// VICTRON SYSTEM GUIDE

Which Victron System
Do You Need?

Five pre-configured off-grid systems, sized from weekend explorers to full-time autonomous living. All adapted for UK 230V 50Hz.

Victron Energy designs its off-grid systems as modular building blocks. Rather than specifying components individually — which leads to compatibility errors and performance compromises — they publish five reference system configurations covering the most common use cases. We've adapted these for UK 230V installation and added our own van conversion context.

SYSTEM 1

The Starter

12V / 1.2kVA

Estimated cost£1,200–£1,600~20kg
Best for

First-time builders, weekend use, smaller vans (Transit Custom, etc.)

Key components
  • Victron Phoenix 12/1200 230V inverter (1.2kVA pure sine wave)
  • SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 (up to 220W panels)
  • Lithium SuperPack 12.8V/100Ah (1,280Wh)
  • BMV-712 Smart battery monitor
  • Blue Smart IP22 12V/15A shore power charger
  • Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V-65A
What this powers

LED lights, 12V compressor fridge, phone & laptop charging, 12V accessories. No 230V induction cooking.

Start simple. The SmartSolar MPPT means adding more panels later is easy. The battery can be paralleled with a second unit when you're ready to expand.

SYSTEM 2

The Weekender

12V / 2kVA

Estimated cost£2,200–£2,800~40kg inc. batteries
Best for

Regular weekenders, 3-season van life, VW Transporter/Crafter

Key components
  • MultiPlus 12/2000/80-50 230V (2kVA, 80A charger)
  • SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 (up to 440W panels)
  • 2× Lithium SuperPack 12.8V/100Ah (2,560Wh)
  • SmartShunt 500A battery monitor
  • GlobalLink 520 (5 years free 4G remote monitoring)
  • Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V-100A
What this powers

All of System 1 + small appliances (hair dryer, microwave), e-bike charging, extended off-grid periods.

The MultiPlus replaces separate inverter and charger. PowerAssist and PowerControl mean you won't trip the hookup breaker.

SYSTEM 3 — MOST POPULAR

The Tourer

12V / 3kVA

Estimated cost£5,500–£7,500~85kg inc. batteries
Best for

Sprinter/Crafter full-time builds, serious 4-season touring

Key components
  • MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-32 230V — the UK/EU variant (3kVA, 120A charger)
  • SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 (up to 700W panels)
  • 2× LiFePO4 Smart 12.8V/200Ah (5,120Wh total)
  • Orion XS 12/12-50A DC-DC charger (alternator charging)
  • Cerbo GX + GX Touch 50 touchscreen monitor
  • SmartShunt 500A + VE.Bus BMS V2 + Lynx Distributor
  • Blue Smart IP65 12V/5A topping charger
What this powers

Induction hob, air conditioning, large flatscreen, microwave, coffee machine — full household comfort. 200Ah ×2 lithium bank provides 3–4 days of modest use without solar or alternator.

This is the system we specify in our Full Autonomy tier. The MultiPlus-II integrates inverter, charger, and transfer switch in one unit. Cerbo GX + GX Touch 50 provides a full touchscreen dashboard of your entire system.

Explore Full Autonomy Kit →
SYSTEM 4

The Expedition

24V / 3kVA

Estimated cost£6,500–£9,000~100kg inc. batteries
Best for

High-power builds, large Sprinter/Iveco Daily, extended off-grid expeditions

Key components
  • MultiPlus-II 24/3000/70-32 230V inverter/charger
  • SmartSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr (up to 1,720W panels)
  • 2× LiFePO4 Smart 25.6V/200Ah
  • 2× Orion-Tr Smart 12/24V-15A DC-DC chargers
  • Orion-Tr 24/12-30A converter (powers 12V loads from 24V bank)
  • Cerbo GX + GX Touch 50
What this powers

All of System 3 at higher efficiency over longer cable runs. A 24V system handles the same power with half the current — thinner cables, less voltage drop.

Why 24V? A 24V system handles the same power load as 12V but with half the current, meaning thinner cables, less voltage drop, and better efficiency over longer cable runs.

SYSTEM 5

The Off-Grid Mansion

24V / 10kVA

Estimated cost£15,000–£20,000~200kg inc. batteries
Best for

Large motorhome conversions, expedition vehicles, air conditioning, induction cooking, washing machines

Key components
  • 2× Quattro 24/5000/120-100/100 230V (10kVA combined)
  • SmartSolar MPPT 150/100-Tr VE.Can (up to 2,900W panels)
  • 4× LiFePO4 Smart 25.6V/200Ah (20,480Wh total)
  • Lynx Smart BMS 1000 + 3× Lynx Distributor
  • Cerbo GX + GX Touch 70 (7 inch touchscreen)
What this powers

Multiple air conditioning units simultaneously, full kitchen appliances, washing machine, all from battery + solar. The Quattro has two AC inputs — grid AND generator — automatically selecting the best.

The Quattro differs from the MultiPlus in one key way: two AC inputs (grid AND generator), automatically selecting the best available source. Two in parallel deliver 10kVA.

System Comparison

SystemPowerStorageShore PowerSolar MaxMonitoringBest For
1 — Starter1.2kVA1,280Wh16A220WBMV-712Weekend/small
2 — Weekender2kVA2,560Wh16A440WGlobalLink 520Regular touring
3 — Tourer ★3kVA5,120Wh32A700WCerbo GX + GX50Full-time 12V
4 — Expedition3kVA~8kWh32A1,720WCerbo GX + GX50Large vans 24V
5 — Off-Grid Mansion10kVA20,480Wh2×32A2,900WCerbo GX + GX70Motorhome/AC

Which System Should I Choose?

Weekend use onlySystem 1 or 2
Regular touring, no induction cookingSystem 2 or 3
Full-time with induction cookingSystem 3 (The Tourer)
Very large van or extended off-gridSystem 4
Full motorhome / serious AC useSystem 5

Not sure which system is right for your build?