. When I started building my solar rig I got a victron smart 250/100 mppt charge controller because I knew I wanted to go big and by doing so I was able to build apon it and get other victron smart devices that communicate with each other via Bluetooth, which saved me thousands of dollars in the long run, because I was able to safely use cheaper, dumb battery packs instead of getting expensive batteries with colt temp shut off and what not. Victron is worth the investment, every time.
For those curious about the total cost of the Victron and SOK material $6080.85 3000W 12V Multiplus 2 Inverter 1570.80 0.26 Lynx Shunt 1000 356.15 0.06 Lynx Shunt Main Fuse 325 amp 52.25 0.01 Lynx Distributor 1000 211.65 0.03 Cerbo GX 347 0.06 Cerbo GX Touchscreen 5” 235 0.04 Smart Solar Charge Controller: 221 0.04 SOK Batteries 206Ah * 3 3087 0.51 Total 6080.85 % of total
Great thanks. In the future I'm wanting to run a massive 3 bed house with 2 x 2 bed additional apartments for rental with two pool pumps and two well type water pumps and 2 washing machines 8 TVs, 3 fridge freezers and 1 chest freezer. I reckon 50 to 60kwh 48v battery bank at least and 30kw of inversion. To build that with victron would be over $35k easily no? Including my panels that is? I Want to be off grid. What would this cost me.
I have Victron and love it! I noticed you have a 100/30 Solar Charge Controller connected to 800 watts of panels with 12 volt batteries. The cool thing about Victron Solar Charge Controllers is that you can over panel them without damage. It's a very cool feature. 😎
You can over panel most solar inverters? You just can’t exceed the voltage limits. It’s common practice here to set up 6.6kW of panels on a 5kW inverter. The little bit you lose over a year’s solar is negligible. I have 9.2kW of panels on an 8kW SolarEdge inverter. I could over rate it by 30% if I wanted to.
The cheapest way to get enough redundance in an off grid system at latitudes with dark winters is to overpanel - even radically. My own Smart Solar 30/100 works very well with 250 percent panel effect, and I would like to even have some more. The SM just takes it's 30 amps and ignores the rest on the sunny days. Wonder if there is a limit? I haven't seen any mention of it from Victron.
Good explanation. Can't help but think these guys at Victron overcomplicated this setup like hell, for all the nice features and optimization and communications. I never saw an IS system that did not became obsolete in 15 years and for this price I expect it to run longer.
Really well done, and helps a lot. When you removed the comm. cables and broke the topography down, I was able to visualize what was happening. Simple ? no, but with the breakdown it’s understandable. You cover a lot of things. Good vid.
Love my multiplus 2. I have the second output connected to hot water on demand taps. They only work when the multi is not being loaded with any other significant loads.
Holy cow that tiny screen is incredibly cute!!!! That USB is probably the touch screen portion of the device, which means you should be able to attach a regular mouse
It always helps if one manufacturer makes all of the components of a system. Much better communication. To avoid that cable mess/confusion they should make one wiring harness that’s easy to mount and has clear levels. In a previous video you mentioned buck/boost converters. Can you make a video about them and which charge controllers have them build in?
Victron equipment really has sold me on eventually swapping out all my gear for theirs. The way they design their systems is ultimately more flexible and feature rich than anything else on the market. You can tell that an integrated IT style approach was taken to system layout/setup/UI development. Intuitive, well organized, easy to read and comprehend, connections are a snap, no additional config involved... EASY first timer learning curve. That is how you design good gear. Really top notch. And the Expandability? Wow. Cerbo GX looks like a VERY Custom SoC with all of its GPIO an IO dedicated to specific Victron devices and uses. Its actually a little computer with a custom OS from the look of it. That monitor, I would venture a guess, is likely just a standard HDMI / USB touch screen. And any screen of the same format should also work without modification. (Say in case you wanted to go larger) But this would have to be confirmed by someone like Will who already has the device. Beyond all that... You can easily start a Victron system cheap, with only a smartshunt 500 and a charge controller, and then grow that system to any size your wallet can imagine :-) Its not cheap gear for sure... But its DAMN GOOD. So It makes up for it! Some very nice equipment, and the increase in safety factor with all the inter-device communication, is just off the charts. Most of us working with large format batteries and electricity are all about safety, and if you are too, Victron gear is absolutely some of the safest gear you can buy to watch your pack and your system. Thank you Will for the detailed walkthrough on the Victron communications system and the Cerbo GX.
Their OS is Linux based. They have a version that works on the Raspberry Pi. If you're technically inclined you can download it and set up a $40 Cerbo GX type server.
@@jmnasman I only have a smartshunt at this point I'm time. So I assume it's not worth it just yet? But that is incredible to know actually. I've been in IT for may years. So this is right up my alley. Thank you VERY much for sharing.
I'm definitely impressed by the design philosophy and execution, but my project is pretty simple, and a lot of the features and capacities of the Victron components seem like expensive overkill on my small project. Still, it looks like great gear.
@@evanwindom3265 With lithium... for me at least, I tend to think about the location of the batteries as far as the level of gear I might need. Are these batteries in a Home or Garage? Do you and your family sleep there? How often is someone there to monitor the system and check for issues? Is the circuitry wrapped around the scenario of enough quality to avoid heat issues entirely? (Typically overbuilt by 50-75% nominal load is safe. Less is not) How much Solar is coming in? Less than 1000w = not a problem for cheapo gear. 2000+w = you should probably be using better charging gear and combiners/breakers If its in a shed 100ft from your house and its a 4 pack of lithium 100ah cells... Any gear works. If its in your home, and you sleep there, or are away long periods, the level of monitoring does and WILL matter. Lithium has a VASTLY different explosive potential than most people think. It burns SUPER HOT, and is virtually impossible to extinguish without a powdered chemical ABC extinguisher. (Water is BAD BAD BAD on ANY electrical fire, especially a lithium fire. As it will flash boil and some free hydrogen will burn/explode, splattering you with molten lithium.) Even a cell phone battery can make a fireball about the size of a keg of beer at over 1000c at the source. Aka = insta-fire if not monitored by something you TRUST with your LIFE. Lithium is bad mojo when its angry. Lithium says "You wouldn't like me when i'm angry" LoL Also, Pro Tip, the CerboGX os is open source and is freely available. You can build your own from a mini PC and save 400-500$ to get started. That and a shunt and you have at least SOME monitoring. Temp sensors. Then a decent BMS for charge state monitoring and balancing. Whola, Safe and good to go. Also, Marine 300amp quick battery disconnects are VERY good for large format lithium packs. Safe. Been using them for YEARS without issue. No failures, no shocks, no Mr. Sparky. ;-)
Haven't kept up with the latest Victron kit and am impressed with the easy way to connect all the communications up together. I still have their early BMV 501 battery monitor on my boat that you had to connect to the shunt and battery with individual wires rather than plugging in a network cable. Although old , fitted 2006 , it still all works like the rest of my Victron kit 🙂
Great presentation, but left me with one question. You said you had 800 watts of solar going into the system, but using a 30 amp charge controller with a max input of 450 watts. What am I missing?
Yeah, it does not mind overpaneling. As long as max pv input is not exceeded. And I'll be adding a 50A victron controller here soon, but only had the 30A for now. It won't hurt it
So until he gets that swapped out for a larger one, I guess only about half the power output of the panels is being sent to the batteries. The rest is clipped.
This is the type of set up I would want in a van. The componentry can get very hot when in use - I really like the mounting to the non-combustable fiber cement backer board. Thank you for this video :)
I watched this again- really well explained, super informative. I’ve got to say, you’ve really earned that good rep people talk about! GJ! As you’ve prolly guessed, I’m trying to sort thru the loads of products that makes the most sense for an efficient system at a good price point.
This is pretty much the system I have on my RV. Sure would love to have you look it over. I overpaid to have it installed and let's just say it's been a mess I've got it working now but I'm not confident that I've got it right.
Will, Thank you for breaking this all down for us! Well done! This reminds me of the old Tesla PowerWall systems before the latest improvements where they combined everything. Victron needs a Tesla PowerWall 3 design moment and integrate all or most of these electronics into one or perhaps two boxes ... so all we have are our batteries and one Victron piece of electronics! Cheers, Eric
Great vid Will. It's important to point out to customers who are new to Victron : Will referred to the CerboGX as the "brain" of the system - which is true, but also brings along the inference that the CerboGX is a required part. The system will work just fine without a CerboGX, and in fact most of the systems we design will not have a CerboGX (or a Cerbo s-GX, or a RaspberryPi with VenusOS), but the Cerbo *does* enable you to have remote access to your system if you have wifi, ethernet, or cellular connectivity at the installation site, and also enables you to get alerts/alarms, and also enables you to have a nice display panel if you want.
Yes, finally... that's a quality system, always found your vids super interesting but somehow so complicated with all the little parts and gambles on cheap stuff... why did you go 12V though??? They also have excellent 48V stuff :-)
Hi will, your I just wanted to say that I really like your videos! I studied renewable energies and your videos help me to link the theory to the practice! Are you planning to do any videos on smart homes? How to set up your home to efficiently use the energy? I find this a very interesting topic especially considering where the future might develop to! Keep your work up!
It's a really nice setup from Victron. It's neatly packaged. You should do a more in-depth video about the inverter and another about the CerboGX. I'd like to know how far someone with your skillset can go with this setup! 😎
Facebook groups, Victron powered camper is one.. Some have turned there Cerbo’s into crazy info machines.. linked in with displays with weather-gps-directions- I do have a Victron system with the CerboGX and it pretty awesome being able to check on things even when I’m away from the Rv.
Will, thank you so much for the easy to understand way you explain all of this stuff. I just got the cerbo gx installed today and am looking at Inverters/chargers.
Hey Will, I was wondering would it be better to go 24v or 48v for a big RV or better to go with 2 12V inverters in series? I know there is a lot more to this but to keep it short thats my question :) thank you for this video hope there will be a part 2
Excellent instruction and tutorial. This is my second of your videos. I will be going thru many more if not all of them. I didn’t understand acronyms like “C.A.N.” So I’ll be building a vocabulary index for the future. Thanks again.
Cool you finally did a victron video; I’ve got these components waiting for my camper build and great to see a simple explanation of putting it all together.
Because they tend to treat their system more like Lego. You can pick and choose your components to make the best setup for your situation. On my 27' sailboat, I've got a 2000W MultiPlus II inverter/charger, a cerbo, a 15A solar controller (not much room for panels on a small boat), a couple of smart shunts (I'm a telemetry geek), and then I have the Victron integrated with my alternator controller (wakespeed) and my BMS (REC ABMS). Everything integrates together and is very slick.
Another great video Will. I am a big fan of Victron. They are expensive but seem to be very high quality. Do you know if the devices can communicate with each other via Bluetooth to eliminate the communication cables? Thanks!
No they can't communicate with each other via Bluetooth, they communicatie to the VictronConnect app with Bluetooth. I think you want cabled connections for devices-communication anyway.
They can connect through Bluetooth to each other. My battery sence sends the voltage and temperature to the smart solar mppt. If you also use a smart shunt it will take the voltage from there and only use the temperature from the battery sense. The shunt will send the current and voltage to the smart solar charger in this case. You have to put all your devices into the same Bluetooth smart network through the victron app, very easy to do. But this is only for the device to talk to each other, if you what to use a cerbo gx or a raspi with Venus os you have to use the cable connections. I use Intel cables for server Backplanes which use the same jst connector :)
May not be difficult, but sure is confusing, and how come this system is like 3x as expensive as a solar generator all in one? Am I missing something or would that be Not Difficult.
Hi Will, great video! I’m setting up a system myself in a box van conversion with these same components from Victron. Have wanted to do it for years! Haha. Can you do that 2 to 3 hour video at some point? It’s such a quality system and would be great to see if you have discovered anything that I haven’t found yet. :)
I went with Victron Easysolar 5000VA for my offgrid installation in Kenya. I am never looking back. Big difference with Will's setup here is that the Easysolar combined all these in one :-)- so one could really go either way. It was worth every single penny, to the very last cent. Also, the configurability and monitoring is something else.
about 7 grand with all those sok batts, probly only 3 grand without batts coz Wills only got the 3000va inverter there, im looking at the 48v 8000va version, and theyre like over 3 grand just for the inverter 😂😂😂😂
Victron is the BOMB! I have 3 solar controllers and I can view all of their stats on my phone with the Victron app. The app even totals up all of your controllers outputs so you can see your entire system’s output at one time. Support is fantastic as well if you should need help. Ben S/V DAWN
This does feel overkill for such a small system, especially since it is a 12v system requiring you to push so much amperage through. Great products though
yeah my thought too... would just use the charger + inverter and call it a day (with fuses obviously) I don't even dare to look up the price on the shunt and that other thing... Victron is pricey as hell but they do deliver nice products but sheesh the price is insane here in Europe
I’d like to see Will install a raspberry pi with open source go and an inexpensive display and compare the cost savings… also, a tutorial from beginning to end would be nice.
I believe victron is supposed to be built to the highest standard for commercial applications. These shouldn't really be compared with like a growatt, but or more comparable to a fronius. It's not cheap, but that's because this stuff should be in a commercial boat or a cell tower, where failure is unacceptable.
I would advise Victron get on that yesterday...as some company is going to come out with an 'ALLINONE' system of very high quality, and could bury Victron in short order! Who doesn't want a single unit with dip switches or card swaps for varying load settings! This Medusa clutter is pure nonsense!
Awesome video. Thanks Will. We just purchased a beautiful Beneteau 49 sailboat and it has this complete system. Now I stand a good chance of understanding it.
Please don't call it an "Ethernet" cable because that is the name of a very different signal protocol. Those daisy-chain links are probably using s signal protocol called RS485 (or similar). The cable used is UTP/STP Cat5/5e/6 cable with RJ45 plugs in a T-568A/T-568B pinout. To avoid confusion it's best to call it an "RJ45" cable, for short.
The video was correct, there are many many protocols that use an ethernet cable, we all know what connector is on the end, ethernet is just the name of a high speed connection for its type and speed, and thanks Will for the informative video
Yes absolutely! And for some components, 3X more expensive (compared to growatt or mpp). But the quality and functionality is out of this world. They can do anything really. Some people want safety certified/UL listed devices, so Victron is a great option for those who can afford it.
I have a split manufactured system for this very reason. I would have loved to had all Victron but the cost was simply too much at the time. I thought I would go with growatt going forward but now, who knows.
@@Rockhardfarmer I started with the 3 SOK batteries as per Wills advice months ago...been hesitating to piecemeal the rest of the system together for my mobile tiny truck house build, as I don't want any regrets. I just don't understand why Victron doesn't simply do ALL IN ONE..PLUG AND PLAY systems...with swappable cards for different load ratings. These fragmented systems will one day soon (IMHO) be a joke in the realm of..."hey, remember when..."?
I totally agree! It's ridiculous that the 'Multiplus' doesn't contain EVERYTHING from shunt through to inverter. Seems a cash grab....where customers are forced to shell out more for the pieces bought separately. I'd rather drop $5k for a single unit, and then there's less risk of botched install, and if it messes up...you simply swap out the entire system!
@@robertmuckle2985 They do make an all in one system. Most people want multiple components. If something fails here, say the shunt, the system will still function. Then you aren't waiting days or even weeks for an entire new system to arrive.
Look for the EasySolar II GX. It combines Inverter, MPPT, and GX device. But its for 230V/50Hz originally and it maybe (I dont know for sure) can be set to 240V/60Hz and be used in combination with a auto transformer for american split phase.
Excellent presentation. This looks like the system I may ultimately try. One nice addition may be to add a small 220 AC panel in lieu of the twin gfci outlet box. This would make this presentation, at least for me, more practical. Thanks again and keep the videos coming.
Sorry Will...but today you lost me and transformed into Charlie Brown's teacher. Normally you are able to dumb it down to my limited comprehension...but today, about 10 seconds in, all I heard was...Whah, whahh, whaahhh, whahhhh! Thanks for trying!🤦
Love, Love, Love this video thanks for showing how easy it is to setup the system. I am saving up for a 3000 Watt system and 800 watts of solar for my RV
Parts List for this system (affiliate links):
3000W 12V Multiplus 2 Inverter: www.currentconnected.com/product/pmp122305100/?ref=wp
Lynx Shunt 1000:www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-lynx-sh/?ref=wp
Lynx Shunt Main Fuse: www.currentconnected.com/product/lynx-s-fuse/?ref=wp
Lynx Distributor 1000:
www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-lynx-dr/?ref=wp
Cerbo GX:
www.currentconnected.com/product/cerbo/?ref=wp
Cerbo GX Touchscreen:
www.currentconnected.com/product/gx-touch/?ref=wp
Smart Solar Charge Controller:
www.currentconnected.com/product/ve-ssmppt-ved/?ref=wp
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Compared to the split phase MPP Inverters you already have, do you believe the features of this Victron system, combined with split phase dual inverters, is worth the additional cost? Obviously, the real value feature here is the Victron Remote Management Portal for remote access.
Yeah, the Lynx distributor is fine, but mine is flakey on being red or green on Led status, and the Cerbo doesn’t know what’s going on with it over VE yet. Kinda bums me out . I sure would like to debug why it’s flakey.
Does the 12v wire from the Cerbo measure voltage? If so, shouldn’t it be connected straight to the battery to measure voltage without effects of voltage drop? Thanks for a great video!
Thank you!
How much does it all cost, all in?
Living off grid for 9 years, Victron never let me down, the only system with centralized charge current management depending on SOC (DVCC), free cloud service (VRM). Will thanks for you're clear explanation video.
what is your setup? can you share pics please
@@jamesbond0004 can't put picts here try following me on FB
@@sfa22 twice lead acid, 4. years ago switched to lifepo4
and double the price...so not so 'free'
Me too, living on victron to run my power and train business.
Best equipment available.
I use to run a solar and battery system 15 years ago but now it's so different and advanced. You are amazing with your information, very glad we have someone like you helping the rest of us.
I chose to go down the Victron path early as I wanted the remote view and also full control of all my components from wherever I am. They are not cheap but the products and service you get are amazing. I have my Multiplus running for 2 weeks now and it is really the best inverter out there. It will cope with all kind of different setups and installations, on-grid, off-grid, mobile installations in a boat or RV, no problem. With the assistants you can get the Multiplus to pretty much do everything. I like the AC-out2 function when it for example can turn on your water heater (or EV-charger) if the battery is full but there is still enough solar coming in.
I have now also successfully daisy chained two inverters in series with one being the Multiplus. It takes the output of pretty much any inverter as the AC input and can add up to 5kVA on top what the first inverter already delivers. What a powerful system 💪
I've got the Linx system already here for the next project, Shunt, Distributor and Power-in. It will be so much easier than the battery shelf 😂
Thanks for another great video, Will 🍻
Edit: Oh, I forgot, you can also easily connect (almost) any other BMS via RS485 to the Victron system and can then slow down charging if on cell gets out of balance until the balancer has caught up.
Aren't they lovely!! I cannot believe all the features they have. I am still diving deep into the various configurations and I am very impressed. I've used victron for years, but none of their inverters. They are nice!! You are smart to go directly with them early on. Fantastic equipment
Yeah that is super powerful. The daisy chain method is amazing. I'll have to try that
Andy, how do obtain the RS485 protocol of an alien battery, Making the Victron work with BMS’s would be a game changer
@@carson3210 there is a driver for the Raspberry Pi available which should work with most BMS. I'm keen myself...
I think you have the kindest, most polite way of talking. As you spoon feed us your knowledge, it's like you're, it's like you're making sure we're understanding haha
THANK YOU!!!!!! you are amazing, I am a 70 year old grandma, full time RVer, and this is the most comprehensive video I have ever come across.
I am a 74 yr old great-grandma and agree with you completely. At this point in my life, I am without a home and have been researching the possibility of a bus conversion. As there will be 3 of us living together, we will need a system that can accommodate everything and it seems like the Viktron setup is a practical, dependable, and straightforward way to go. I like that feeling of security.
I spent my entire career doing technical training and development. That spanned from high school advanced physical science courses, nuclear power operators , techs and engineers. My last gigs were working in the HVAC industry...York lnternational Corp. and lastly the Trane Company. I have created and coached subject matter experts like engineers to do what we just saw this impressive young man deliver. This is one of the very best delivery's l've ever seen. His command of solar systems is top drawer. His delivery is flawless...clear diction, rate that he uses to deliver the content is outstanding. I have Victron solar components in my enclosed cargo trailer rv with 800 watts of panels. I designed and built it on myown while using his solar power primer book. Victron has come a long ways but l sure would have benefited from this video, even tho these latest components were not available. Hey wunderkind you really rang the bell....Victron is fortunate to have used his skills! 👍👍👍
Thank you!!!!
You earned that my Friend 👍
Exactly, his ability to communicate far exceeds most TH-camrs.
Yay! You finally did Victron. There's a lot more to talk about. I hope this is the 1st in a series of Victron videos. Thank you.
Their products are so good to use stand alone without the cerbo. Thinking like the BMV gives you battery info on a screen or phone app. The smart solar has a Bluetooth connection to show you solar input
Will. I’m a proud Victron user and I’m glad you’re including their products on your channel. One thing I think you should mention is that people don’t need to purchase an entire Victron system at one time. Each device/component can operate independently of the others and you can slowly add devices to build your system as your needs and budget allow. The final point that I think is worth mentioning is that one of the great strengths of the Victron ecosystem is the integration of products so that you have single point monitoring and control over Bluetooth, WiFi, or internet. I’m looking forward to more from you on Victron.
My question is now, now that we are headed to the life of batteries in every day life, will we ever be able to plug our Rv/ Cargo Trailer in to the Vehicle charging port, for when these days the sun decides to sleep in a few days
Now that's info I need... buying the system in steps and setup progress. I currently have a very small stock solar setup with my new 5th wheel and want to upgrade slowly (everything too expensive to buy all at once.) to the system we need.
@@greg925911 Victron's Orion series DC/DC converters handle that task.
The BEST presentation I have ever seen!
You are fantastic!
More Victron content please! I'm interested in 3 hours of just this inverter!
The entire Victron eco-system, mind-like content is not only interesting but useful
Great video on the Victron systems. I just purchased a system for my RV just like yours. SOK batteries, inverter, shunt, distribution, cerbo GX. Phase 2 adding solar soon. I had to go to Victron training that is touring the US currently to get a grasp on wiring system together after reading all the component manuals. This video is the perfect KISS (keep it simple) video to wire a basic system. Well done.
Will I been following you 6+ yrs I can see the progress, my English is not the best, but the way you explain you make everything to understand perfectly, btw thank you once again for all the time you take to put this kind of content, to show us how to do the right things. Hi from Puerto Rico.
Well done Will. Another great video. I recently installed Multi-Plus II 3000, MPPT 100-50, CERBO GX in my RV with 600AH LIFEPO4 upgrade. Thanks to your videos you gave me the confidence to do it. Victron was more expensive, but it really integrates nicely. Once I got all the cables, set up, and configurations set up properly, the system is working really well.
So happy for you. I plan to do the same in my "forever RV". Will is a rock solid source of info.
What systems are you able to use in your RV.
I have a fifth wheel and want solar to be more independent .
@@michaelcharge4783 like you my next fifth wheel will be our last one . I’ll buy a used one and upgrade to our likes. Solar is a big part of it so we can boon dock whenever we want.
You give the gift of knowledge of a complex but life-giving technology to the masses. You should be very proud of yourself. Thank you for staying humble and please continue to give more than you take to society.
Great video! Will does an excellent job with his careful, simple, description of the system. The world needs more educators like him. Victron's system sure looks great as well.
This is so well explained and perfectly structured that I first thought it would be Victron's own. Many thanks!
Here in the Netherlands, customer support for Victron is excellent! My neighbor had an inverter new in the box that he did not install for just over 5 years. When he did, it failed after a few hours. It was replaced under warranty with out any hassle.
I think you should reword your comment as when you say "next to none" it sounds like the service is almost zero. André
@@SoundzAlive1 changed "next to none" into excellent. Thanks for the input.
Wish they had customer service in the us.
Will, you are by far my go to for all things off grid. Honest, thorough and easy to understand 👌🏼🤟🏼
This is the best Victron primer - even a year later! Better than anything from Victron! I’m adding a Multiplus II and Cerbo, with EG4LL batteries to an existing BVM-712 and Victron Blue MPPT Controller. This helped with the “big picture” of how things go together. Thanks, Will!
Will, I like your style and way of presenting this stuff! Cool approach, slow, dedicated explanation and patient! Great work and I really appreciate your teaching channel!! Greetings from South Africa!
Really glad to see you add a Victron Energy system to your video collection. I am crazy happy with my Quattro set up. You went into detail with the the CerboGX. I am sure that this will show people an alternative to all in ones. VE systems are so flexible and configurable, and you touched on that very well. Thanks Will.
What battery are you using with your quattro?
@@donlatinohits I have four Jakiper 48V 100Ah server rack batteries. They have been working flawlessly for a couple of years now, and the entire system just runs without issues. The most stable system I ever installed. I also have an all Victron system based on a MultiPlus II 3000, and another based on a Phoenix 3000. Never issues with any of them, They just run and are extremely reliable.
@@technologyjunkie01 thats fantastic... I just bought an 8kva quattro.... Can't wait to finish the setup
Wow. This was so helpful. I bought a van with a Victron system and was feeling overwhelmed. This helped a ton! Thank you!
Victron Inverters are really amazing with how many things you can do with them. You can use them in a simple system like a RV or cabin or a complex grid tied energy storage system for a dwelling or business.
Planning on adding a solar array to our 5th wheel camper sometime in the future. We want to be able to boondock and not need to run a genset or plug in and still be able to use an AC unit, microwave, and of course the fridge.
I’ve been wondering what all we will need, how much, and how to set it up.
This video sure helped answer a few questions. Will definitely be contacting Victron and speaking with them to figure out what all exactly we will need in order to set it up.
Appreciate you bud, thanks
Oh man, I love my victron equipment. When I started building my solar rig I got a victron smart 250/100 mppt charge controller because I knew I wanted to go big and by doing so I was able to build apon it and get other victron smart devices that communicate with each other via Bluetooth, which saved me thousands of dollars in the long run, because I was able to safely use cheaper, dumb battery packs instead of getting expensive batteries with colt temp shut off and what not. Victron is worth the investment, every time.
For those curious about the total cost of the Victron and SOK material $6080.85
3000W 12V Multiplus 2 Inverter 1570.80 0.26
Lynx Shunt 1000 356.15 0.06
Lynx Shunt Main Fuse 325 amp 52.25 0.01
Lynx Distributor 1000 211.65 0.03
Cerbo GX 347 0.06
Cerbo GX Touchscreen 5” 235 0.04
Smart Solar Charge Controller: 221 0.04
SOK Batteries 206Ah * 3 3087 0.51
Total 6080.85 % of total
in fact, 2 SOK Battery could run the 3000w inverter..
Great thanks. In the future I'm wanting to run a massive 3 bed house with 2 x 2 bed additional apartments for rental with two pool pumps and two well type water pumps and 2 washing machines 8 TVs, 3 fridge freezers and 1 chest freezer. I reckon 50 to 60kwh 48v battery bank at least and 30kw of inversion. To build that with victron would be over $35k easily no? Including my panels that is? I Want to be off grid. What would this cost me.
The Lynx Shunt Main Fuse, I purchased, went with the 800.
I went with 2 S.O.K. 12.8, 206ah, for my needs
@@pau1phi11ips thanks Paul. 10k for 2 plus 12k on batteries abd 5-6 on panels, then CC’rs and the other gubbins will be a shed load of Cash. 😞
I have Victron and love it! I noticed you have a 100/30 Solar Charge Controller connected to 800 watts of panels with 12 volt batteries. The cool thing about Victron Solar Charge Controllers is that you can over panel them without damage. It's a very cool feature. 😎
Exactly!! I love that about them
Will I want to if you can put 48v on my rv
You can over panel most solar inverters? You just can’t exceed the voltage limits. It’s common practice here to set up 6.6kW of panels on a 5kW inverter. The little bit you lose over a year’s solar is negligible. I have 9.2kW of panels on an 8kW SolarEdge inverter. I could over rate it by 30% if I wanted to.
The cheapest way to get enough redundance in an off grid system at latitudes with dark winters is to overpanel - even radically. My own Smart Solar 30/100 works very well with 250 percent panel effect, and I would like to even have some more. The SM just takes it's 30 amps and ignores the rest on the sunny days. Wonder if there is a limit? I haven't seen any mention of it from Victron.
@@mondotv4216 he said over panel the solar charge controller not the inverter
I get the feeling this guy is talking to me like a child. Exactly what I needed, subbed!
I love my victron. I like the prices high. It’s the best out there For a reason.
I don't mind paying for quality...but these Medusa cluttered setups are just plain goofy!
@@robertmuckle2985 they can look goofy for sure if you don’t take the time to do wire management. But it’s about functionality not looks.
You really know your stuff! Always makes me nervous the way you point things out by touching them. Sends shivers up me.
Good explanation. Can't help but think these guys at Victron overcomplicated this setup like hell, for all the nice features and optimization and communications. I never saw an IS system that did not became obsolete in 15 years and for this price I expect it to run longer.
Really well done, and helps a lot. When you removed the comm. cables and broke the topography down, I was able to visualize what was happening. Simple ? no, but with the breakdown it’s understandable. You cover a lot of things. Good vid.
Love my multiplus 2. I have the second output connected to hot water on demand taps. They only work when the multi is not being loaded with any other significant loads.
@@beastslayer9153 Tank input on the Cerbo is for level sensors.
Would love too see a victron 48v system explained! :) and thanks for the information 👍
it's the same thing just higher voltage and more efficient for higher power demands/larger solar panel sets
Great job Will!! This needs to be part one of a series of 10 videos on Victron systems!!!!!
Yes please more Victron
Thanks, excellent straightforward Victron overview. Very much appreciate the simplicity of your explanations.
Very well described mate, Victron all the way👌🇦🇺
Holy cow that tiny screen is incredibly cute!!!! That USB is probably the touch screen portion of the device, which means you should be able to attach a regular mouse
It always helps if one manufacturer makes all of the components of a system. Much better communication.
To avoid that cable mess/confusion they should make one wiring harness that’s easy to mount and has clear levels.
In a previous video you mentioned buck/boost converters. Can you make a video about them and which charge controllers have them build in?
Excellent! I've never seen ANYone do this aspect of Victron setups. Thank you!
That's really nice. Personally I would like to see one type of cable to connect all the devices
These sysrems have been around for decades now. Its history.
I think different cables are fine as long as it’s for safety 😉
I agree. HDMI AV cables have been around for some time.. VE is big on proprietary parts and $$$$
Bluetooth
victron connect cable is jankey
Victron equipment really has sold me on eventually swapping out all my gear for theirs.
The way they design their systems is ultimately more flexible and feature rich than anything else on the market.
You can tell that an integrated IT style approach was taken to system layout/setup/UI development.
Intuitive, well organized, easy to read and comprehend, connections are a snap, no additional config involved... EASY first timer learning curve. That is how you design good gear. Really top notch.
And the Expandability? Wow.
Cerbo GX looks like a VERY Custom SoC with all of its GPIO an IO dedicated to specific Victron devices and uses. Its actually a little computer with a custom OS from the look of it. That monitor, I would venture a guess, is likely just a standard HDMI / USB touch screen. And any screen of the same format should also work without modification. (Say in case you wanted to go larger)
But this would have to be confirmed by someone like Will who already has the device.
Beyond all that... You can easily start a Victron system cheap, with only a smartshunt 500 and a charge controller, and then grow that system to any size your wallet can imagine :-)
Its not cheap gear for sure... But its DAMN GOOD. So It makes up for it!
Some very nice equipment, and the increase in safety factor with all the inter-device communication, is just off the charts.
Most of us working with large format batteries and electricity are all about safety, and if you are too, Victron gear is absolutely some of the safest gear you can buy to watch your pack and your system.
Thank you Will for the detailed walkthrough on the Victron communications system and the Cerbo GX.
Their OS is Linux based. They have a version that works on the Raspberry Pi. If you're technically inclined you can download it and set up a $40 Cerbo GX type server.
@@jmnasman I only have a smartshunt at this point I'm time.
So I assume it's not worth it just yet?
But that is incredible to know actually.
I've been in IT for may years. So this is right up my alley. Thank you VERY much for sharing.
I'm definitely impressed by the design philosophy and execution, but my project is pretty simple, and a lot of the features and capacities of the Victron components seem like expensive overkill on my small project. Still, it looks like great gear.
@@evanwindom3265 With lithium... for me at least, I tend to think about the location of the batteries as far as the level of gear I might need.
Are these batteries in a Home or Garage?
Do you and your family sleep there?
How often is someone there to monitor the system and check for issues?
Is the circuitry wrapped around the scenario of enough quality to avoid heat issues entirely? (Typically overbuilt by 50-75% nominal load is safe. Less is not)
How much Solar is coming in? Less than 1000w = not a problem for cheapo gear. 2000+w = you should probably be using better charging gear and combiners/breakers
If its in a shed 100ft from your house and its a 4 pack of lithium 100ah cells... Any gear works.
If its in your home, and you sleep there, or are away long periods, the level of monitoring does and WILL matter. Lithium has a VASTLY different explosive potential than most people think. It burns SUPER HOT, and is virtually impossible to extinguish without a powdered chemical ABC extinguisher. (Water is BAD BAD BAD on ANY electrical fire, especially a lithium fire. As it will flash boil and some free hydrogen will burn/explode, splattering you with molten lithium.)
Even a cell phone battery can make a fireball about the size of a keg of beer at over 1000c at the source.
Aka = insta-fire if not monitored by something you TRUST with your LIFE.
Lithium is bad mojo when its angry.
Lithium says "You wouldn't like me when i'm angry"
LoL
Also, Pro Tip, the CerboGX os is open source and is freely available. You can build your own from a mini PC and save 400-500$ to get started. That and a shunt and you have at least SOME monitoring. Temp sensors. Then a decent BMS for charge state monitoring and balancing.
Whola, Safe and good to go.
Also, Marine 300amp quick battery disconnects are VERY good for large format lithium packs. Safe. Been using them for YEARS without issue. No failures, no shocks, no Mr. Sparky.
;-)
Thanks!
Haven't kept up with the latest Victron kit and am impressed with the easy way to connect all the communications up together.
I still have their early BMV 501 battery monitor on my boat that you had to connect to the shunt and battery with individual wires rather than plugging in a network cable. Although old , fitted 2006 , it still all works like the rest of my Victron kit 🙂
Happy you joined Victron ! Yes more pricy but boy so many features and never fails !
Great presentation, but left me with one question. You said you had 800 watts of solar going into the system, but using a 30 amp charge controller with a max input of 450 watts. What am I missing?
I can't say for sure Will's reason, but just guessing, this would allow for better charging earlier and later in the day when the sun is not optimal.
Yeah, it does not mind overpaneling. As long as max pv input is not exceeded. And I'll be adding a 50A victron controller here soon, but only had the 30A for now. It won't hurt it
Yeah, exactly what my question is.. How can he have 800w for 12v 30a mppt
So until he gets that swapped out for a larger one, I guess only about half the power output of the panels is being sent to the batteries. The rest is clipped.
@@rgbii2 is 800 watt panels were only pushing out 380 Watts. I wonder if it's because of the time of day or the time of year
Omg dude I love you, you literally have almost all the equipment I bought and this is a perfect visual reference.
Very easy to understand. Thanks Will.
This is the type of set up I would want in a van. The componentry can get very hot when in use - I really like the mounting to the non-combustable fiber cement backer board. Thank you for this video :)
You would be a GREAT TEACHER
I watched this again- really well explained, super informative. I’ve got to say, you’ve really earned that good rep people talk about! GJ! As you’ve prolly guessed, I’m trying to sort thru the loads of products that makes the most sense for an efficient system at a good price point.
This is pretty much the system I have on my RV. Sure would love to have you look it over. I overpaid to have it installed and let's just say it's been a mess I've got it working now but I'm not confident that I've got it right.
Will,
Thank you for breaking this all down for us! Well done!
This reminds me of the old Tesla PowerWall systems before the latest improvements where they combined everything. Victron needs a Tesla PowerWall 3 design moment and integrate all or most of these electronics into one or perhaps two boxes ... so all we have are our batteries and one Victron piece of electronics!
Cheers, Eric
Great vid Will. It's important to point out to customers who are new to Victron : Will referred to the CerboGX as the "brain" of the system - which is true, but also brings along the inference that the CerboGX is a required part. The system will work just fine without a CerboGX, and in fact most of the systems we design will not have a CerboGX (or a Cerbo s-GX, or a RaspberryPi with VenusOS), but the Cerbo *does* enable you to have remote access to your system if you have wifi, ethernet, or cellular connectivity at the installation site, and also enables you to get alerts/alarms, and also enables you to have a nice display panel if you want.
Yes, finally... that's a quality system, always found your vids super interesting but somehow so complicated with all the little parts and gambles on cheap stuff... why did you go 12V though??? They also have excellent 48V stuff :-)
More Victron videos please will!!! 48v off grid, would be really cool.
That's a very nice system. You make it look so simple. Me: where is the smoke coming from? !:- )
* the smoke is coming from my brain 🧠 🤯
right before I electrocute myself.
Your awesome young man keep up the great work we appreciate it stay blessed 😊
Hi will, your I just wanted to say that I really like your videos! I studied renewable energies and your videos help me to link the theory to the practice! Are you planning to do any videos on smart homes? How to set up your home to efficiently use the energy? I find this a very interesting topic especially considering where the future might develop to! Keep your work up!
I’m running the Cerbo GX on a raspberry Pi 2. It’s called VenusOS. Use adapters and it connects to everything we have and is amazing!
It's a really nice setup from Victron. It's neatly packaged. You should do a more in-depth video about the inverter and another about the CerboGX. I'd like to know how far someone with your skillset can go with this setup! 😎
Facebook groups, Victron powered camper is one.. Some have turned there Cerbo’s into crazy info machines.. linked in with displays with weather-gps-directions- I do have a Victron system with the CerboGX and it pretty awesome being able to check on things even when I’m away from the Rv.
Will, thank you so much for the easy to understand way you explain all of this stuff. I just got the cerbo gx installed today and am looking at Inverters/chargers.
Hey Will, I was wondering would it be better to go 24v or 48v for a big RV or better to go with 2 12V inverters in series? I know there is a lot more to this but to keep it short thats my question :) thank you for this video hope there will be a part 2
Excellent instruction and tutorial. This is my second of your videos. I will be going thru many more if not all of them. I didn’t understand acronyms like “C.A.N.” So I’ll be building a vocabulary index for the future. Thanks again.
How big should the Lynx Shunt Main Fuse be in this setup? Amperage 325, 500 or 800?
It depends they probably recommend what fuse for the in the data sheet
Cool you finally did a victron video; I’ve got these components waiting for my camper build and great to see a simple explanation of putting it all together.
Why not all the tech in one box? Will that be the future?
It's available and Victron make it
@@SustainableGal All relative
Because they tend to treat their system more like Lego. You can pick and choose your components to make the best setup for your situation. On my 27' sailboat, I've got a 2000W MultiPlus II inverter/charger, a cerbo, a 15A solar controller (not much room for panels on a small boat), a couple of smart shunts (I'm a telemetry geek), and then I have the Victron integrated with my alternator controller (wakespeed) and my BMS (REC ABMS). Everything integrates together and is very slick.
Thanks for your answer.
I wish I had 1/16 of your smarts... you are incredible. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 😊👍
Another great video Will. I am a big fan of Victron. They are expensive but seem to be very high quality. Do you know if the devices can communicate with each other via Bluetooth to eliminate the communication cables? Thanks!
No they can't communicate with each other via Bluetooth, they communicatie to the VictronConnect app with Bluetooth. I think you want cabled connections for devices-communication anyway.
They can connect through Bluetooth to each other.
My battery sence sends the voltage and temperature to the smart solar mppt.
If you also use a smart shunt it will take the voltage from there and only use the temperature from the battery sense.
The shunt will send the current and voltage to the smart solar charger in this case.
You have to put all your devices into the same Bluetooth smart network through the victron app, very easy to do.
But this is only for the device to talk to each other, if you what to use a cerbo gx or a raspi with Venus os you have to use the cable connections.
I use Intel cables for server Backplanes which use the same jst connector :)
You told me everything what I need to know. Before this video victron energy made me feel confused. Thanks.👍👍👍
How much is all the equipment?.. with & without cables
I just started buying Victron components for my ship 💸
You’re really doing a fantastic job with these videos. Clear concise. Keep it up.
May not be difficult, but sure is confusing, and how come this system is like 3x as expensive as a solar generator all in one? Am I missing something or would that be Not Difficult.
Hi Will, great video! I’m setting up a system myself in a box van conversion with these same components from Victron. Have wanted to do it for years! Haha. Can you do that 2 to 3 hour video at some point? It’s such a quality system and would be great to see if you have discovered anything that I haven’t found yet. :)
I went with Victron Easysolar 5000VA for my offgrid installation in Kenya. I am never looking back. Big difference with Will's setup here is that the Easysolar combined all these in one :-)- so one could really go either way. It was worth every single penny, to the very last cent. Also, the configurability and monitoring is something else.
Cost of that setup?
about 7 grand with all those sok batts, probly only 3 grand without batts coz Wills only got the 3000va inverter there, im looking at the 48v 8000va version, and theyre like over 3 grand just for the inverter 😂😂😂😂
Victron is the BOMB! I have 3 solar controllers and I can view all of their stats on my phone with the Victron app. The app even totals up all of your controllers outputs so you can see your entire system’s output at one time. Support is fantastic as well if you should need help. Ben S/V DAWN
This does feel overkill for such a small system, especially since it is a 12v system requiring you to push so much amperage through. Great products though
yeah my thought too... would just use the charger + inverter and call it a day (with fuses obviously) I don't even dare to look up the price on the shunt and that other thing... Victron is pricey as hell but they do deliver nice products but sheesh the price is insane here in Europe
Victron sure knows what they are doing. For people with higher budgets, their stuff is certainly impressive.
I’d like to see Will install a raspberry pi with open source go and an inexpensive display and compare the cost savings… also, a tutorial from beginning to end would be nice.
I did it with a Pi and would rather the cerbo to be honest. I had reliability problems plus the cerbo has more connection options
Great video. many thanks. Victron need to thank you because this video convinced me to buy Victron for my next yacht installation.
Victron could have incorporated all these systems into one unit. Many small and expensive devices.
Yes, was thinking that, thats what most other companies do. would NEVER buy a Victron as all the parts cost twice as much.
They already did it. Victron Easysolar II GX
I believe victron is supposed to be built to the highest standard for commercial applications.
These shouldn't really be compared with like a growatt, but or more comparable to a fronius.
It's not cheap, but that's because this stuff should be in a commercial boat or a cell tower, where failure is unacceptable.
@@Ismsanmar nice
I would advise Victron get on that yesterday...as some company is going to come out with an 'ALLINONE' system of very high quality, and could bury Victron in short order! Who doesn't want a single unit with dip switches or card swaps for varying load settings! This Medusa clutter is pure nonsense!
Awesome video. Thanks Will. We just purchased a beautiful Beneteau 49 sailboat and it has this complete system. Now I stand a good chance of understanding it.
Please don't call it an "Ethernet" cable because that is the name of a very different signal protocol.
Those daisy-chain links are probably using s signal protocol called RS485 (or similar).
The cable used is UTP/STP Cat5/5e/6 cable with RJ45 plugs in a T-568A/T-568B pinout.
To avoid confusion it's best to call it an "RJ45" cable, for short.
Yeah I should have said that, sorry
The video was correct, there are many many protocols that use an ethernet cable, we all know what connector is on the end, ethernet is just the name of a high speed connection for its type and speed, and thanks Will for the informative video
“Usually I just slap the cover on and it fits in there somehow” Now you’re speaking my language! 😆 love the videos buddy!
I'd love to see a Victron made affordable - they're basically twice the price of any alternative 😉
Yes absolutely! And for some components, 3X more expensive (compared to growatt or mpp). But the quality and functionality is out of this world. They can do anything really. Some people want safety certified/UL listed devices, so Victron is a great option for those who can afford it.
You get what you pay for….
I have a full Victron install on my sailboat that I live on. Victron lithium batteries too. It was expensive but I love it.
I have a split manufactured system for this very reason. I would have loved to had all Victron but the cost was simply too much at the time.
I thought I would go with growatt going forward but now, who knows.
@@Rockhardfarmer I started with the 3 SOK batteries as per Wills advice months ago...been hesitating to piecemeal the rest of the system together for my mobile tiny truck house build, as I don't want any regrets. I just don't understand why Victron doesn't simply do ALL IN ONE..PLUG AND PLAY systems...with swappable cards for different load ratings.
These fragmented systems will one day soon (IMHO) be a joke in the realm of..."hey, remember when..."?
Fantastic, concise and clear explanation for beginners! Thank you Will,.........always enjoy your videos and learn a TON.
Isn't this type of system obsolete since AIOs now exist? The cost is much cheaper and replacement parts is as easy as a spare unit.
Perfect video! I am a new installer. Thanks for perfect job. Keep help us with your videos. John form Greece.
Victron is great, they just need to come out of the Stone Age and make a hybrid inverter.
I totally agree! It's ridiculous that the 'Multiplus' doesn't contain EVERYTHING from shunt through to inverter. Seems a cash grab....where customers are forced to shell out more for the pieces bought separately. I'd rather drop $5k for a single unit, and then there's less risk of botched install, and if it messes up...you simply swap out the entire system!
@@robertmuckle2985 They do make an all in one system. Most people want multiple components. If something fails here, say the shunt, the system will still function. Then you aren't waiting days or even weeks for an entire new system to arrive.
Thanks Will!!!... I called Dexter at Current Connected and was talking about this exact subject.
When will Victron make an all in one ? Better , costs more, lots more work, but worth it..... if you have the knowledge, tools, money .......
Look for the EasySolar II GX. It combines Inverter, MPPT, and GX device. But its for 230V/50Hz originally and it maybe (I dont know for sure) can be set to 240V/60Hz and be used in combination with a auto transformer for american split phase.
There is also the RS 48/6000. All victron inverters can be set to 60hz or 50hz.
Excellent presentation. This looks like the system I may ultimately try. One nice addition may be to add a small 220 AC panel in lieu of the twin gfci outlet box. This would make this presentation, at least for me, more practical. Thanks again and keep the videos coming.
First
Thank you so much .This has assisted me greatly.Ross
I cant help but notice that people that explain battery setups always like to touch the poles of the batteries with their fingers.
Never make it a habit of touching bus bars no matter how low the voltage is.
@@jaytheblader6701You're not wrong for the sake of habit practice.
But still... it's only 12 volts here.
victron equipment is absolutely the best. I have 2x 48V 5kva multiplus 2 units running my place off grid.
Sorry Will...but today you lost me and transformed into Charlie Brown's teacher. Normally you are able to dumb it down to my limited comprehension...but today, about 10 seconds in, all I heard was...Whah, whahh, whaahhh, whahhhh! Thanks for trying!🤦
I think it's a victron issue.
I would recommend first get an understanding of what each component does ( he has many other videos). Then it will be easier to see how they connect.
Great explanation of this small Victron system. Thanks also for speaking slowly ;-) greetings from Germany
Love, Love, Love this video thanks for showing how easy it is to setup the system. I am saving up for a 3000 Watt system and 800 watts of solar for my RV