Community Forums

Jacjetlag · 05-20-2021, 08:32 PM

If you invest in a system that all works together, should you have to buy extra pieces that only work on their stuff?

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Proprietary cords, dongles and interface pieces are part of the deal. If your dealer has to program your stuff, and THEY DO, it has to be done by Victron trained folks....Cha-ching! $$$ spent at shop rates to make it all work properly.

There's no doubt that they make good products. It's just expensive and time consuming to set up, IMHO.

SCVJeff · 05-20-2021, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacjetlag

If you invest in a system that all works together, should you have to buy extra pieces that only work on their stuff?

+++++

Proprietary cords, dongles and interface pieces are part of the deal. If your dealer has to program your stuff, and THEY DO, it has to be done by Victron trained folks....Cha-ching! $$$ spent at shop rates to make it all work properly.

There's no doubt that they make good products. It's just expensive and time consuming to set up, IMHO.

’m not aware of any battery monitor, charger, inverter/charger that use generic off the shelf parts with the exception of a shunt. Magnum is the same way with their interoperability. You can always go to eBay and buy a battery monitor (if thats what this is all about) for $20

SV K · 05-20-2021, 09:25 PM

A scam? Hardly. Proprietary? Yes.

I too was surprised that some of the deeper level settings on the inverters could only be accessed via computer. At time of purchase I made it clear to my dealer that I was doing the install and wasn't driving 700 miles each way to get it programmed. No problem he said he'd help me with the settings via a phone call.

I am not a programmer, but learned what I needed to do via Youtube and went about doing it. No big deal if you have a PC, I don't, but was able to fake PC it on my Mac. The dealer was great to work with and answered my set-up questions free of charge. As I understand it the dealers can access the units via the net and set many things up for you or trouble shoot once the install is done.

Most settings can be accessed via their app or via switches. In fact other than needing to link my (2)-inverters to charge as one on a 2 leg system everything else (solar controllers, battery monitor/relay) was done via my phone.

The benefit of keeping things proprietary is that all their products play well together.

astrocamper · 05-20-2021, 09:35 PM

Very happy with my setup. I added the Cerbo GX with touch display last year to tie the four MPPT controllers, BMV-712 and Multiplus 3000VA together. Works great as a complete system. The data logging feature is fantastic.

rarebear.nm · 05-20-2021, 09:42 PM

Victron makes quality products. It has a very wide range of products to cover most everything needed for your RV's 12 and 120 volt electrical systems. The nice part is all of their products work together. If you mix match between different manufactures you will lose this interconnectability of the Victron product line. There may be better individual components from other manufactures but they won't work together.

I have not found Victron equipment any harder to setup than other products. Just take time to read the instructions a couple of times and go to YouTube if needed. The problem with Youtube videos IMO is that some are good and correct while others are full of errors.

SV K · 05-20-2021, 09:49 PM

Rarebear brings up a good point about good and bad Youtube videos.

I should have said that I watched the video recommended by Victron's website.

treeoflib · 05-21-2021, 09:29 AM

I love the Victron solar controller and battery monitor. I set everything via the app and it provides a wealth of information. The solar controller is way more efficient than my previous controller.

paul65k · 05-21-2021, 04:41 PM

Big Victron fan here!!

I started with the battery monitor we could monitor via BT. About a year later added 1600W of solar panels and a Solar controller.....now we could see both via BT.

Fast forward 6 months and the AGM batteries were replaced by Lithium and not too long thereafter we replaced our 20 YO 2000W MSW inverter with dual 3000W inverters, rewired for 24V, 2 DC-DC converters, and a 24-12V converter.

Everything circuit in our coach now runs from the inverters when we are disconnected including both rooftop AC units and the best part is that we can no monitor everything remotely from either a smartphone or PC after adding the CerboGX and the addition of a wifi thermostat (not Victron) allows us to also manage climate control remotely as well.

I do not believe we could replicate this level of integration and especially the ability to monitor and control remotely with any other supplier than Victron.

Good luck!!

PbdBlue · 05-22-2021, 06:07 PM

No snake oil. Just great products. Great quality, well designed, well integrated. After using their components for a couple of years I’m a loyal customer. Oh yeah and great customer service. I had a solar controller that had an issue with the comm port after a couple of years. It still worked fine but just couldn’t communicate with it. They replaced it no issue. I don’t understand the comment about having to have the dealer program their components? Certainly not the case. Never ever had a dealer touch my system. Simple to program. Yes you may have to buy a comm cable but you only need one for all your components.

amosnandy · 05-22-2021, 07:09 PM

Just starting with Victron. My Dimensions inverter died and Winnebago wanted $2200 to replace it with a xantrax that was pretty much the exact same technology as when my coach was built. 2006. New inverter and new display panel. That's it. I was all set to order a VIctron Multi Plus 3000 pass through and put a multi phase switch in to power the whole coach, not just the sub panel. and wala! They came out with the Multiplus II 3000 with 2/120. No multiphase switch selected, feeds both legs, is pass through. I don't boondock a lot but do some moochdocking so will be nice to have the pass through if I need more than 15, 20 or 30 amps for short periods. I started out basic. Gotta have the dongle to program it, and I got the bluetooth so to start, I will be using my phone to run it, but once it is up and working they have all kinds of displays, battery monitors, solar hookup and this one even has a trickle charger for the coach battery, This thing should get me started without spending a bunch on stuff I decide I don't need. And the phone support is excellent. The 2/120 is on backorder but should be here early june.

amosnandy · 05-22-2021, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosnandy

Just starting with Victron. My Dimensions inverter died and Winnebago wanted $2200 to replace it with a xantrax that was pretty much the exact same technology as when my coach was built. 2006. New inverter and new display panel. That's it. I was all set to order a VIctron Multi Plus 3000 pass through and put a multi phase switch in to power the whole coach, not just the sub panel. and wala! They came out with the Multiplus II 3000 with 2/120. No multiphase switch selected, feeds both legs, is pass through. I don't boondock a lot but do some moochdocking so will be nice to have the pass through if I need more than 15, 20 or 30 amps for short periods. I started out basic. Gotta have the dongle to program it, and I got the bluetooth so to start, I will be using my phone to run it, but once it is up and working they have all kinds of displays, battery monitors, solar hookup and this one even has a trickle charger for the coach battery, This thing should get me started without spending a bunch on stuff I decide I don't need. And the phone support is excellent. The 2/120 is on backorder but should be here early june.

Oh, and for the most part, researching all the brands, the good stuff, monitors, controls, solar were all ether proprietary or if you switched up brands you had multiple displays and apps to run each companies stuff.

Jacjetlag · 05-23-2021, 12:23 AM

"I don’t understand the comment about having to have the dealer program their components? Certainly not the case."

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When you open the config software, they have a disclaimer about being Victron trained to proceed.

Bobby F · 05-23-2021, 01:18 AM

In my experience, if a piece of software - whether it be the running software for some mechanism like a controller, or an accounting program on computer - is very simple to set up, it's usually a sign that it is very limited in what it can do and how you can personalize it and make it do exactly what you want it to do.

Complex setups mean the software can be adapted to many situations and needs. It may be a pain to start, but it usually means I'll be happier with the product in the long run.