diy solar

diy solar

Victron Autotransformer real-world usage and voltage drops

BlueOvalBruin

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2021
Messages
3
Question to those using the Victron Autotransformers, are you noticing any issues with voltage drops in either no-load or high-load scenarios? I'm designing my RV dual inverter electrical system right now and was thinking about making it a split-phase system, which would require me to use an autotransformer to create split phase power on 120V sources like my Onan generator or 30A/15A shore power (largely so I can charge my batteries in half the time on generator and have a 120/240 outlet for my homebrewing system). I was also considering adding one for load balancing downstream of the inverters. There isn't a whole lot of information about these autotransformers in actual use though. From other sites I've encountered 3 separate people who have had one leg sit at 114V no-load (120V other leg) and sometimes significant voltage drops with high loads. These low voltages went away when the autotransformer was bypassed.

I'd appreciate if those who use an autotransformer for creating split phase or load balancing share their experience with this product whether positive or negative.
 
No I haven't. It's frustrating because I've posted similar questions to several forums and FB groups and not a single useful response.
 
Bud, the 100A version is ITR000100101 and the 32A version is ITR000100001. I'm interested in both.
 
I setup my Victron 32A autotransformer for the first time to bump my 120VAC Victron inverter to split phase 120/240. I too noticed that one leg was at 120V and the other at 113V under no load. I was perplexed. There's seems to be two general ways to setup the autotransformer to setup up voltage (one in the manual and another very different wiring diagram under the downloads section that doesn't use a neutral on the 240V loads). I tried the one in the manual first below, haven't tried the other version. I used the inverter relay to tie neutral to ground, and not the autotransformer.

My application (off-grid electric Tesla vehicle charger) does not require 240V precisely, so it happily charged away at 230V (3V line drop in the skimpy romex I was using to test it out).
160506a7d55b03.png
 
Last edited:
BlueOvalBruin: Just to make the point, those 2 Victrons have the same transformer, the difference is the breaker. I question whether it might makes sense to buy the less expensive one and then supply your own breaker to fit your specific usage?
 
Transformers do this. They have resistance in windings, so more current flow means more voltage drop.

If an isolation transformer has a spec of +/-5% voltage regulation, it will be wound to produce +5% voltage no-load, and at max load there is -5% voltage drop. So if meant for use in one direction (e.g. drop 240V to 120V) and used instead to boost from 120V to 240V, would probably start out -5% no load and drop to -15% under load.

With an auto-transformer, the phase produced is going to droop with current. If it was wound with 5% more turns it could start at higher voltage no load, maintain tighter +/- voltage regulation.

You put 120V in and got 114V no-load for the other phase? And it dropped further under load?
Try swapping windings. You might then find (120/114) x 120V = 126V no-load which is +5%, drooping to 114V with load which is -5%
 
Last edited:
Back
Top