Any suggestions/recommendations for petrol generators which people have tested and work with Victron Inverters?
I’m digging and thinking ahead to an “off-grid” decision.
Thanks all.
Honda EU30 works well with my Quattro. Just need to get the input current and ess peak shaving settings right.
On the generator input its important to set the LOM detection right as well - else the Victron keeps on discarding the generator due to the “not ideal” input the moment the generator is loaded.
I wont attempt this to Work as seamless on a normal Multi since rhe quattro can have LOM detection settings for Eskom and Generator independently.
I have also tested this with my EU20 and its also workable - EU30 just better due to size.
My list would be:
- EU30
- Quattro (separate LOM setting)
- Input current limit the Generator input @ approx 90% of Generator max power
- Enable peak shaving in ESS in order to ensure you NEVER exceed the power limit of generator.
My system works perfectly to top up batts drawing 2.4kW from EU30 whilst happily supplying peak loads of 7-8kW.
Most important - you need a Quattro.
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My assumption: I need a generator IF I go off grid and kick the Muni. Otherwise I won’t go that route. I would wire the Gen to the AC Input.
Ok - agree, in that case no need for a Quattro.
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As the author of that code, I really really want to tell you to use the AC input current limit on the Multi instead. The peak shaving limit implemented on the GX device is meant to prevent fuses from blowing (and fuses are slow). It is not meant to prevent a generator from overloading… although it probably will help. The AC current limit on the Multi/Quattro, on the other hand, was actually designed with generators and poor grid connections in mind.
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Agree @plonkster
I use the AC Current Limit at the moment on my Muni feed to model a proposed breaker change.
They want to charge us for each Amp - based on Breaker size @R4.99 ex.
I meant you need to enable the peak shaving setting in ESS else the current limit as set on the multi/quattro wont kick in (If peak shaving is enabled it pull the delta from the batteries in stead of overloading the generator). See my original post - I explicitly stated #3 that the current limit should be set (I also have a MCB on the generator line to hard enforce this, but the EU30 is clever enough to disengage in any case).
To clarify - I mean Peak Shaving should be set to “Always” - to ensure it pulls the delta load from the batteries even if the batteries are below minimum SOC.
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Man … i am still struggling so much with my diesel generator.
i got myself this one: MAC AFRIC 6.5 kVA (5 KW) Standby Enclosed Type Diesel Generator - 230V Single Phase - Adendorff Machinery Mart
It starts up, multis detects the ac input current (which is limited to like total of 15amps accoss the 3 multis)
- If I set it to external control (it ignores solar and only carries load)
- If I set it to optimised with battery life. It starts carrying the load, gradually ramps up to charge batteries and then trips the breaker on the generator itself, at around 1700w.
If i isoloate the inverters and plug genie directly into the house it can carry around 3500 comfortable without any issues and pcs dont even switch off. I can push it even further to around 5000w, like switch on my kettle, and it wont trip … the genie just works hard.
I just don’t know what to do about this anymore… wasted R23k to help me support of-grid.
It almost feel as though there is some current being pushed back to the generator that trips it.
at first i thought it was weak input voltage and current… but it trips the generator, its not like the multi just ignores it and switch to batteries.
i mean … this is the point itr trips at…
and this is it carrying the load before it starts charging the batteries.
just perplexing that there is barely any difference…
this is the VE-BUS state for this:
the only thing i can see that is weird is in ve-configure:
first multi has dynamic current limiter on:
second and third not:
… shoulda maybe started a new thread, sorry. If someone can move this into it’s own thread that would be great, sorry.
I second the EU30. Apart from just the Input Current Limit set my settings are the same as @_dB 's. One thing I do is to disable my Solar to not feed power back into the generator otherwise you might see a big glow on the horizon. Normal operation for me is Grid Feedback and ESS. The generator is only there for the zombie apocalypse but these days it seems I might not need it anymore 
Also remember it’s a V-0-V, or 120-0-120, generator so it’s not really meant for fixed residential applications but rather for mobile and power tools.
Yo can bond the Neutral to ground where it enters the DB.
Are you still connected to Grid or are you off grid completely?
off grid completely
Have you disabled LOM checking on the generator inputs?
Dropdown selection should state “disabled” - it will prompt for a password to make this modification - attached is Quattro setting, Multi should be similar but only 1x AC
Ok, so I messed up my earlier post. On the Neutral bond: Unfortunately not on this inverter-type generator, it burns out the one coil.
Just for information
Ziehl disconnected grid due to Eskom voltage issue. On a very overcast day… see screenshot attached. Generator playing a topup role without an overload on the EU30 Generator capacity.
Sorry for reviving this old thread, I just want to give an update.
I took the generator back to adendorfs 2 days ago and received it back to day. It turns out both the AC circuit breakers on the generator as faulty. They replaced it under warrantee and the Geni is now running smoothly, taking load whilst charging the batteries.
One thing I noticed is the generator’s rated capacity is 5kw, and because it has two power plugs they split the capacity between the two, so even if the breakers were fine i would not have been able to pull much more than 3kw.
They now added 20amp breakers on each plug, which is fine considering the manual said continues load should not exceed 75% of the generator’s capacity.
Thanx for the feedback from you all!
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