victron energy Phoenix 12-250 Inverter with VE.Direct Instruction Manual
- June 5, 2024
- victron energy
Table of Contents
Phoenix 12-250 Inverter with VE.Direct
Phoenix Inverter VE.Direct
Instruction Manual
12 | 250 12 | 375 12 | 500 12 | 800 12 | 1200
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
In general
Please read the documentation supplied with this product first, so that you
are familiar with the safety signs en directions before using the product.
This product is designed and tested in accordance with international
standards. The equipment should be used for the designated application only.
Warning – These servicing instructions are for use by qualified personnel
only. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any servicing other
than that specified in the operating instructions unless you are qualified to
do so.
WARNING: ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD
The product is used in conjunction with a permanent energy source (battery).
Input and/or output terminals may still be dangerously energized, even when
the equipment is switched off. Always disconnect the battery before carrying
out maintenance or servicing the product.
The product has no internal user-serviceable components. Do not remove the
front plate or operate theproduct if any panels have been removed. All
servicing must be undertaken by qualified personnel.
Please read the installation instructions in the installation manual before
installing the equipment.
This is a Safety Class I product (supplied with a protective grounding
terminal). The chassis must be grounded. A grounding point is located on the
outside of the product. Whenever it is likely that the grounding protection
has been damaged, the product must be turned off and secured against
unintended operation; please contact qualified service staff.
The AC output is isolated from the DC input and the chassis unless the unit is
equipped with a ground fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Units with a GFCI
have AC output neutral connected to the chassis inside the device by default.
A qualified installer should check this connection since it is necessary for
the GFCI to function properly. Local regulations may require a true neutral.
In this case, one of the AC output wires must be connected to the chassis, and
the chassis must be connected to a reliable ground. Please note that a true
neutral is needed to ensure the correct operation of an earth leakage circuit
breaker.
Ensure that the equipment is used under the correct ambient conditions.
Never operate the product in a wet or dusty environment.
Never use the product where there is a risk of gas or dust explosions.
Ensure there is adequate free space (10 cm) for ventilation around the product
and check that the ventilation vents are not blocked.
This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with
reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and
knowledge unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning
the use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the
appliance.
Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by the marine unit manufacturer
may result in a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.
Description
VE.Direct communication port
The VE. The direct port can be connected to:
- A computer (VE.Direct to USB interface cable needed)
- Apple and Android smartphones, tablets, and other devices (VE.Direct to Bluetooth Smart dongle needed)
Fully configurable
- Low battery voltage alarm trip and reset levels
- Low battery voltage cut-off and restart levels, or Dynamic Cut-off
- Output voltage 210 – 245 V
- Frequency 50 Hz or 60 Hz
- ECO mode on/off and ECO mode sense level
Monitoring
Battery voltage, AC Output voltage, load indicator, alarms
Proven reliability
The full-bridge with toroidal transformer topology has proven its reliability
over many years.
The inverters are short circuit proof and protected against overheating,
whether due to overload or high ambient temperature.
High start-up power
Needed to start loads such as power converters for LED lamps, filament lamps
or electric tools.
ECO mode
When in ECO mode, the inverter will switch to standby when the load decreases
below a preset value. It will switch on and check every few seconds,
adjustable if the load has increased again.
Remote on/off the connector
A remote on/off switch can be connected to a two-pole connector or between
battery plus and the left-hand contact of the two-pole connector.
LED diagnosis
A red and green LED indicate the inverter operation and the status of the
different protections.
To transfer the load to another AC source: the automatic transfer switch
For our low-power inverters, we recommend our Filax Automatic Transfer Switch.
The Flax features a very short switchover time (less than 20 milliseconds) so
that computers and other electronic equipment will continue to operate without
disruption.
Available with different output sockets
Schuko, UK (BS-1363), AU/NZ (3112) or IEC-320 (male plug included)
Installation
3.1 Location of the inverter
1 Ceiling mounting (inverted).
2. Base mounting.
3 Vertical wall mounting, fan at the bottom.
4 Vertical wall mounting, fan on top.
5 Horizontal wall mounting.| Not recommended
OK
OK (beware of small objects falling through the
ventilation openings on top).
Not recommended
OK
---|---
For best-operating results, the inverter should be placed on a flat surface.
To ensure a trouble-free operation of the inverter, it must be used in
locations that meet the following requirements:
a) Avoid any contact with water. Do not expose the inverter to rain or
moisture.
b) Do not place the unit in direct sunlight. The ambient air temperature
should be between -20 °C and 40 °C (humidity < 95% non-condensing). Note that
in extreme situations the inverter’s case temperature can exceed 70 °C.
c) Do not obstruct the airflow around the inverter. Leave at least 10
centimeters clearance around the inverter. When the inverter is running too
hot, it will shut down. When the inverter has reached a safe temperature level
the unit will automatically restart again.
3.2 Connection to the battery
In order to utilize the full capacity of the product, batteries with
sufficient capacity and battery cables with sufficient cross-section should be
used. See table:
| 12/250| 24/250| 48/250| | 12/375| 24/375| 48/375
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Minimum battery cap.| 30 Ah| 20 Ah| 10 Ah| | 40 Ah| 30 Ah| 15 Ah
Internal DC fuse| 2 x 30 A| 30 A| 25 A| | 2 x 40 A| 40 A| 25 A
Fuse type (Mfr.:
Littelfuse)
| ATOF
32 V
| ATOF
32 V
| FKS
80 V
| | ATOF
32 V
| ATOF
32 V
| FKS
80 V
Fuse replaceble| no| no| no| | no| no| no
Recommended DC cable cross-section (mm2)
0 – 1.5 m| 4 mm²| 2.5 mm²| 1.5 mm²| | 6 mm²| 4 mm²| 2.5 mm²
1.5 – 3 m| 6 mm²| 4 mm²| 2.5 mm²| | 10 mm²| 6 mm²| 4 mm²
| 12/500| 24/500| 48/500| | 12/800| 24/800| 48/800
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Minimum battery cap.| 60 Ah| 40 Ah| 20 Ah| | 100 Ah| 50 Ah| 30 Ah
Internal DC fuse| 3 x 35 A| 2 x 25 A| 30 A| | 125 A| 2 x 40 A| 2 x 20 A
Fuse type (Mfr.: Littelfuse)| ATOF 32 V| ATOF 32 V| FKS 80 V| | MIDI 32 V|
ATOF 32 V| FKS 80 V
Fuse replaceble| no| no| no| | yes| no| no
Recommended DC cable cross-section (mm2)
0 – 1.5 m| 6 mm²| 6 mm²| 4 mm²| | 16 mm²| 6 mm²| 4 mm²
1.5 -3 m| 10 mm²| 10 mm²| 6 mm²| | 25 mm²| 10 mm²| 6 mm²
| 12/1200| 24/1200| 48/1200
---|---|---|---
Minimum battery cap.| 150 Ah| 60 Ah| 30 Ah
Internal DC fuse| 200 A| 100 A| 50 A
Fuse type (Mfr.: Littelfuse)| MIDI 32 V| MIDI 32 V| MIDI 58V
Fuse replaceable| yes| yes| yes
0 – 1.5 m| 25 mm²| 10 mm²| 6 mm²
1.5 -3 m| 35 mm²| 16 mm²| 10 mm²
The inverters are fitted with an internal DC fuse (see table above for
rating). If the DC cable length is increased to more than 1,5m, an additional
fuse or DC circuit breaker must be inserted close to the battery. Important
note: for UL certified (NEMA GFCI) inverters it is mandatory to install a fuse
or DC circuit breaker close to the battery, even if the cable length is less
than 1,5m.
The reverse polarity connection of the battery wires will blow the internal
fuse and can damage the inverter.
The internal fuse is not always replaceable (see table above).
3.3 Wire size for connecting the inverter chassis to ground
The earth conductor from the earth lug on the chassis to the ground should
have at least half the crosssection of the conductors used for the battery
connection: see Appendix B.
3.4 Connection to the load
Never connect the output of the inverter to another AC source, such as a
household AC wall outlet or a generator.
The inverter does not have a fuse in the AC output. The AC cabling is
protected by a fast-acting current limiter in case of a short circuit and an
overload detection mechanism that mimics the characteristics of a fuse (i.e.
faster shutdown with larger overload). It is important to size your wiring
properly based on the inverters’ power rating.
3.5 Connecting the inverter neutral output to the chassis/ground
The AC output is isolated from the DC input and the chassis. Local
regulations may require a true neutral.
In this case, one of the AC output wires must be connected to the chassis, and
the chassis must be connected to a reliable ground: see appendix A.
3.6 Remote on/off the connector
A remote on/off switch can be connected to the two-pole connector.
Alternatively, the left-hand contact of the connector can be switched to
battery positive: useful in automotive applications, wire it to the ignition
contact.
Note that also the front switch needs to be set to either On or ECO for the
inverter to start.
3.7 Configuration
The inverter is ready for use with the factory settings (see specifications),
and can be configured with a computer (VE.Direct to USB interface cable
needed), Apple and Android smartphones, tablets, and other devices (VE.Direct
to Bluetooth Smart dongle needed).
Operation
4.1 LED definitions
| Green LED | Status | Troubleshooting |
|---|---|---|
| ●●●●●●●● Solid on | Inverter on | Red LED Off status OK |
Red LED On or blinking:
The Inverter is still on, but will shut down when the condition gets worse.
See red LED table for warning reason
●●—— Slow single pulse| ECO mode| If the inverter keeps switching on and off
while there is a load connected, the load may be too small compared to the
actual ECO mode settings. Increase the load or change ECO mode settings.
(minimum ECO mode setting: 15 W)
● -●—– Fast double pulse| Off and waiting| Inverter did shut down because of
protection. The inverter will restart automatically as soon as all alarm
conditions are cleared. See the red LED state for the shutdown reason.
——– Off| Inverter off| Red LED Off
Check the On/Off/ECO switch: it should be in the On position or in the ECO
position.
Check Remote on/off the connector. Check DC cable connections and fuses.
Inverter fuse is blown: the inverter has to be returned for service.
Red LED On or blinking
The inverter did shut down because of protection. It will no longer
automatically restart. The red LED indicates the reason for the shutdown.
Remove the cause and then restart the inverter by switching it Off, and then
back On.
Red LED| Definition| Troubleshooting
---|---|---
●●●●●●●● Solid on| Overload| Reduce load
●●●● —- Slow blink| Low batt.| Recharge or replace battery Check DC
cable connections
Check cable cross-section as it may be insufficient.
See section 4.3 Protections and automatic restarts for manual and automatic
restart behavior.
●- ● – ● – ● – Fast blink| High batt.| Reduce DC input voltage,
check for faulty charger
●- ● —– Double pulse| High temp.| Reduce load and/or move inverter to
a better-ventilated area
●— ● — Fast single pulse| High DC ripple| Check DC cable connections and
cable cross-section.
4.2 ECO Mode
Set the front switch to ECO mode to reduce the power consumption in no-load
operation. The inverter will automatically switch off as soon as it detects
that there is no load connected. It then switches on, briefly, every 2,5
seconds to detect a load. If the output power exceeds the set level, the
inverter will continue to operate.
The default ECO mode wake-up minimum power is 15 Watt.
The default ECO mode search interval is 2.5 seconds
Note that the required ECO mode settings are heavily dependent on the type of
load: inductive, capacitive, and non-linear. Adjustment may be needed.
4.3 Protections and automatic restarts Overload
Some loads like motors or pumps draw large inrush currents in a start-up
situation. In such circumstances, it is possible that the start-up current
exceeds the current trip level of the inverter. In this case, the output
voltage will quickly decrease to limit the output current of the inverter. If
the over-current trip level is continuously exceeded, the inverter will shut
down: wait 30 seconds, and then restart.
After three restarts followed by another overload within 30 seconds of
restarting, the inverter will shut down and remain off. The LEDs will signal
shut down due to overload. To restart the inverter, switch it Off, then On.
Low battery voltage (adjustable)
The inverter will shut down when the DC input voltage drops below the low
battery shutdown level.
After a minimum delay of 30 seconds, the inverter will restart if the voltages
rise above the low battery restart level.
After three restarts followed by a low battery shut down within 30 seconds of
restarting, the inverter will shut down and stop retrying. The LEDs will
signal low battery shutdown. To restart the inverter, switch it Off, and then
On, or recharge the battery: as soon as the battery has risen and then stays
above the Charge detect level for 30 seconds, it will switch on.
See the Technical Data table for default low battery shutdown and restart
levels. They can be changed
with VictronConnect (computer or app).
Alternatively, Dynamic Cut-off can be implemented, see https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ve.direct:phoenix-inverters-dynamic- cutoff
High battery voltage
Reduce DC input voltage and/or check for a faulty battery- or solar charger in
the system. After shutting down due to a high battery voltage, the inverter
will first wait 30 seconds and then retry operation as soon as the battery
voltage has dropped to an acceptable level. The inverter will not stay off
after multiple retries.
High temperature
A high ambient temperature or enduring high load may result in shut down to
over temperature. The inverter will restart after 30 seconds. The inverter
will not stay off after multiple retries. Reduce load and/or move inverter to
a better-ventilated area.
High DC ripple
High DC ripple is usually caused by loose DC cable connections and/or too thin
DC wiring. After the inverter has switched off due to high DC ripple voltage,
it waits 30 seconds and then restarts.
After three restarts followed by a shutdown due to high DC ripple within 30
seconds of restarting, the inverter will shut down and stops retrying. To
restart the inverter, switch it Off and then On. Continuous high DC ripple
reduces the life expectancy of the inverter.
Phoenix Inverter
12 Volt
24 Volt
48 Volt| 12/250
24/250
48/250| 12/375
24/375
48/375| 12/500
24/500
48/500| 12/800
24/800
48/800
---|---|---|---|---
Cont. power at 25 °C (1)| 250 VA| 375 VA| 500 VA| 800 VA
Cont. power at 25 °C / 40 °C| 200 / 175 W| 300 / 260 W| 400 / 350 W| 650 / 560
W
Peak power| 400 W| 700 W| 900 W| 1500 W
Output AC voltage / frequency (adjustable)| 230 VAC or 120 VAC +/- 3% 50Hz
or 60Hz +/- 0.1%
Input voltage range| 9.2 – 17 / 18.4 – 34.0 / 36.8 – 62.0 VDC
Low battery shut down (adjustable)| 9.3 / 18.6 / 37.2 VDC
Low battery restart & alarm (adjustable)| 10.9 / 21.8 / 43.6 VDC
Battery charged detect (adjustable)| 14.0 / 28.0 / 56.0 VDC
Max. efficiency| 87/88/88 %| 89/89/90 %| 90/90/91 %| 90/90/91 %
Zero-load power| 4.2/5.2/7.9 W| 5.6/6.1/8.5 W| 6/6.5/9 W| 6.5/7/9.5 W
Default zero-load power in ECO mode (default search interval: 2.5 s,
adjustable)| 0.8/1.3/2.5 W| 0.9/1.4/2.6 W| 1 / 1.5 / 3 W| 1 / 1.5 / 3 W
ECO mode stop and start power setting| Adjustable
Protection (2)| a – f
Operating temperature range| -40 to +60 °C (fan assisted cooling) (derate
1.25% per °C above 40 °C)
Humidity (non-condensing)| max 95%
ENCLOSURE
Material & Colour| Steel chassis and plastic cover (blue Ral 5012)
Battery-connection| Screw terminals
Maximum cable cross-section| 10 mm² / AWG8| 25/10/10 mm² / AWG4/8/8
Standard AC outlets| 230 V: Schuko (CEE 7/4), IEC-320 (male plug included) UK
(BS 1363), AU/NZ (AS/NZS 3112)
120 V: Nema5-15R, NEMA GFCI (2x Nema5-15R with GFCI)
Protection category| IP 21
Weight| 2.4 kg/5.3 lbs| 3.0 kg/6.6 lbs| 3.9 kg/8.5 lbs| 5.5 kg/12 lbs
Dimensions (hxwxd, mm)
(hxwxd, inch)| 86x165x260
3.4×6.5×10.2| 86x165x260
3.4×6.5×10.2| 86x172x275
3.4×6.8×10.8| 105x216x305
4.1×8.5×12.1
(12 V model: 105x230x325)
ACCESSORIES
Remote on-off| Yes
Automatic transfer switch| Flax or Multi
STANDARDS
Safety| EN/IEC 60335-1 / EN/IEC 62109-1 / UL 458 (3)
EMC| EN 55014-1 / EN 55014-2
IEC 61000-6-1 / IEC 61000-6-3
Automotive Directive| ECE R10-4 EN 50498
1) Nonlinear load, crest factor 3:1
2) Protection key:
a) output short circuit
b) overload
c) battery voltage too high
d) battery voltage too low
e) temperature too high
f) DC ripple is too high
3) UL 458 only for inverters with GFCI output socket
Technical data continued
Phoenix Inverter
12 Volt
24 Volt
48 Volt| 12/1200
24/1200
48/1200
---|---
Cont. power at 25 °C (1)| 1200 VA
Cont. power at 25 °C / 40 °C| 1000 / 900 W
Peak power| 2400 W
Output AC voltage / frequency (adjustable)| 230 VAC or 120 VAC +/- 3% 50Hz
or 60Hz +/- 0.1%
Input voltage range| 9.2 – 17 / 18.4 – 34.0 / 36.8 – 62.0 VDC
Low battery shut down (adjustable)| 9.3 / 18.6 / 37.2 VDC
Low battery restart & alarm (adjustable)| 10.9 / 21.8 / 43.6 VDC
Battery charged detect (adjustable)| 14.0 / 28.0 / 56.0 VDC
Max. efficiency| 92 / 94 / 94 %
Zero-load power| 8 / 9.5 / 10 W
Default zero-load power in ECO mode (default search interval: 2.5 s,
adjustable)| 1 / 1.7 / 2.7 W
ECO mode stop and start power setting| Adjustable
Protection (2)| a – f
Operating temperature range| -40 to +60 °C (fan-assisted cooling) (derate
1.25% per °C above 40 °C)
Humidity (non-condensing)| max 95%
ENCLOSURE
Material & Colour| Steel chassis and plastic cover (blue Ral 5012)
Battery-connection| Screw terminals
Maximum cable cross-section| 35/25/25 mm² / AWG2/4/4
Standard AC outlets
| 230 V: Schuko (CEE 7/4), IEC-320 (male plug included) UK (BS 1363), AU/NZ
(AS/NZS 3112)
120 V: Nema5-15R, NEMA GFCI (2x Nema5-15R with GFCI)
Protection category| IP 21
Weight| 7.7 kg/17 lbs
Dimensions (hxwxd, mm) (hxwxd, inch)| 117x232x327
4.6×9.1×12.9
(12 V model: 117x232x367)
ACCESSORIES
Remote on-off| Yes
Automatic transfer switch| Flax or Multi
STANDARDS
Safety| EN/IEC 60335-1 / EN/IEC 62109-1 / UL 458 (3)
EMC| EN 55014-1 / EN 55014-2
IEC 61000-6-1 / IEC 61000-6-3
Automotive Directive| ECE R10-4 EN 50498
1) Nonlinear load, crest factor 3:1
2) Protection key:
a) output short circuit
b) overload
c) battery voltage too high
d) battery voltage too low
e) temperature too high
f) DC ripple is too high
3) UL 458 only for inverters with GFCI output socket
Fig 1: Front and rear view
Example of front view:
Example of rear view with Schuko
outlet: 
Example of rear view with NEMA GFCI outlet:
Mounting instructions
Mount the inverter with four screws vertically up or downwards or horizontally
up or downwards (as indicated in Figure 1) against a sturdy wall or
horizontally on a suitable
ground surface (as indicated in Figure 2). Keep at least 4 inches (10 cm)
clearance with respect to other apparatus/objects. Beware that IP21 only
applies to the lower mounting
the method depicted in Figure 2; otherwise, IP20 is applied. Do not mount the
inverter upside down to a surface.
Appendix A
Connecting the inverter neutral output to the chassis/ground
The AC output is isolated from the DC input and the chassis. Local regulations
may require a true neutral.
In this case, one of the AC output wires must be connected to the chassis, and
the chassis must be connected to a reliable ground. Inside the inverter, a
provision has been made to be able to connect the neural and the chassis; the
way to do this is explained below.
Please be sure to disconnect the battery when connecting the neutral to
protective earth (PE).
An internal PE wire, which is used to connect the neutral and the chassis, is
accessible after removing the plastic cover. A Torx T10 screwdriver is needed
to loosen the four screws which hold the plastic cover.
In the pictures below the two possible connections of the PE wire are shown:
For the 250 VA, 375 VA, and 500 VA inverters:
-
Neutral floating
Position of the PE wire (indicated by arrow):
-
Neutral connected to protective earth
Position of the PE wire (indicated by arrow):
For the 800 VA and 1200 VA inverters:
For these inverters, the earth wire from the chassis can be either connected
to FJ1 (neutral floating) or to FJ2 (neutral connected to earth/chassis). The
labels FJ1 and FJ2 are printed on the circuit board. The default position is
FJ1, i.e. neutral is floating.
Appendix B
Wire size for connecting the inverter chassis to the ground
The earth conductor from the earth lug on the chassis to the ground should
have at least half the crosssection of the conductors used for the battery
connection. The maximum conductor size that fits the earth lug is 25 mm². Use
the table below to find the correct cross-section for the earth conductor.
Cable cross-section
to battery| to protective earth
1.5 mm²| ≥ 0.75 mm²
2.5 mm²| ≥ 1.5 mm²
4 mm²| ≥ 2.5 mm²
6 mm²| ≥ 4 mm²
10 mm²| ≥ 6 mm²
16 mm²| ≥ 10 mm²
25 mm²| ≥ 16 mm²
35 mm²| 25 mm²
Victron Energy Blue Power
Distributor:
Serial number:
Version: 06
Date: April 19th, 2022
Victron Energy B.V.
De Paal 35 | 1351 JG Almere
PO Box 50016 | 1305 AA Almere | The Netherlands
General phone: +31 (0)36 535 97 00
E-mail: sales@victronenergy.com
www.victronenergy.com
References
- ve.direct:phoenix-inverters [Victron Energy]
- Dynamic Cut-off in the Inverter VE.Direct [Victron Energy]