What Is an Inverter Search Mode?
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An inverter search mode is a low-power state in which the inverter stops producing output when the load is very small or absent, then wakes briefly every few seconds to check for a load. The Victron Inverter Smart manual describes this as part of its ECO mode, with a default search interval of 3 seconds. Repeated clicking with a small appliance is the most common sign of search mode at work, and the manual gives two remedies: a larger load or a changed wake-up setting.
Quick answer
- Search mode is a low-power state. The inverter stops producing output when the load is very small or absent, then wakes briefly every few seconds to look for a load.
- On the Victron Inverter Smart, the manual gives a default search interval of 3 seconds and a default search time of 0.16 seconds.
- If a load above the wake-up power setting is detected, the inverter returns to normal operation. The manual’s default wake-up power is 60 VA.
- Repeated clicking or flickering with a small load usually means the load is below the wake-up power, so the unit keeps going back to search. The manual suggests changing the load or the wake-up setting.
- Search mode and the ECO setting are not the same thing in every Victron product. The MultiPlus-II uses a similar idea under the name Search Mode, with different default timing.
What search mode is
An inverter converts DC from a battery into AC for appliances. When no appliance is drawing power, the inverter still has to keep its own electronics running, and that uses energy from the battery. Search mode is a way to reduce that idle draw. Instead of keeping the full output stage running all the time, the inverter switches off and watches for a load.
The Victron Inverter Smart manual describes the mechanism in section 4.2. When the inverter is in ECO mode and there is no load or a very low load, it switches to a search state. In that state the inverter is off and switches on every 3 seconds for a short period, the search time. If it detects a load above a set level, it goes back to normal operation. Once the load drops below a lower level, it returns to ECO mode. The manual says the reduction in power consumption is approximately 85 percent when no loads are connected.
The idea is simple, but the numbers matter. The inverter has to be able to detect a load quickly, and the load has to be large enough to be detected. Those two conditions set the behaviour the user sees.
The Inverter Smart settings in the manual
Section 4.2 gives the default ECO parameters for the Inverter Smart. They are the figures a reader should understand before adjusting anything.
| Parameter | Default value | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Wake-up power | 60 VA | Load above which the inverter leaves search and runs normally. Range is 0 VA up to the inverter rating. |
| Shutdown power | 50 VA | Load below which the inverter returns to ECO search. Adjustable within the same overall span as the wake-up setting. |
| ECO mode search interval | 3 s | Time between search pulses. |
| ECO mode search time | 0.16 s | Length of each search pulse. The manual gives a second range for this value. |
The manual also says the required ECO settings depend heavily on the type of load. Inductive, capacitive and non-linear loads behave differently, so adjustment for a specific load may be needed. The manual does not give a single recommended setting for every appliance.
The gap between wake-up power and shutdown power is a hysteresis band. A load that sits between the two numbers does not necessarily trigger a change, which helps prevent rapid switching. The manual does not state the reason for the default values, so treat them as the manufacturer’s defaults, not as a recommendation for your system.
What the LEDs show
The LED table in section 5.2 links the search state to a visible pattern. In search state, the green inverter LED blinks and the yellow ECO LED is on. The manual describes this as the inverter sending a search pulse at regular intervals to check whether a load has been connected or turned on. When the inverter is inverting for a load above the shutdown power, the green inverter LED is on steadily with the yellow ECO LED on.
That visible pattern is the most useful thing for a non-specialist to check. A blinking green LED with the yellow ECO LED on means the inverter is in search, not that it has failed.
Why an appliance may cause clicking
The troubleshooting note in section 5.2 covers the common case directly. If the inverter keeps switching on and off while a load is connected, the load may be too small compared with the ECO settings. The manual gives two remedies: increase the load, or change the wake-up power setting.
Typical examples of small loads include a phone charger, a router, a clock radio or a standby device with a low draw. Such a load may sit below the default 60 VA wake-up level even though the appliance is switched on. The result is a cycle of wake-up, shutdown and search. Some loads that are switched on but idle may never reach the wake-up level.
Do not change the settings without understanding the load. The manual says settings may only be changed by a qualified engineer. A basic check is to see whether the same appliance causes clicking when it is connected to a mains socket instead, and to ask a qualified person to review the configuration.
How the MultiPlus-II describes the same idea
The MultiPlus-II 120V manual, Rev 15 dated 08/2026, uses the name Search Mode for a similar state. It describes Search Mode as an alternative to the AES mode. AES, the Automatic Economy Switch, reduces no-load consumption by approximately 20 percent by slightly narrowing the sinusoidal voltage, and applies in stand-alone configuration only. Search Mode, when set to on, reduces no-load consumption by approximately 70 percent. In that mode, the inverter switches off when there is no load or a very low load, and switches on every two seconds for a short period. If the output current exceeds a set level, it continues to operate. If not, it shuts down again.
The two products do not use the same figures. The Inverter Smart manual says 85 percent and a 3 second interval. The MultiPlus-II manual says 70 percent and a 2 second interval. These are product-specific defaults, so do not transfer one figure to the other unit. The MultiPlus-II manual also says its shut down and remain on load levels are set with VEConfigure, a different configuration tool.
Practical checks for a small system
- Confirm which mode the unit is in using the LED pattern in the manual, rather than assuming.
- Note whether the clicking happens only with one appliance, or with several.
- Measure the battery voltage at the inverter battery connection with a multimeter set to DC volts. A low reading can cause protective behaviour that looks like search mode. The manual’s low battery shutdown defaults are 9.3 V for 12 V systems and 18.6 V for 24 V systems.
- Check that battery cables are tight. The manual gives a maximum battery terminal torque of 11 Nm.
- If you are not sure, stop and ask a qualified installer. Do not open the inverter.
How we chose these sources
We chose the Victron Inverter Smart manual rev 00 dated 10/2026 because it is the current English edition that gives the ECO parameters in a table. We used the MultiPlus-II Rev 15 manual only for the Search Mode description and the AES comparison, because it is a different product and the reader may see both names in a Victron system. We did not use any retail page, forum or video.
What we could not verify
- The manual does not state how long a given appliance takes to trigger wake-up. That depends on the appliance and is not covered in the sources we opened.
- The manual does not state the power draw of any specific appliance in search mode.
- The manual’s search time range is given in a table that we read as text, and we did not check it against a second copy of the table.
- The sources we opened do not say how search mode interacts with every third-party appliance type.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating clicking as a fault by default. The manual describes search as a normal state, and the LED pattern tells you which state the unit is in.
- Changing the wake-up power without knowing the load. The manual says the settings depend on load type and may need adjustment, and that only a qualified engineer should change them.
- Mixing up product figures. The 85 percent figure belongs to the Inverter Smart manual. The 70 percent figure belongs to the MultiPlus-II manual.
- Ignoring a low battery reading. A low battery can produce behaviour that looks like search mode. Check voltage first.
FAQ
Does search mode damage the inverter?
The manual does not describe search mode as a fault. It is an operating state. Repeated switching that does not settle, however, is listed in the troubleshooting table as a sign that the load and settings do not match, and it should be checked.
What does the blinking green LED mean?
In ECO mode, a blinking green inverter LED with the yellow ECO LED on means the inverter is in search state, sending pulses to look for a load. The manual says this is the expected behaviour when no load or a very small load is present.
Can I turn search mode off?
The manual describes ECO mode as something you activate through VictronConnect or the push button. It shows how to switch between ON, ECO and OFF with the push button. Changing ECO settings is a configuration task and should be done by a qualified person.
Why does my appliance keep the inverter awake?
A load above the shutdown power keeps the inverter in normal operation. The manual gives 50 VA as the default shutdown power and 60 VA as the default wake-up power. An appliance that draws more than the shutdown level will keep the unit running.
Is search mode the same as standby?
The manual uses standby in its own text for the low-power state, and describes search as the mode in which the inverter checks for a load. In practice both describe the same low-draw condition, but the manual’s search wording is the one to use when reading its settings.
Bottom line
An inverter search mode is a low-power state in which the inverter switches off and checks for a load every few seconds. On the Victron Inverter Smart the default wake-up power is 60 VA. If a small load causes repeated clicking, the manual points to load size and the wake-up setting, and the safe next step is a check by a qualified person rather than a change by guesswork.
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Sources
- Victron Energy, “Inverter Smart Manual”, rev 00 – 10/2026, English. Opened 2026-10-27. Sections 4.2 “ECO mode and ECO settings”, 5.1.3 “ECO Mode”, 5.2 “LED definitions and troubleshooting”. https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Inverter_Smart_2k5_&_4k_230V_-_new_models/106668-Inverter_VE_Direct__Smart_and_SUN-pdf-en.pdf
- Victron Energy, “MultiPlus-II 120V” manual, Rev 15 – 08/2026, English. Opened 2026-10-27. Section “Search Mode”. https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/MultiPlus-II_120V/32424-MultiPlus-II___Quattro-II-pdf-en.pdf
- Victron Energy, “MultiPlus-II 120V” manual, Rev 15 – 08/2026, same document. Opened 2026-10-27. Section “AES (Automatic Economy Switch)”. https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/MultiPlus-II_120V/32424-MultiPlus-II___Quattro-II-pdf-en.pdf
