Experience reliable power on your camping adventures with the Victron MultiPlus inverter charger. Perfect for campervans and motorhomes, it effortlessly handles campsite hook-ups, off-grid battery charging, and AC devices with features like PowerAssist and PowerControl
What is the Victron MultiPlus?
At its core, the Victron MultiPlus is both an inverter and a battery charger.
In a campervan or motorhome, you need an inverter to convert DC power from your batteries into AC power that you can use for household appliances.
The charger function allows you to recharge your batteries when you’re connected to mains electricity or using a generator.
Having these two functions in one device simplifies your electrical setup and installation, ensuring your power system works efficiently without the need for multiple components.
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The Victron MultiPlus series uses a straightforward naming system that helps you easily understand each model’s key features. Here’s a simple guide to breaking down what each part of the model name means:
Voltage Rating
The first number in the model name shows the voltage of the battery system that the MultiPlus is designed to work with. You’ll often see models like 12/3000 or 24/5000. This number tells you if the model is meant for a 12V, 24V, or 48V battery system:
- 12: Designed for 12-volt battery systems, often used in smaller setups like campervans and motorhomes.
- 24: Suited for 24-volt battery systems, which are sometimes used in larger motorhomes or setups with more power demands.
- 48: Built for high-power setups using 48-volt battery systems, commonly found in off-grid homes and occasionally in large motorhomes.
Inverter Power Rating
The second number in the model name refers to the inverter’s power rating, measured in VA (volt-amps). For practical purposes, you can think of VA as roughly 80% of watts. For example:
- MultiPlus 12/3000: This model has a power rating of 3000 VA, which translates to about 2400 watts of AC power for your devices.
- MultiPlus 24/5000: With a power rating of 5000 VA, this model is powerful enough for larger systems.
For campervans and motorhomes, smaller models like the 12/800 or 12/1600 work well for lighter power needs, while models like 12/3000 or 24/5000 are great for more energy-intensive setups.
Charger Output
Some models also list the charger output, measured in amps (A), which tells you how quickly the MultiPlus can charge your batteries when connected to mains power or a generator. For example, MultiPlus 12/3000/120 means:
- It works with a 12V battery system,
- Has a 3000 VA inverter,
- And offers a charging capacity of 120 amps.
This gives you a clear idea of how fast your battery will charge when connected to an external power source.
Transfer Switch Rating
The transfer switch rating is usually shown as the last number before the output voltage. This is the capacity of the internal switch that shifts between power sources like mains electricity and battery power. For example:
- A 16A transfer switch means it can handle up to 16 amps of mains power, which is typical in UK campsites and most leisure generators.
In most UK and European campervans, a 16A switch is enough, as campsite hookups usually supply up to 16 amps.
Output Voltage
In the UK and most European countries, the standard mains voltage is 230V, so most MultiPlus models output 230V to match the appliances used in these regions.
The Victron MultiPlus is built to make your off-grid system reliable and easy to manage. Whether you’re dealing with power cuts or running multiple appliances, the MultiPlus handles it smoothly with some clever features.
Here’s a look at what it can do:
UPS Transfer Switch
The UPS transfer switch is super fast, with a response time of under 20 milliseconds. This means if shore power or a generator fails, your devices keep running without interruptions. The system instantly switches to battery power, making sure sensitive electronics like computers or entertainment systems stay powered without shutting down or rebooting.
Two AC Outputs (Only on MultiPlus Models Over 3kVA)
MultiPlus models over 3000VA come with two AC outputs for different power needs. The first output, powered by the inverter, is great for running things like laptops or camera chargers. The second AC output kicks in when you’re connected to shore power or a generator and is perfect for high-power devices like water heaters or air conditioners. This way, you save your battery for more important things when you’re off-grid.
PowerAssist
PowerAssist is a great feature when using high-power devices like air conditioners or heaters, which need extra power when they first start. During these moments, PowerAssist helps by pulling extra power from your batteries to support what shore power or a generator can provide. This ensures your MultiPlus can handle most of your power needs, even with sudden power surges.
PowerControl
PowerControl allows you to set limits on how much power goes to your battery charger. For example, when connected to shore power, you can choose how much power is used for charging batteries and how much is used for your AC appliances. If your AC devices don’t use all the power, PowerControl sends the extra to charge your batteries. This way, you can charge your batteries and use your AC devices at the same time.
Monitoring Features of the Victron MultiPlus Range
The Victron MultiPlus inverter chargers give you several ways to keep an eye on how your system is working, whether you’re off-grid or traveling.
Add Bluetooth with the VE.Bus Smart Dongle
The MultiPlus doesn’t come with Bluetooth built-in, but you can easily add it with the VE.Bus Smart Dongle. This lets you connect to the VictronConnect app on your phone or tablet, so you can check things like your battery levels and energy use directly from your device.
Advanced Monitoring with GX Devices
If you want more detailed monitoring, you can connect your MultiPlus to a GX device like the Cerbo GX. This enables access to the Victron VRM portal, where you can track your system’s performance remotely over the internet, giving you detailed information no matter where you are.
Real-Time Data, Anytime
Whether you use Bluetooth or a wired connection, both options let you see real-time data on your system’s performance. These tools make it easy to understand what’s going on with your setup and help you manage it more easily.
Choosing the right size Victron MultiPlus inverter charger for your campervan or motorhome depends on three key factors: your power consumption, battery voltage, and charging needs.
Use our handy calculator to find the perfect Victron MultiPlus model based on your specific needs or keep reading to figure out the best size for your setup.
1. Estimate Your Power Consumption
First, think about the AC appliances you plan to use in your camper. Will you be running a microwave, laptop, or perhaps a small air conditioner? Calculate the total wattage of the devices you’ll run at the same time. For example, a 1200W microwave and a 100W laptop charger would need 1300W of continuous power.
Add a 20-25% safety margin to handle any unexpected surges. In this case, you’ll need at least 1600-1700 watts. Victron MultiPlus models are rated in VA (volt-amps), so divide watts by 0.8 to get the VA rating: 1700W ÷ 0.8 = 2125 VA. You’ll want an inverter with a rating close to or above that number.
2. Choose the Right Inverter Power Rating
Once you know your power needs, choose a MultiPlus model that matches. For example:
- MultiPlus 12/800: Great for minimal setups (800 VA).
- MultiPlus 12/3000: Perfect for more demanding systems, like running a microwave and air conditioner (3000 VA).
3. Select the Right Battery Voltage: 12V, 24V, or 48V?
Battery voltage is just as important as inverter size. Smaller campervans usually have 12V systems, while larger motorhomes might run on 24V or even 48V systems. Here’s a quick guide:
- 12V: Best for smaller setups, like a basic campervan conversion. Models like the 12/1200 or 12/3000 are good options.
- 24V: Common in larger motorhomes. Consider the MultiPlus 24/3000 or 24/5000.
- 48V: Usually found in off-grid homes or very large motorhomes. The MultiPlus 48/5000 might be your best bet.
4. Understand Charger Output
The charger output tells you how quickly the MultiPlus can recharge your battery bank when connected to shore power or a generator. For instance, a 120A charger can provide 120 amps to your battery per hour.
Match the charger to your battery’s maximum charging current. If you have a large battery bank, a higher-output charger (e.g., 120A) will charge your batteries faster. But if you have a smaller battery, the charger will only supply what the battery can safely accept.
Also bear in mind the battery has a maximum charging current. So there is no point in buying a model that is overpowered on the charging side, unless you also need the inverter power it offers.
Charging Examples
Let’s consider a 560Ah battery that is discharged to 10% (meaning it has 50.4Ah remaining and needs to be charged up by 504Ah to reach 100%):
- If connected to a 120A charger, the charger will deliver 120A per hour to the battery.
- It will take approximately 4.2 hours to fully charge the battery (since 504Ah / 120A = 4.2 hours).
Now, if you have two 560Ah batteries in your battery bank (total capacity 1120Ah) discharged to 10%:
- The 120A charger will still only provide a maximum of 120A, but now there are 1008Ah to charge.
- It will take 8.4 hours to fully charge both batteries (1008Ah / 120A = 8.4 hours).
Let’s add another example, this time for a smaller battery bank:
Imagine you have a 200Ah battery with a maximum charging current of 100Ah. It’s discharged to 10% (meaning it has 20Ah remaining and needs to be charged by 180Ah to reach 100%). If this battery is connected to a 50A charger:
- The 50A charger will deliver up to 50 amps per hour to the battery.
- In this case, it will take approximately 3.6 hours to fully charge the battery from 10% to 100% (180Ah / 50A = 3.6 hours).
This example illustrates how important it is to match your charger output not only to the size of your battery bank but also to the maximum charging current each battery can safely accept.
Tailor Your Choice to Your Lifestyle
- Frequent campsite stays? A smaller charger (e.g., 50A) may be enough since you’ll have regular access to shore power.
- Off-grid or short stops? A larger charger (e.g., 120A) might be better if you need to recharge quickly during short shore power connections.