I got the Smart Dongle to install on the inverter, I have been using a MS Surface connected directly to the inverter via their USB to VE bus converter but that requires you to remove the cable to the Venus or Color Controller inside the inverter (remove the inverter cover) and open the AC input breaker in order to access the inverter each time. Although the Venus unit will allow you to do some setting changes to the inverter I found that I couldn’t always access the inverter settings.Add the VE Bus Smart Dongle, https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ve-bus-smart-dongle, to be able to monitor and program the Multiplus from your smart phone/tablet. YouTube has some good videos on this.
Primarily I want to be able to turn the inverter On/Off and Control the input power draw via my smart phone. I was going to get the remote panel but decided to try this remote route first.
I have experimented with the AES options, this is where you can reduce the inverter power draw under low loads. Normally mine pulls about 3 amps minimum (current measurements based on readings off the battery shunt, no shore power or solar connected). Using the modified sine wave option I didn’t see much reduction in inverter current. If I use the AES option
Search Mode then the inverter checks the load level every couple of seconds and turns off if the load is less than whatever you have set. This worked great, reduced the inverter draw down to 1.2 amps. However, this meant that the router was continuously rebooting itself unless I adjusted the ON power level lower. That kind of defeats the purpose then, so back to the drawing board. I could set up a small low power DC to AC converter just for a couple of outlets dedicated to some low power AC devices I would like to be powered continuously (router and a couple of clocks).
Thanks for the links SSTraveller, there was one there that I hadn’t seen before. Here is another good Victron inverter programming link (https://shop.pkys.com/VE-Configure-Part-1.html).