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Setup guide · Victron Energy

Victron MultiPlus-II Commissioning — ESS Assistant, Grid Code & DVCC Setup

Commissioning a MultiPlus-II for a UK grid-connected ESS system requires VEConfigure, the ESS assistant, correct grid code selection, and proper DVCC battery integration. Getting any of these wrong causes the system to underperform, refuse to charge or discharge, or fail to comply with UK grid connection requirements.
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  • VEConfigure & ESS assistant
  • G98 / G99 grid code
  • DVCC battery integration
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We guide you through VEConfigure, ESS assistant installation, UK grid code selection, DVCC battery setup, and VRM verification — via screen share or VRM remote console. Already commissioned and stopped working? The diagnostic is free and you pay £125 only if we fix it.

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Written by · Independent Solar Engineer Last updated

What commissioning involves. Unlike single-box hybrid inverters that use a setup wizard, the MultiPlus-II requires manual configuration via VEConfigure — a desktop application that connects via MK3-USB adapter or VRM remote console. You need to install the ESS assistant, select the UK grid code, set charge and input current limits, and configure DVCC on the Cerbo GX for battery communication. Each step depends on the previous one being correct.

Setup

5-step MultiPlus-II commissioning

This guide covers a standard UK grid-connected ESS installation with a MultiPlus-II, Cerbo GX, MPPT solar charger, and third-party lithium battery. Complete each step in order — the ESS assistant depends on correct basic parameters, and DVCC depends on the ESS assistant being installed.

1

Connect to the MultiPlus-II via VEConfigure and set the basic parameters

VEConfigure is a Windows desktop application (also accessible via VRM remote console). Connect to the MultiPlus-II and set the foundational parameters:

Key parameters to set
Country code: United Kingdom
AC input current limit: Match your grid supply MCB — typically 32A for domestic single-phase. Too low forces battery compensation; too high risks tripping the MCB.
Charge current: Match battery manufacturer's recommendation. Pylontech US5000 × 3 stack: 50A recommended. BYD HVS: per BYD compatibility table.
Absorption voltage: Set to battery manufacturer's specification. For 48V LiFePO4: typically 53.2V. DVCC overrides this downward if needed.
Float voltage: Typically 52.0–53.0V for 48V LiFePO4. Again, DVCC adjusts dynamically.

Connection methods: MK3-USB adapter plugged into the VE.Bus port (direct laptop connection), or VRM remote console if the Cerbo GX is already online. VictronConnect Bluetooth cannot install assistants.

2

Install the ESS assistant for grid-connected operation

The ESS assistant is mandatory for grid-connected battery storage. Without it, the system operates in passthrough only:

• Install: In VEConfigure, go to the Assistants tab → Add → Select "ESS". Follow the prompts.
• Grid setpoint: Set to 50W for standard self-consumption. This tells the system to aim for 50W grid import — minimising grid use while avoiding export oscillation.
• Feed-in: Enable if you have an export tariff (SEG, Octopus Outgoing, etc.) and your DNO permits export. Disable if no export meter or no permission.
• Feed-in from DC: Enable this to allow excess solar to export directly to the grid via the MultiPlus-II, rather than only from the battery.
• Minimum SoC: This is configured later on the Cerbo GX under ESS settings, not in the assistant itself. Typical UK domestic: 10–20%.

The ESS assistant replaces any previous assistants. If you need to change settings later, you must re-run the assistant from scratch — it cannot be edited incrementally.

3

Configure UK grid code compliance for G98 or G99

UK grid-connected inverters must comply with Engineering Recommendation G98 or G99:

UK grid code selection
G98: Up to 16A per phase in total (3.68kW single-phase, 11.04kW three-phase). No prior DNO approval needed — notify within 28 days. MultiPlus-II 48/3000 falls under G98 if it is the only inverter on the supply.
G99: Anything above that, even with export limited. Usually needs a DNO application and approval before energising. MultiPlus-II 48/5000 requires G99.
LOM detection: Set to Type B for UK compliance (loss-of-mains detection). This is the anti-islanding method required under both G98 and G99.

In VEConfigure under the Grid tab, select the appropriate UK grid code. The frequency and voltage trip thresholds are set automatically — do not modify them manually unless you have a specific DNO requirement documented in writing.

If you are unsure which grid code applies, check the total inverter AC output rating. The relevant value is the continuous AC output VA rating, not the DC input or solar capacity.

4

Configure DVCC and battery communication on the Cerbo GX

DVCC lets the battery BMS control the system dynamically. This step happens on the Cerbo GX, not in VEConfigure:

• Enable DVCC: Settings → DVCC → ON. Without this, the system uses fixed charge parameters from VEConfigure — which may not match the BMS requirements.
• Battery type: Under Battery monitor, select the correct manufacturer (Pylontech, BYD, Dyness, etc.). This sets the CAN bus protocol.
• Verify communication: The battery should appear in the device list with SoC, voltage, current, and temperature. If missing, check the CAN cable — see our battery BMS disconnect guide.
• Charge current limit: Under DVCC, enable "Limit charge current" and set a hard maximum matching the battery spec. This acts as a safety cap — even if the BMS requests more, the system won't exceed this value.
• ESS minimum SoC: Under ESS settings on the Cerbo GX, set the minimum discharge SoC — typically 10–20%. The system will not discharge below this level under normal operation.

After enabling DVCC, verify that the CVL/CCL/DCL values shown on the battery device page are reasonable — CVL should be near the absorption voltage, CCL and DCL should match the battery's rated charge and discharge current.

5

Verify the complete system on VRM and run a charge-discharge test

Commissioning isn't complete until you've verified the system operates correctly end-to-end:

• Device list: All devices should appear in VRM — MultiPlus-II, MPPT controllers, battery, SmartShunt/BMV, Cerbo GX. Missing devices indicate a VE.Bus, VE.Direct, or CAN cable issue.
• System flow: VRM's flow diagram should show power moving in the correct direction — solar → battery, battery → loads, grid import/export as expected.
• Charge test: Temporarily set ESS minimum SoC to 90%. The system should charge the battery from solar or grid. Verify the charge current stays within the BMS limits.
• Discharge test: Set minimum SoC to 10%. Turn on a household load. The system should discharge the battery to offset the load, with grid import close to the grid setpoint (50W).
• Alarm check: Review VRM alarms. Common commissioning errors: "No ESS assistant found", "Grid code not set", "BMS communication lost", or "Charge current limited by DVCC".

Monitor the first 24–48 hours on VRM. Check the daily energy summary to verify solar yield, battery throughput, self-consumption ratio, and grid import/export match expectations. See our VictronConnect & VRM setup guide if VRM is not yet configured.

Why Victron commissioning is more involved than other brands

Most hybrid inverters from brands like Sunsynk, Lux, or GivEnergy use a built-in setup wizard that walks through the essential settings in 10–15 minutes. The MultiPlus-II has no wizard — it's a component-based system where the inverter-charger, solar charger, battery monitor, and GX device are all separate products that need to be configured individually and then integrated. VEConfigure is powerful but assumes technical knowledge. The ESS assistant is not installed by default. Grid code settings must be selected manually.

The trade-off is flexibility. A correctly commissioned MultiPlus-II system can do things no single-box inverter can — parallel and three-phase configurations, multiple AC inputs (grid + generator), advanced ESS scheduling, and integration with virtually any lithium battery via DVCC. But that flexibility means there are more settings to get right, and more places for a misconfiguration to hide. In our experience, about 30% of Victron support requests trace back to a commissioning error rather than a hardware fault — usually a missing ESS assistant, incorrect AC input limit, or DVCC not being enabled.

Related Victron setup & problems
Useful guides
FAQ

MultiPlus-II commissioning — common questions

The ESS (Energy Storage System) assistant is a software module installed via VEConfigure that enables grid-connected battery storage operation. Without it, the MultiPlus-II operates in passthrough or off-grid mode only — no solar battery charging, no self-consumption. It controls the power flow between grid, solar, battery, and loads.
G98 covers systems up to 16 A per phase, which is 3.68 kW on a single-phase supply and 11.04 kW on three-phase. Anything bigger is always G99, even with export limited, and usually needs a formal DNO application and approval before energising; G98 only needs a notice to the DNO within 28 days. The MultiPlus-II 48/3000 falls under G98 if it is the only inverter on the supply. The MultiPlus-II 48/5000 requires G99. Both set anti-islanding, frequency, and voltage trip thresholds automatically.
Match it to the MCB protecting the MultiPlus-II supply circuit — typically 32A for UK domestic single-phase. Setting it too low (e.g. 16A on a 32A supply) forces battery compensation for household loads above 3.68kW. Setting it too high risks tripping the MCB. Use the MCB rating minus 1–2A as a safety margin.
Yes — if you have a Cerbo GX connected and VRM is online, you can use VEConfigure through VRM remote console. This is the preferred method for remote commissioning support. VictronConnect over Bluetooth can view settings and update firmware but cannot install assistants, so it's not sufficient for initial commissioning.
Our remote commissioning support is a fixed £145 and covers VEConfigure walkthrough, ESS assistant installation, grid code selection, AC input and charge configuration, DVCC battery setup, and VRM verification. We guide you via screen share or VRM remote console. Finishing a partly commissioned system typically takes 30–60 minutes. If a system that was working has stopped, or a wrong setting is causing a fault, the remote diagnostic is free and you pay £125 only if we fix it.
Book

Need commissioning support for your MultiPlus-II?

We guide you through VEConfigure, ESS assistant installation, UK grid code selection, DVCC battery setup, and VRM verification — via screen share or VRM remote console.

  • Commissioning support: £145 fixed fee
  • G98 & G99 grid code covered
  • ESS assistant & DVCC configuration included

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