Adding EG4 To Victron/BB - Will this work!?

[DrZ123]

What size fuse, was thinking 250amp class T

 

[Adam De Lay]

Seems like that should give you enough overhead if you had to run solely off the server rack if you had to perform maintenance on the BB batteries.

 

[DrZ123]

Seems like that should give you enough overhead if you had to run solely off the server rack if you had to perform maintenance on the BB batteries.

The BB set and the EG4 set should have the same kwh so I should be able to switch one off to modify or repair while the other one runs fine.

I'm really ramping up the storage for the addition of W/D, Dishwasher, and AC so won't need that much storage all the time.

 

[DrZ123]

This is where I am as of now. As you can see the EG4 rack hasn't arrived yet as they are backordered so for now I have the batteries standing up.

I have both pos and neg from each battery going to bus bars. Then the pos goes to the switch and then will go to the pos bus bar. I may add a 300amp T fuse in that line.

The neg will go to the SmartShunt neg terminal for now. Once the rack comes I'll use a busbar for all of the negative terminals and running copper to the shunt from the busbar.

I am charging all batteries to full before connecting them, then will connect the POS and NEG and switch everything on.

Anything that looks off here and any insight into the order of the final connection?

Thanks!

 

[Adam De Lay]

Looks like it's coming along!

Nothing additional from previous comments made.

Here's the order I would probably do things (there's several ways you could do it). This assumes voltages between BB batteries and LP batteries are near the same.

1. Turn off LP battery disconnects and ensure positive switch is off
2. Connect negative cable
3. Connect positive cable
4. Turn on positive switch on LP bank
5. Individually turn on breakers on each LP battery

You could probably just leave all the LP batteries on and just use the main disconnect switch if you wanted, but I like to introduce things slowly.

 

[z_zk_z]

I just saw your post. You also have the option of purchasing a Victron 120V-to-240v transformer (https://signaturesolar.com/victron-autotransformer-120-240v-100a/) instead of purchasing another Victron Inverter for your 240V loads. I see you have a Victron MPPT fed by your 2KW solar panels. I would look at the charging data and see how much KW is "really" being provided by your panels, since you just added another 20KWH of storage to your system. I do recommend to purchase the EG4 hub and integrate it into the Victron setup. I have EG4 V1 batteries integrated into my Victron setup and cannot help you with the integration however, I heard that hub suppose to provide the similar capability. I would also connect your EG4 batteries to a laptop so you can monitor them.

 

[DrZ123]

I just saw your post. You also have the option of purchasing a Victron 120V-to-240v transformer (https://signaturesolar.com/victron-autotransformer-120-240v-100a/) instead of purchasing another Victron Inverter for your 240V loads. I see you have a Victron MPPT fed by your 2KW solar panels. I would look at the charging data and see how much KW is "really" being provided by your panels, since you just added another 20KWH of storage to your system. I do recommend to purchase the EG4 hub and integrate it into the Victron setup. I have EG4 V1 batteries integrated into my Victron setup and cannot help you with the integration however, I heard that hub suppose to provide the similar capability. I would also connect your EG4 batteries to a laptop so you can monitor them.

The autotransformer is interesting. Need to calculate the max load, that may be an easier solution than a second Quattro.

I did order the EG4 hub so I can keep track of the EG4 batteries. Not sure how I can handle stats on both the BB and EG4 batteries separately?

I do think I'll have to add more solar.

 

[rhino]

Don't forget to connect the ground for the Quattro and the charge controller. Would also be good idea to add some kind of cover over that positive busbar even if it is just some clear plastic offset from the busbar.

Also, how did you attach so many lugs to that smartshunt? did you have to remove the washer and lock washer?

 

[rhino]

Where is the negative of those Lifepower4 batteries going? It should be to that smart shunt but I don't see it.

 

[DrZ123]

Don't forget to connect the ground for the Quattro and the charge controller. Would also be good idea to add some kind of cover over that positive busbar even if it is just some clear plastic offset from the busbar.

Also, how did you attach so many lugs to that smartshunt? did you have to remove the washer and lock washer?

Is the ground not currently connected? The current setup w the BBs and Victron was all there before I arrived. I'm just adding the EG4s for now.

I didn't add all of those lugs, but I plan on adding the neg from the EG4s

Where is the negative of those Lifepower4 batteries going? It should be to that smart shunt but I don't see it.

If you read back I am about to hook it up but in the photo the EG4s aren't hooked up yet.

I plan to put the neg to that Shunt terminal w all the lugs and the POS to the busbar.

Once I get my rack I'll use the busbar I have for the shunt there and have a copper bar go from busbar to shunt.

 

[rhino]

Is the ground not currently connected? The current setup w the BBs and Victron was all there before I arrived. I'm just adding the EG4s for now.

I assumed that fluorescent green cable on the Quattro is connected to the chassis ground bolt on the bottom right side of there but I don't see where that cable is actually going? It looks like it is just rolled up and can't see an end to it.

The charge controller looks like it is missing the chassis ground cable. Letter A in image below is where there should be a screw where you attach the grounding cable:

 

[rhino]

Same with that Midnite solar surge protector. I only see positive and negative cables coming out but it has to be connected to a ground as well unless the ground is going out through the wall in that box and can't see it in the pic?

 

[DrZ123]

Same with that Midnite solar surge protector. I only see positive and negative cables coming out but it has to be connected to a ground as well unless the ground is going out through the wall in that box and can't see it in the pic?

I'm on a rock island so I don't believe the previous owner was able to find ground.

 

[rhino]

Is there no grounding for anything in the entire system including the AC side?

 

[DrZ123]

Is there no grounding for anything in the entire system including the AC side?

Apparently not according to the previous owner. Her tried to get ground outside but was unable to.

Is it essential?

 

[rhino]

I'm by no means a professional but I do not know how you can have a safe system without a ground. What is the green grounding conductor for that Midnite Solar surge protector connected to? If the green ground wire isn't connected to anything that it isn't going to be able to protect the system. The Midnite Solar manual for that surge protector even has this:

Important! A good grounding system is essential for both safety and lightning protection. The NEC recommends a
ground resistance of 25 ohms or less. The lightning protection industry recommends 10 ohms or less. A thorough assessment of the grounding system is strongly recommended.

There is some useful information on grounding in Victron's Wiring Unlimited PDF.

In general if you can't go vertically down you can go horizontal. I assume there is at least some soil on top of rock that would allow something like a ground plate to be installed. I would see if you can find out what is recommended locally.

 

[DrZ123]

As of now there is no ground. The green cable attached to the inverter is an AC in cable for a generator.

I guess my next task is establishing proper ground!

 

[DrZ123]

Hooked them up! No explosions. I do have to figure out the grounding.

Once the EG4 rack comes those will go in the rack, and will run the POS from the rack as it runs now.

The NEG will run to a busbar with all of the other negatives and then copper from the busbar to the SmartShunt.

 

[Adam De Lay]

Hooked them up! No explosions. I do have to figure out the grounding.

Once the EG4 rack comes those will go in the rack, and will run the POS from the rack as it runs now.

The NEG will run to a busbar with all of the other negatives and then copper from the busbar to the SmartShunt.

Congrats!

 

[DrZ123]

Congrats!

Thanks for the help Adam!

So now I have 40kwh of battery capacity.

However I only have 16x 100w panels. I have a feeling they are going to struggle keeping the batteries full.

Am going to measure today to see how much free roof real estate I have for additional panels. I believe I'm limited in size due to my location and the weight of the larger panels, so may have to stick with 100w.

 

[DrZ123]

Is there any way to have the Victron inverter communicate with both my Battleborn batteries AND my EG4 LP batteries? I have the EG4 communication hub I'm going to hook up but if it's not syncing with the inverter it's really just to see specific battery details no?

 

[DrZ123]

Hooked up the EG4 communication hub and it's reading the batteries properly.

Is there any way to hook that hub up to my Victron Venus GX so I can read the data remotely?

Any way to have the Victron Quattro communicate with both the BBs and the EG4 hub?

 

[Adam De Lay]

I believe I’ve seen the Cerbo handle different batteries connected to it at the same time. Not sure about the specific GX you have though.

Can the GX connect to the BB batteries?

 

[DrZ123]

I believe I’ve seen the Cerbo handle different batteries connected to it at the same time. Not sure about the specific GX you have though.

Can the GX connect to the BB batteries?

I guess not re the BB connecting.

I have the Venus GX. But If I make settings in the EG4 hub, will those settings override the Victron devices?

 

[Adam De Lay]

I guess not re the BB connecting.

I have the Venus GX. But If I make settings in the EG4 hub, will those settings override the Victron devices?

If you have proper communication set up between the communication hub and the Victron GX, I believe it’s supposed to, but unfortunately I don’t have any direct experience with the communication hub and it’s integration into Victron.