As RV enthusiasts, we all know how essential it is to have a reliable and efficient power system on board. While shore power can provide a decent amount of power, sometimes it’s just not enough to run all of our electrical devices. That’s where the PowerAssist feature of Victron MultiPlus and Quattro inverter/chargers comes in handy.
So, what is Victron PowerAssist?
PowerAssist is a feature that allows Victron inverter/chargers to add power from the battery bank to underperforming shore power, providing additional power to run devices. This means that if you have a coffee maker that needs 1,500 watts of power, but your shore power can only provide 1,000 watts, the inverter/charger will pull the extra 500 watts from the battery bank and add it to the shore power to power the coffee maker.
How does Victron PowerAssist work?
Let’s take a closer look at how the PowerAssist function works in a typical RV electrical setup. In this example, we have a shore power connection, AC loads, a battery bank, and a Victron inverter/charger.
If we have shore power, it will go through the MultiPlus or Quattro inverter/charger and power the AC loads. Any remaining power will go to charge the battery bank. If we don’t have shore power, the battery bank will provide power to the inverter, which will convert it to AC power to power the AC loads.
Now, let’s say we have a 15-amp household outlet, providing 1,800 watts of power. If we have a coffee maker that needs 1,000 watts of power, the inverter/charger will use 1,000 watts to power the coffee maker, and the remaining 800 watts will charge the battery bank. This is how an inverter/charger works in general, and not just specific to Victron.
Now, let’s say we have a 30-amp shore power connection, providing 3,600 watts of power. If we have a coffee maker that needs 1,500 watts, an air conditioner that needs 1,500 watts, and an induction cooktop that needs 1,500 watts, we have a total of 4,500 watts of power required. Since we only have 3,600 watts available from shore power, the inverter/charger will use the PowerAssist function to pull up to 3,000 watts from the battery bank and add it to the shore power to provide a total of 6,600 watts of power. This means we have enough power to run all three devices.
Does Victron PowerAssist work with 15-amp shore power?
Yes, it does. The PowerAssist function will work with any type of shore power, including 15-amp household outlets. It will function in the same way as with a 30-amp shore power connection, but with less power available from the shore.
In conclusion, the PowerAssist feature of Victron MultiPlus and Quattro inverter/chargers is an essential tool for any RV enthusiast. It allows you to have more power on board and run more devices, without the need to upgrade your entire electrical system. With PowerAssist, you can maximize the use of your battery bank and shore power connection to ensure that you have enough power to enjoy your RV experience.
