Victron Energy has been developing and manufacturing inverters for off and on-grid use since 1975. Over this time they have developed a reputation for producing reliable, well built and affordable products with a variety of applications. While they have traditionally manufactured inverters, chargers and controllers for off-grid systems, they are now producing more products for the home solar market.
While we have written about many solar inverters on this site it is worth noting that the Victron Energy inverter/chargers we are looking at in this article are not the same as their solar counterparts. They do not take the power from solar panels and convert it into usable energy, rather they take the power created by solar inverters, solar charge controllers and other sources such as generators and direct it either to your home or your batteries depending on what is needed.
Master Of The Mobile Power Market
An interesting fact about this Netherlands based company is their place in the camper / boating market. Seens as one of the top tier manufacturers for these smaller, mobile power systems, they have honed their products to a state of notable reliability and being able to perform in an already competitive market is key to their success in other fields. Another fact we find impressive is their huge range of products for the solar market.
Massive Range Of Solar Products
It is not uncommon in our industry to see a company specialising in one or 2 solar components such as solar panels, inverters and batteries. Victron Energy not only produces all of these products but more, ranging from small scale solar all the way through to commercial solutions. This makes integration a breeze and it seems no matter what your solar power needs are, Victron Energy has an answer for you.
Just some of the products Victron Energy manufacture:
- Autotransformers
- Inverter/chargers
- Isolation transformers
- Batteries
- Battery isolators and combiners
- Battery Management Systems
- DC/DC converters
- Inverter/charger/MPPT
- Solar charge controllers
- Solar panels
- Solar home systems
- Dc distribution systems
- Panels and system monitoring
- Transfer switches
Some Of The Victron Energy Battery Inverter/Chargers We Use In Our Solar Systems
MultiPlus-II – Best Of Both Worlds
The MultiPlus-II is a combination of 2 older inverters manufactured by Victron Energy, the MultiPlus and MultiGrid. This new generation gives you the best of both worlds with features from both alongside newer innovations such as PowerControl and PowerAssist. The MultiPlus-II can also optimise self-consumption due to external current sensing.
Key Features Of The MultiPlus-II Inverter/Charger
Built To Perform In Energy Storage Systems
While Victron Energy have previously made their products for off-grid installations, the MultiPlus-II is aimed towards home battery systems utilising solar power. In order to facilitate this move they have created the Energy Storage System (ESS) which integrates the power grid connection with their inverters.
Uninterrupted AC Power
Should the grid fail while your home is drawing power from it the MultiPlus-II will automatically take control to provide power from your batteries. This happens extremely fast, so fast in fact that you will not even notice that an interruption has occurred. This means peace of mind, knowing even during blackouts your home will have power.
Remote Monitoring & Control
By adding a GX device to your MultiPlus-II system you are able to have complete oversight and control. You can monitor the system via LAN or remotely over the internet from anywhere. Access can be gained from just about any device including phones, laptops and PC, allowing you to take control and make adjustments as you see fit.
Quattro – Off-Grid Specialist
The Quattro is a multifunctional inverter/charger that is designed to get the most out of your off-grid setup. It has a wealth of features that include adaptive charging, a true sine wave inverter and their own PowerAssist technology. It is also quite versatile with the ability to integrate into three or split phase operation as well as parallel operation.
Key Features Of The Quattro Inverter/Charger
Two AC Inputs & Two AC Outputs
The Quattro can be connected to 2 AC sources such as generators, automatically connecting to the active source as needed. Should the grid or generators fail the Quattro will take over the supply of power so quickly (< 20 milliseconds) that any electronic equipment such as computers will continue to operate as normal.
Parallel Operation
Depending on what your needs are you can have up to 6 Quattro Inverter/Chargers operating in parallel. We like this as it makes it possible to expand as needed which is an important consideration if thinking proactively. As we mentioned earlier the Quattro can also be run in three phase or split phase.
PowerAssist Feature
The PowerAssist feature enables the Quattro to prevent the overloading of an AC power source such as a generator. If an overload would normally happen, the Quattro will reduce battery charging as a preventative measure. It will also increase the output of the power supply, supplementing it with power from the battery.
Both of these products present excellent value and more importantly, reliability. We cannot undersell the importance of making reliable components when it comes to off-grid power. While Victron Energy has started to produce their own line of solar inverters, products such as the Quattro and MultiPlus-II are also compatible with quality solar inverter manufacturers such as Fronius.
Want A Quote For Off-Grid Solar With Victron Energy?
If you would like a quote for an off-grid solar system such as the one we recently built for Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins, give us a call on 1800 255 474 to talk to one of our outstanding solar consultants. We will establish what your power needs are and can provide you with an obligation free quote designed to meet and exceed your expectations.
If you would like a quick online quote simply fill in the form to have us get back to you with any information you might need. It takes no time and you may be surprised as to just how much you can save by going solar.