Hi.

This post is to document my findings with using different Pylontech batteries on a Goodwe 4.6kW ES inverter (GW5048D-ES).

My initial install had the inverter connected to 1 x US2000 battery. This worked well but was only able to supply ~1.2kW (as this is a 0.5C battery).

Later I added a second US2000 battery. Upped the output to ~2.4kW and working without problems. 

As of the date of writing the worst load shedding has been up to stage 6. This prompted me to get more storage. Looking at the best bang-for-buck, the UP5000 seems the obvious choice. I mailed Pylontech to confirm if the UP5000/US5000 is compatible with the US2000. This is their reply:

Can US5000 be mixed with UC2000 batteries in parallel?

Thanks for the email. Yes, they are compatible. Please make sure serve us5000 as the master battery.

 

So went ahead and ordered the UP5000. (Side note: There is also a US5000 but for the life of me I cannot see what the difference is between the US5000 and UP5000 batteries that are being marketed in SA. There are conflicting names, pictures and datasheets all over the place.)

 

I had to rearrange my batteries in the space I had available. So disconnected everything without looking how the comms was wired. (foreshadowing...) 

After reconnecting everything I had 2 issues:

1. Goodwe's inverter app ("PV master") does not list the UP5000 (or US5000) battery in their app.

2. The inverter reported a battery communication failure. 

 

I'll forward to the important bits:

1. US3000 battery can be selected in the app to ensure correct comms protocol version is used. I'll come back to this later.

2. The comms cable from the inverter must plug into the "CAN" port on the battery (not one of the link ports!). In this case I plugged it into the UP5000.

3. The comms link cables between the batteries must then be connected such that the "Link Port 0" on the UP5000 is open - to make it the master. Daisy chain the other batteries using the link cables accordingly. (i.e. port 1 on UP5000 to port 0 on US2000[1], then from port 1 on US2000[1] to port 0 on US2000[2])

4. The start-up sequence is important: switch on all the batteries using only the power toggle switches.

    4.a. You might see that the US2000 lights flash while the UP5000 lights flash once and then die (or it might not even turn on at all)

    4.b. Wait a couple of seconds for the US2000 batteries' lights to stop flashing - eventually only the "run" light will flash"

    4.c. Press the red button on the UP5000 for 1-2 seconds and the battery should power up correctly 

5. Now wait a good couple of minutes while the inverter and batteries sort out their stuff. Watch the inverter lights - the blue "battery" light and the green "system" lights will flash during this time. Wait for both lights to turn on constantly - now the system is stable.

6. Open the PV Master app and select the battery type as : Pylontech US3000*2. Also remember to set both the "Depth of Discharge (On-Grid mode)" and "Discharge depth (Back-up)". Forcefully close the app and restart it to check that the "BMS status" is now normal and battery stats are reading correctly. 

 

 

Hope this helps anyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, PowerVan said:

difference is between the US5000 and UP5000 batteries that are being marketed in SA

US5000 has 10 year warranty and is 0.8C.

UP5000 has 5 year warranty and is 0.5C.

On 2023/02/05 at 1:20 PM, P1000 said:

US5000 has 10 year warranty and is 0.8C.

UP5000 has 5 year warranty and is 0.5C.

That's interesting. Also saw the difference and never knew what it was. According to their website you can register the battery by serial number to extend the 5 years to also 10 years. I have 2 UP5000 and working well. Stage 6 (and still expect it to go to 8 ) might force me to get a US2000 as an add on.

 

Also interesting is that the UP5000 has a design cycle of 4000 cycles and the US2000 if I remember correctly is 6000 cycles.

11 minutes ago, Rolo said:

According to their website you can register the battery by serial number to extend the 5 years to also 10 years.

From segen solar's website:

https://segensolar.co.za/product/pylontech/storage-systems-pylontech/li-ion-battery-pack-storage-systems-pylontech/pylon-up5000-4-8kwh-li-ion-solar-battery-48v/