Hi,

I would like to know what Lithium Batteries are compatible with Mecer SOL-I-AX-5P64 Inverter. Looking to change my current solar Gel batteries. I was looking at the SHOTO 5.12KWH LI-ION BATTERY. Would that work. Will I need something like the raspberry Pi and Solar Assistant to manage the system. Currently it will just be inverter and battery for backup charging from eskom, but sometime in the future I would like to add panels.

2 hours ago, 53979 said:

I was looking at the SHOTO 5.12KWH LI-ION BATTERY.

Yes, you can get that to work. Change battery type (setting 05) to USE (if not already), and change the bulk/absorb and float settings appropriately. I don't know the SHOTO battery, so you'll have to look all that up. Be aware that battery manufacturers often recommend very high voltages for bulk and float, which make them look good for run-time, but which can lessen expected lifetime, and possibly cause issues with the battery disconnecting due to overshoot by the inverter.

If you later get Solar Assistant, then the battery BMS can probably manage these settings for you.

If the Shoto is a 15S LFP battery, then you can use the settings for Pylontechs. I have posted a table of suitable settings for the Pylontechs many times.

The other battery i was looking at is the Pylontech Lithium Ion 4.8kW UP5000 Battery. I assume it will work with the Mecer inverter I have. Some more information

The US3000C range can provide 37A each, which’s about 1700W per parallel battery.

The US2000B can provide 25A each which is about 1200W per parallel battery.

The UP2500 can provide 26A each which is about 1340 W per parallel battery. The UP5000 can provide 50A each which is about 2400W per parallel battery.

The number of parallel batteries should be suitably selected for the power rating of the inverter to avoid damaging the batteries.

Correct Inverter Selection:

With all High-Frequency inverters such as the Kodak and Mecer type inverter, the batteries supported continuous discharge current can be 70% of the inverter's capacity. For a 5kVA inverter that requires a total discharge current of 5000W / 48V = 105A, the supported continuous battery discharge current can be 73.5A

Please note the correct BMS Cable for communication to the Pylontech range is packaged with the inverter for all KODAK inverters.

Transformer based inverters or Victron inverters specifically specify a 100% continuous discharge current from the batteries. As an example for a 5kVA Victron which is 4kW the battery requirement would be 4000W / 48V = 83A continuous discharge current from the batteries.  In this case a full 3x US3000 or 4x US2000 batteries would be required.

Yes it will work with the correct cable and settings.

Kodak and Mercer are, for the most part, rebranded Axpert inverters

Thank you very much. Think I will then play it safe and go for the 4.8 kw pylontech as I know it will work (with the correct cables) over looking at the shoto. Pretty much the same price anyway.