AlaskanNoob
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2021
- Messages
- 967
About a year ago (or a little more) we bought equipment for a solar install we'd hoped to have installed last summer. But Alaska got record setting rain that Summer...it didn't stop. And it threw a big wrench in our off grid plans. Two of the components we ordered were two Victron Multiplus II 48/8000s. The Multiplus II comes in five different sizes. 3K, 5K, 8K, 10K, and 15K. We bought two of the 8K models after the dealer confirmed they would allow us to future proof in case we wanted to expand power later. The dealer specifically told us that two 8000 units could be operated in parallel and why wouldn't he have? After all, the manual made no mention of any exceptions for the 8000 model and it would seems odd that the 3K and 5K could operate in parallel, while the majority of the models could not.
In fact, the manual:
On page 3 mentions the ability to parallel with no exceptions for specific models:
On Page 15 discusses parallel operation without listing any exceptions:
The manual even shows two different diagrams (one for 3K and 5K models and a different diagram for 8K-15K models) where it states that the VE.BUS (port E) is used for parallel operation:
The only thing in the manual that I can find (now that I'm specifically looking for it) which could support the idea that the 48/8000 model does not support parallel is this grid, where "parallel" is left off of the functions for the 8000 model. But this contradicts the section above, and it missing doesn't suggest parallel can't be done, but rather that it isn't done through the VE.BUS:
But recently, in a thread on the Victron Community Page about connecting a generator, somebody brought to my attention that the the Datasheet, states that the 8K, 10K, and 15K models (most of them) do not support parallel operation.
I contacted the dealer and he said he's looking into it. So at this point, I have no idea if the two units we have will support parallel operation or not. It seems beyond strange to me that you can parallel up to 6 x 48/5000 models and not 2 x 48/8000 models. I guess we'll see.
In fact, the manual:
On page 3 mentions the ability to parallel with no exceptions for specific models:
On Page 15 discusses parallel operation without listing any exceptions:
The manual even shows two different diagrams (one for 3K and 5K models and a different diagram for 8K-15K models) where it states that the VE.BUS (port E) is used for parallel operation:
The only thing in the manual that I can find (now that I'm specifically looking for it) which could support the idea that the 48/8000 model does not support parallel is this grid, where "parallel" is left off of the functions for the 8000 model. But this contradicts the section above, and it missing doesn't suggest parallel can't be done, but rather that it isn't done through the VE.BUS:
But recently, in a thread on the Victron Community Page about connecting a generator, somebody brought to my attention that the the Datasheet, states that the 8K, 10K, and 15K models (most of them) do not support parallel operation.
I contacted the dealer and he said he's looking into it. So at this point, I have no idea if the two units we have will support parallel operation or not. It seems beyond strange to me that you can parallel up to 6 x 48/5000 models and not 2 x 48/8000 models. I guess we'll see.
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