A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module is configured to run a zero flow configuration cycle by either ramping up the speed of at least one pump in addition to a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump starting to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic or power consumption or ramping down the speed of at least one pump of a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump stopping to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic and/or power consumption.