It can handle more than one JK BMS???
Anybody tried new JK BMS with inverter communication support?
- Thread starter wepower
- Start date
Alarchist
New Member
Yeah.
I have three JK BMS's, each with their own RS485 to USB adaptor, I use this battery aggregator: https://github.com/pulquero/BatteryAggregator, with the dbus-serial driver, see it in my VRM.
I have a SmartShunt, but exclude it from the system with the aggregator, so the combined BMS's SOC's are what is seen by the Inverter and SCC's, the BMS's are used for system info and trigger points and DVCC control, it all seems to work *fairly well and I can see the summed charge and discharge currents based on my dbus-serial driver settings are fed to the rest of the system.
*I had quite a few issues with dbus round trip time going crazy high with cheap rs485 adaptors and long cable runs, but that seems fairly stable now since using a powered USB hub and shielded 10m USB cable and quality isolated Waveshare RS485 adaptors and a twisted pair in the lan cable to the RS485 adaptor.
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Alarchist
New Member
Yeah, it does all work as expected, but it's not for everyone. You need to be able to use the command line and have superuser access in Venus OS, but it's all been done already by someone else, so each aspect has a guide on how to do it, the dbus driver has a good guide and info on Github.
Alarchist
New Member
I found out first hand that if no BMS is found (unplugged cable/poor comms) then Venus alarms, stops charge and discharge for SCC's and inverter goes to passthrough after about 2 mins until Venus is reset or comms re established. (There is a setting in the dbus driver to stop it from blocking charge and discharge, but that doesn't work for me with the JK BMS) I think Venus over-rules.
With 3 BMS's there's a bit more redundancy, as the aggregator (Sum of all active BMS's) should be the 'BMS' in control in Venus, so as long as the aggregator can see one of them, then the system will still charge and discharge, with the current limits for that one, or summed for each BMS actually connected.
Same goes for if Venus re-boots, it stops charge, but covers loads, there's a 2 min or so window for the BMS's to reconnect or the inverter goes into passthrough and alarms.
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vvv307
New Member
Someone tried the new firmware.V14.20.
JK PB Series BMS Update FirmwareManual
1. connect PC to RS485-1 port
2. Set DIP to 1000
3. turn on BMS with power button
4. start PC software
5. select 3 vertical dots in the top right
6. select Upload Firmware
7. select correct firmware file for BMS
8. click Start Updating or Force Updating button on screen
9. contact JK-BMS through http://www.jkbms.net/contact-us toreceiveupdate code
10. enter code within 15minutes after receiving it
11. PC software is now waiting for BMS to update
12. push BMS power button again and don't release it until youseemessage under 16.
13. push reset button on BMS communication board once
14. confirm that firmware update starts through PC software
15. keep power button pushed until firmware is successfully updated
16. confirm firmware update successful! message on screen. ReleaseBMS power button
17. be aware, that the BMS has now reset to factor default settings
JK PB Series BMS Update FirmwareManual
1. connect PC to RS485-1 port
2. Set DIP to 1000
3. turn on BMS with power button
4. start PC software
5. select 3 vertical dots in the top right
6. select Upload Firmware
7. select correct firmware file for BMS
8. click Start Updating or Force Updating button on screen
9. contact JK-BMS through http://www.jkbms.net/contact-us toreceiveupdate code
10. enter code within 15minutes after receiving it
11. PC software is now waiting for BMS to update
12. push BMS power button again and don't release it until youseemessage under 16.
13. push reset button on BMS communication board once
14. confirm that firmware update starts through PC software
15. keep power button pushed until firmware is successfully updated
16. confirm firmware update successful! message on screen. ReleaseBMS power button
17. be aware, that the BMS has now reset to factor default settings
......So....what the changelog between 14.19 and 14.20? Is the change important?
Refinished
Shocked and Amused
There is enough neat stuff going on here to make me jump on this. I'd want the JK-BMS LCD to be the always-on truth for cell voltages and overall SOC. This BMS has two LCD options that appear quite different - can anyone comment on the differences? I would like the smaller size, unless I would be giving up something interesting. Mainly, I would be using it for at a glance status, cell voltage, and SOC. I don't want to rely on a device and app for walk-by checks. Any thoughts?
Ryushin
Solar Enthusiast
So I've been following this new BMS. It looks promising to possibly replace my SOK batteries with it and build new battery packs that will do closed loop to the Sol-Ark. I do want closed loop and that would be the only reason by I would look at replacing the SOK batteries.
There still seems to be some serious firmware bugs at the moment. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon.
There still seems to be some serious firmware bugs at the moment. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
If you requirement is closed loop, this is already possible with the SOK :
SK48V100 Server Rack Battery Owner & Operator's Manual | Current Connected
Full instruction manual for the SOK SK48V100 server rack battery. Everything you need to know is contained within this document!
www.currentconnected.com
Search SOK
Ryushin
Solar Enthusiast
If you requirement is closed loop, this is already possible with the SOK :
search sol-arkSK48V100 Server Rack Battery Owner & Operator's Manual | Current Connected
Full instruction manual for the SOK SK48V100 server rack battery. Everything you need to know is contained within this document!
Search SOK
I currently have five SOK batteries and I like the way closed loop works and the information I get using Solar Assistant. I'm wanting to get to 100kWh and I think the best way would be my own battery packs and possibly using this new BMS.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
well, you could simply add to your existing stuff, just make sure you use a PACEBMS and an luyan enclosure as an example.
i'm pretty sure you can order them with Amy, and it would prevent capital investment waste
Ryushin
Solar Enthusiast
So the PACE BMS is the SOK BMS? They'll communicate with each other?
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
may need to bring them to the same firmware level, but yes , SOK is using the PaceBMS
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
I believe there are issues between Versions of PACE BMS similar to the Seplos ones, where some versions won't interoperate nicely with other versions. I think Andy's Garage & Another had something on YT about that.
On the JK... Being Flash Updatable was a HUGE thing that was demanded by many, because most BMS' out there are NOT updatable with new firmware. JK is indeed being very proactive with their software and have fixed the key parts and are now enhancing & adding support and more "fine details". They really do have to get on the ball with Changelogs, it is clear that NONE of them ever did programming in large software shop where such things are done by wrote without thought, (or else). We even had a rule of code containing at least 10% comment blocks.
But then again, as a retired EMCSE, ECNE, CBE sho started with board level design (control data corp) to core software development & then core networking tech including being a protocols standard specialist for the military, I don't know crap.
On the JK... Being Flash Updatable was a HUGE thing that was demanded by many, because most BMS' out there are NOT updatable with new firmware. JK is indeed being very proactive with their software and have fixed the key parts and are now enhancing & adding support and more "fine details". They really do have to get on the ball with Changelogs, it is clear that NONE of them ever did programming in large software shop where such things are done by wrote without thought, (or else). We even had a rule of code containing at least 10% comment blocks.
But then again, as a retired EMCSE, ECNE, CBE sho started with board level design (control data corp) to core software development & then core networking tech including being a protocols standard specialist for the military, I don't know crap.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Didn't they do a new hardware version recently? Are the early hardware revisions just beta units? Actual prod launch once they are pretty confident the hardware platform is solid?
Ryushin
Solar Enthusiast
I don't mind going with a more flexible BMS. I can probably sell the SOK batteries if needed, but I do very much like them and they "just work". But getting to 100kWh is not going to be cheap and since I DYI everything, I can DIY my batteries too. Though, I won't be building code compliant anymore and that is one worry if I ever go to sell the house.
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
I'm entering into the Finalization of my system... years spent getting here... I do not do credit, so it's all cash transactions = patience & prudence all in. The end product will be 44kWh storage with 6 Packs in new, identical Steel Cases and JK Inverter editions. This is being done to simplify by going to a common platform & configuration, for a better "more pro" presentation overall. Being totally off grid, things are to my advantage...
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