Multi and Quattro - Assistant programming
Online training
08/04/2020
What are assistants?
An assistant is a part of VEConfigure.
It assists you in programming a Multi or Quattro for a specific task, this is how:
• You chose the appropriate assistant
• The assistant asks some questions
• You answer these questions
• The assistant will program the Multi accordingly
What can assistants do?
• Program an auxiliary input
• Program for lithium batteries
• Program a relay
• Program for AC PV solar or ESS
Some notes
• When using assistants, the virtual switch
cannot be used
• Assistants get updated or features are
added every now and then, This is why they
have a version number
• Each assistant has an intro text with an
explanation, and sometimes a link to more
information
• For assistant manuals also see:
[Link]
nts:start
Auxiliary and Lithium assistants
Auxiliary and Lithium assistants
• AC current sensor
• Safety switch
• Charge current control
• Input limit control
• Silence fan
• Lithium [Link] BMS support
• Lithium Two-signal BMS
support
Aux port and Temperature port
• These are both ports that receive and read a input signal
• The input can be a voltage (0-5V), a resistance or an open or closed contact
• If the temperature sensor is not used (like is the case with lithium batteries) it too can be
used as AUX port
• Small Multis only have a T-sense port, larger units have a T-sense and 1 or more Aux ports
MultiPlus or Quattro MultiPlus II
Usage examples Aux port
• With a relay
• With an optocoupler
• With a voltage signal (max 5V)
• Or with a resistance signal
AC Current sensor Assistant
Use to display the current from a PV inverter on a GX device
Safety switch Assistant
Use to switch off the AC output when an external switch
is pressed
• Note that this assistant might conflict with lithium
assistants
Charge current control Assistant
Use to change the charge current depending on:
• Which AC input is used
• Or status of AUX port
Input current limit control Assistant
Use to limit the AC input current limit under these circumstances:
• The frequency of the 1140 interface: The available AC power depends on the rpm in variable
speed generator, flywheel generator or water turbine.
• The voltage of the AUX port: for example below 3Vdc 10Aac input and above 3Vdc is 16Aac
Silence Fan
Use to silence the fan in the Multi under selectable circumstances
[Link] BMS Assistant
Use to tell Multi that a [Link] BMS is connected
Do not discharge signal
Do not charge signal
Two wire BMS support
Use to for two signal lithium BMS
• The AUX or Temp sense ports are used to communicate with the BMS
Relay Assistants
Relay assistants
• Programable relay
• Relay locker
• General flag user
• Generator start and stop
Relay assistants
These assistants drive a relay, an open colelctor or a software flag:
• Programmable relay
• K relays or open collector
• AC2 output relay
• AC input relays via the Flag
Location of relays and ports
MultiPlus and Quattro MultiPlus II Small MultiPlus
Programable relay
• A relay acts as a switch, It makes and breaks a contact
• It is activated by a signal from the Multi
NC = Normally Closed
C=Common
NO = Normally Open
Relay is driven
by logic from
Multi CPU
MultiPlus + Quattro MultiPlus II
Usage examples
Programable relay Programable relay
Fuse
Generator
Generator Buzzer
or Warning light
Alarm circuit Alarm circuit
Extraction fan
And so on
Battery
Secondary K relays
MultiPlus en Quattro: NC
C
• Relay: Like the programable relay NO
MultiPlusII
+
• Open collector
• + 12V 100mA supply -
• - open collector 70V 100mA
Usage example open collector
V+
Max 70V
Multi
Multi
Load +
+
Max 100mA
Load
- Max 100mA
-
GND
GND
AC input and AC output
AC input 1
AC input 2 AC output 2
Via the Via the
general relay
flag assistant
General flag
• This is a software marker
• It is used to relay a message from one location to another location
• One process raises the flag
• And the other process performs an action when it sees that the
flag is up
• We use the flag for driving the AC inputs or AES mode
• The relay assistant drives the status of the AC inputs or AES mode
via the general flag.
Programmable relay Assistant
Use to drive to drive these relays: Using these parameters:
• Programable relay
• K relays
• ACout2 relay
• General flag
Note: two assistants are needed, one to turn relay on and another to turn relay off
Relay locker Assistant
Use to hold the state of a relay for a certain time
General flag user
Is needed to connect one or more assistant(s) to a flagged action
Generator start and stop Assistant
This assistant is used for starting a generator
Note: if the system has an GX device consider using its
generator relay instead
Generator assistant can also be used for:
• Selectively letting grid in.
• To turn on a dump load once the batteries are full
• To turn of a grid feed inverter connected to output 2 of a
Quattro
• To drive a contactor to turn a grid feed inverter off
Generator start stop using both BMV and Multi
• The inverter/charger and BMV relays can be used together to start/stop a generator
• Wire the open contacts (NO) in parallel to each other
NC COM
NO
NC COM
NO
NC COM
NO
Solar assistants
Solar assistants
• PV inverter support
• ESS (Energy Storage System)
• Hubs for older units
AC coupled PV inverter
Grid Loads
Battery
The power rating of the PV inverter (or array) must not be more than the power rating of the Multi or Quattro
What is frequency?
Frequency (Hz) is the number of waves (periods) per second
50Hz is 50 periods per second - One period is 1/50 = 20ms
52 Hz is 52 periods per second - One period is 1/52 = 19.2308 ms
What is frequency shift
• Frequency shift is a change in frequency, going from a lower to a higher or back from high
to low. For example from 50Hz to 52Hz and back to 50 Hz
• This is used to communicate with PV inverters
• The PV inverter needs to be able to listen and act on a frequency shift
• All 4777 rated PV inverters have it build in
• Older style PV inverters might not
Frequency shift explained
• The grid inverter and grid
the Multi are both inverter
supplying the house
loads
house
loads
Frequency shift explained
• When the grid inverter grid
supply exceeds the house inverter
loads the batteries will be
charged
house
loads
Frequency shift explained
• When the battery is full grid
the Multi changes its inverter
output frequency
• The grid feed inverter
turns off when it detects a 52 Hz house
frequency change loads
Frequency shift explained
• Once the batteries grid
empty again the Multi inverter
changes its output
frequency back to
50Hz
50 Hz house
• The grid feed inverter loads
turns back on
Frequency shift explained
• Once the grid feed grid
inverter has turned back inverter
on the house loads will
be fed from solar power
• Now the batteries will house
be charged again loads
PV inverter Assistant
Use to turn the PV inverter off and on via a
frequency shift depending on battery voltage
• Always check if the PV inverter can switch on or
off based on a frequency shift
• Battery overcharge will occur if this system is
set up incorrectly
• The Factor 1:0 rule: Do not install more KW
solar than the KW rating of the Multi or Quattro
ESS (Energy Storage System) assistant
Assistant and GX device programming needed and grid feed needs to be enabled
See ESS quick start guide on our website. If you can’t find the link just “google” it.
Self consumption Hub assistants
• Only for old systems
• Some are deprecated
• Consider using ESS or ignore AC
Energy. Anytime. Anywhere.
