News overview
Various operational improvements, new products and more news
July 14th, 2022

Our main priority and day to day focus continues to be product availability. Which means overcoming component shortages as well as scaling up production and logistics to handle the continued growth. It is going fairly well, though with some exceptions: we have been unable to meet the (exceptional) demand for some products, most notably the MultiPlus-II 48V 3kVA, 5kVA as well as various models of the RS series. Our apologies for those shortages.
 
This shifted focus comes at a cost, most visibly in delayed new product introductions and feature improvements.
 
But, not everything has come to a standstill with regards to improvements. Here are the highlights:

  1. The support page on our website has been overhauled. It has been improved to better guide installers as well as end-users in where to find information, and whom to contact for support. As our direct customer, you carry most of the work and responsibility for providing high quality support to installers and end-users. If you have not seen the new section yet, please take some time to go through it. In case of any questions or suggestions, welcome to contact your sales manager. Note that the section is available only in English for now, translations are on their way.
  2. Automatic lead time updates for backorders: already for a few weeks now, our computer system rechecks the backorders on the sales side against the inbound planning. Every day. In case of significant changes, it updates the planned date on record as well as informs you by email in which both the old as well as the new planned date are included. A very welcome improvement.
  3. For ex-works customers: the collection advice, sent by email, is now also available in E-Order. Which helps, emails get lost now and then, or are sent to someone else, and per quite some weeks already you can see all data in E-Order. This is also visible as the state for a shipment: once the collection advice has been sent, E-Order clearly lists that as the state. While on this topic: please help to keep the warehouse throughput at its maximum by arranging a quick pick-up of your shipment. The warehouse is short on floor space.
  4. Improved situation at our warehouse in the Netherlands, Arvato: while the service level is not yet how it was as well as how we want it to be, it is definitively far better than it has been the past months. There are no more serious delays. The new 9000m2 extension is fully operational now; and we’re looking for more extensions. Todays focus is on improving the quality of the picking process: reducing the number of wrongly picked items and similar issues such as under deliveries.
  5. Improved situation at our warehouse in Spain, Dachser: also that warehouse has issues in its service level (backlog, picking quality): the delays have been solved; and improving the quality and missing shipments/pallets issues, including a more speedy resolution in case something goes wrong, is being worked on.
  6. Improved situation at our Service department: with growth we’re also seeing a growth in RMAs and other questions at repairs@victronenergy.com; and have not always been able to achieve an acceptable response time. The good news is that most of the backlog has been resolved in the past couple of weeks. The situation remains tight, and we’re currently hiring to further expanding the team.
  7. New: test forms to help you with properly testing products before submitting an RMA – to make sure there is really a hardware failure. You’ll be surprised at the percentage of product that is being RMAd (and then replaced under warranty or investigated) while not actually broken. The issue then often comes down to be a software configuration issue, or a system issues such as reduced capacity battery, wiring, and so forth. To help improve on this, Margreet Leeftink, author of Wiring Unlimited has put her vast experience to value by creating a nice and compact test forms per product group. Please ask your sales manager for a copy of these forms. And to state the obvious: this not only saves unnecessary costs in replacing good products, it also makes for a better end-solution: putting another BMV in a system where the first BMV wasn’t broken will not solve the underlying issue.
  8. The MPPT Calculator on our website has been updated to include all RS products.
  9. Various software updates, including last weeks RS firmware v1.10 package, Venus OS v2.87 and new features as well as improvements for the EV Charging Station. For details, see change logs on Victron Professional.
  10. The VRM Portal has seen various improvements. Most where launched in June, and they include improving the customisable widget, re-adding a control for the Inverter/chargers – but this time more secure, adding controls for the EV Charging Station and more. Details in its change log.

 
Besides all above, there are also two new products. The Phoenix Smart Charger 120-240V series and the two Sun Inverters.

Lastly, Justin our blogger is as active as ever and has detailed various interesting installs as well as our the 49er FX sailors Annette and Odile and more sponsored projects. All recent blog posts are featured below.
 
To end this exceptionally long email, we want to wish you a great summer. Or winter on the Southern hemisphere!

Yours sincerely,

 

Reinout and Matthijs Vader

 

Product News

New on E-Order and in stock is the Sun Inverter.
The Sun Inverter combines a sinewave inverter and a PWM solar charger in one enclosure and is easy to install, with a minimum of wiring.
The inverter allows you to power domestic equipment - requiring 230V AC - using leisure or automotive batteries rated at 12V or 24V.
The solar charger ensures that the batteries are being charged by energy harvested from your solar panels. The charge algorithm is programmable.

You can find more information about the Sun Inverter in de manual.

 

New on E-order and now in stock is the Phoenix Smart IP43 Charger 120-240V.
As stock levels allow, we’ll be replacing all current Phoenix Smart Chargers with this new design. Here is a brief roundup of the new features:

  • Wide input Voltage 85 - 250VAC
  • Reduces inrush current > fixes issues with shore breaker tripping
  • Synchronized parallel charging
  • Adjustable input current limit > only this new model

More information in the datasheet and manual.

 

Intersolar 2022

At Intersolar in Munich we were showing off our new products. In case you didn't have the opportunity to visit us on our stand, here's an overview of some of the new products we presented:

More information and Intersolar news in this blog post.

 

New and updated documents

(Please be sure to always check our website for the latest updated documentation.)

Certificates 

 

Victron training events

Sign up for one of our training events or webinars and learn more about our products.

Webinars

For more training events and webinars, see Victron Professional.

 

Upcoming exhibitions

Check our exhibition schedule online if you are interested in visiting an exhibition in your area over the coming months. 
Please refer to our website or the event's website to check if the event's date has been changed or cancelled:

  • August 23rd – August 24th, The Solar Show Africa 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • August 26th – September 4th, Caravan Solan Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany
  • September 13th – September 17th, Automechanika Frankfurt, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

 

OUR LATEST BLOG POSTS

Super Sailers’ European win

Dutch 49erFX team's golden performance

Dutch sailing duo Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz have achieved another tremendous result, winning the 49erFX European Championship title!
The final score in the European Championships – which also allows participation from competitors around the world – was Brazil’s Grael and Kunze in first place; Van Aanholt and Duetz in second; and Sweden’s Bobeck and Netzler in third.
The event reached its climax on Sunday in Aarhus, Denmark and was one of the windiest competitions in recent times – producing some thrilling sailing!

 

Power lift?

Industrial energy in a box
A printing company in the city of Zlín in Czech Republic have just installed a solar system which is expected to provide them with 11 months energy self-sufficiency every year. Not bad when you consider their annual energy consumption is between 120 and 150MWh.
A tailor-made containerised energy system was designed by Tomas Vocilka from Asolar and installed by energy innovators NWT a.s.

 

Going green in Amazonia

Peru power-installer specializing in sensitive environments
The rollout of reliable, low-cost electricity supply to some of the most inaccessible and fragile environments on earth is a blue print for all our future’s.
Peruvian solar installer Novum Solar got in touch with news of three very different success stories within the Amazon rainforest: a commission to provide silent maintenance-free power to 15 Military bases; three phase energy for a fruit processing factory; and the third is an installation to provide 24 hour energy for the perishable-goods chiller in a communal market …together with power for village homes.

 

Sailors nail Dutch colours to the mast

Duo hold their nerve to win Gold!
When they launched their boat to take part in the Hempel World Cup series – the latest event of which has just taken place in the Netherlands – sailing duo Odile van Aanholt, and Annette Duetz suddenly became aware that all eyes were watching them!

The outcome of the competition wasn’t clear until the very last race, and it was a nail-biting battle for the pair as they fought to regain their dominance, until they finally finished just two points ahead and winning Gold for the whole event!

 

RV with three battery systems

On the road with tailored power

Mike Mas – famous for pioneering drone videography decades before most of us had ever heard of it – has fitted out his RV with a triple-battery system which is turning heads in the industry.

He uses a state-of-the-art Canyon Star Toy Hauler for work and play, on board which he has integrated an enhanced electrical system tailored to his mainly off-grid RV use. One of the remarkable features of his installation – when you open the RV compartments – is how professional and factory-installed all his enhancements appear to be. His modifications are the result of many hours of planning and forethought.

 

Alpine E-bikers

Re-Charge …Free of Charge
The cycle route known as Véloroute V63, in Pays Voironnais, has become the latest recreational destination to benefit from the roll-out of Solar Powered E-bike charging stations in France.
Found at the gateway to the Alps, it runs between Voreppe and Tullins along the wooded valleys of the Isère; and there’s plenty of wildlife. But it is where people ‘rest’ that the electric bike charging station has been established, in the service and picnic area at Moirans.

 

Tailor-made power plant

3-Phase for remote island meat storage
A meat wholesaler has been facing huge challenges to keep his warehouse-stored frozen meat in prime condition on the African Island of Comoros. He buys meat in Europe for consumption in Comoros – where average temperatures of around 30°C and an unreliable power grid present significant challenges to his business.
 
On the other hand, with an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day in Comoros Solar energy is extremely reliable …and free. Dubai based solar energy specialist Natheer Technical Services were called in to put an end to all these headaches by designing and building a three-phase Solar energy system.

 

Van life E-Bike adventurers

The road less-well travelled
Commercial photographer Radu Tudoroiu and his girlfriend Ana Stoica – who is a textile specialist – tell us about their van life.
 
“We’ve had our fair share of campfire stories. It’s part of life when you decide tarmac and hotels aren’t really your thing for the most part. Whether you’re detained in a war zone, burn your clutch under the scorching Saharan sun or just run out of battery on a deserted beach on New Year’s Day, they’re all adventures to be shared.
 
Read the blog post on how they DIY’ed their van to be completely off-grid.

 

Amazon community’s green energy

Silent, clean power chosen for their future

The community of Vila Limeira has become the first village in Amazonia to benefit from 100% solar mini-grid power provision. They can scarcely believe what has been achieved!
Until recently the community of over 80 people were vulnerable to the usual disadvantages caused by the lack of a reliable electricity but now have an off grid system of which they are proud. This project was designed and supplied by ION Energia and supported financially by the World Wildlife Fund in Brazil.