Local Lithium Brands

[MrVolt]

Hi All,

What is the general / technical feeling on the "best" or most widely used local lithium battery specifically for Victron installations? 

This would refer to Solar MD, Blue Nova and Freedom Won. 

Thanks

 

[Guest Sarel]

The real issue is BMS communications. Victron supports this:  VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS cables manual

Use these VE.Can to CAN-bus cables to connect a CAN-bus enabled battery to a GX device.

1. Selecting the right cable

ASS030710018 - VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS type A Cable 1.8m

• BYD B-Box
• Pylontech US2000C/US3000C/Force-L

ASS030720018 - VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS type B Cable 1.8m

• LG Chem Resu
• AXIstorage
• BMZ
• Pylontech US2000/US3000/UP2500

2. Installation

The side labeled 'CAN-bus BMS' plugs into the battery. The other side, labeled 'VE.Can' must be plugged into either the VE.Can port of the GX device, or the BMS-Can port.

Both port types (VE.Can and BMS-Can) on a GX Device can be configured for use with a CAN-bus BMS connected third party battery.

For configuration, see the manual specific to the brand of battery you are using.

3. Pin-out

In some cases it might be needed to make the cable at the location. Find below the pin-outs. Make sure to very carefully test the cable after crimping it. Self-made cables are very often the causes of very hard to diagnose problems.

3.1 Type A

Function	Victron VE.Can side	Battery side
GND	Pin 3	Pin 6
CAN-L	Pin 8	Pin 5
CAN-H	Pin 7	Pin 4

3.2 Type B

Function	Victron VE.Can side	Battery side
GND	Pin 3	Pin 2
CAN-L	Pin 8	Pin 5
CAN-H	Pin 7	Pin 4

[Guest Sarel]

You can of course connect non communicating battery to Victron, however you looses a lot on status and management and especially SoC. Now you need other ways to get SoC, it may or may not be accurate info tho.

[MrVolt]

Thanks, this is useful for victron integration. 

But what i am actually after is which local battery is preferred and which is best supported?

[GreenMan]

Apparently (but I have not tested it) LBSA can communicate with Victron. 

 

[Bain Viljoen]

13 minutes ago, GreenMan said:

Apparently (but I have not tested it) LBSA can communicate with Victron. 

 

As @GreenMan suggests, LBSA batteries do communicate with Victron Beautifully. 

[Guest Sarel]

3 hours ago, MrVolt said:

Thanks, this is useful for victron integration. 

But what i am actually after is which local battery is preferred and which is best supported?

I installed BYD for my Solar Micro grid system. I do have some posts on here regarding the BYD and the Micro grid.