Why A Low Battery Alarm Occurs
When a large load (e.g. an air conditioner, especially one without a soft starter) is turned on, the sudden large load can sometimes briefly overwhelm the inverter. This may result in a low battery alarm. The system should right itself quickly, but just make sure your power loads are appropriate for the size of inverter.
This can also happen if there’s a sudden interruption in your shore or generator power connection, due to a bad connection, power outage, or other disconnection. Be sure to turn off any large loads before disconnecting from a power source.
If this problem continues to occur, check your batteries to ensure they’re all functioning normally. If you’re using SOK Battery, read more about using their app.
Inverter Power Rating
Every inverter has a continuous power output rating – that is the number you should keep in mind. For example, if you have a 2000W inverter and you’re running your A/C, you’re probably using ~1500 watts. If you turn on your microwave, that’s an additional 800 watts, which now exceeds the 2000W rating of the example inverter.
A Victron MultiPlus 12/3000 has a 2400W continuous rating at 77*F – if it’s significantly hotter, the inverter will only be able to handle less than 2400W. As you continue to use your system, you’ll likely become more aware of the amount of power your appliances pull. Soon you’ll become a Master of Power Management!
Victron’s hybrid inverter-chargers (“VE.Bus”) are powerful, and complex. For a full list of error codes and troubleshooting tips, click here.
Prior to modifying any settings, make sure to update your system’s components to the latest firmware version.
