Victron Power Save Modes (a short explanation)

Anyone who has looked at a Victron Inverter datasheet has probably noticed they give multiple figures for no-load ("standby") power consumption--that is the energy consumed by the inverter/charger when it is just sitting there idle. There are three lines on the datasheet (and a fourth line for peak conversion efficiency as a %)

1. "Zero-load power,"
2. "Zero-load power in AES mode"
3. "Zero-load power in search mode"

As an example the Multiplus-II 48 / 3000 has a zero-load of 13W, 9W in AES, and 3W in search mode.

The first is the normal base no-load power consumption. The second and third lines are power save modes but not clearly defined in the datasheets and not clearly understood by many people (myself included). I found in the Multiplus-II documentation, brief specific explanations of the two modes:

AES (Automatic Economy Switch)
If this setting is turned 'on', the power consumption in no-load operation and with low loads is decreased by approx. 20%, by slightly 'narrowing' the sinusoidal voltage. Applicable in stand-alone configuration only.

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Search Mode
Instead of the AES mode, the search mode can also be chosen. If search mode is 'on', the power consumption in no-load operation is decreased by approx. 70%. In this mode the product, when operating in inverter mode, is switched off in case of no load or very low load, and switches on every two seconds for a short period. If the output current exceeds a set level, the inverter will continue to operate. If not, the inverter will shut down again.

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The Search Mode 'shut down' and 'remain on' load levels can be set with VEConfigure.

The default settings are:

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Action	Threshold
Shut down	40 Watt (linear load)
Turn on	100 Watt (linear load)

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I have the Multplus 24/3000/70 and have been curious about those modes also. What I haven't figured out is what scenarios they're useful for.

Take a device like a microwave or a freezer, they tend to have very low power usage between when they're warming or cooling, but they need some power all the time to make the buttons work and keep the clock set or maintain the PID control loop state in the case of the freezer.

Do these power save modes help with those kinds of devices on the downstream AC circuits or are the power saving modes only useful for purely on/off AC loads like lights and motors that are downstream of a switch?

There’s also a fourth mode, in which the inverter is powered on, but using the Bluetooth app you tell it to stop inverting. That mode uses very little power. See https://community.victronenergy.com...ing-the-phoenix-vedirect-onoffecoremoteb.html

Symbioquine said:

I have the Multplus 24/3000/70 and have been curious about those modes also. What I haven't figured out is what scenarios they're useful for.

Take a device like a microwave or a freezer, they tend to have very low power usage between when they're warming or cooling, but they need some power all the time to make the buttons work and keep the clock set or maintain the PID control loop state in the case of the freezer.

Do these power save modes help with those kinds of devices on the downstream AC circuits or are the power saving modes only useful for purely on/off AC loads like lights and motors that are downstream of a switch?

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I think that the "search mode" is not useful for small loads like this. If you look at the bottom of the quoted bit in my first post, In search mode the threshold for turning on is 100W and the threshold for staying on is 40W. A microwave clock or a fridge's electrical thermostat would fall below these thresholds I think.

Possibly the AES mode would be useful, I'm not sure, but I believe that this is only a ~20% energy savings and based on some comments on the Victron forum it sounds like the AES mode is somehow similar to a modified sine wave. I've gotta say, I still don't really understand the details of the AES mode.

Dzl said:

I think that the "search mode" is not useful for small loads like this. If you look at the bottom of the quoted bit in my first post, In search mode the threshold for turning on is 100W and the threshold for staying on is 40W. A microwave clock or a fridge's electrical thermostat would fall below these thresholds I think.

Possibly the AES mode would be useful, I'm not sure, but I believe that this is only a ~20% energy savings and based on some comments on the Victron forum it sounds like the AES mode is somehow similar to a modified sine wave. I've gotta say, I still don't really understand the details of the AES mode.

Click to expand...

Makes sense. Seems like this is a "no free lunch" kind of situation...

I remember reading that part about the modified sine wave now too. I was hesitant to subject my appliances' electronics to that.