Pytes e-box 48100r LFP Server Rack - UL9540 questions

[themizz]

Hi,

I wanted to get the forum's thoughts on this battery. It seems to be one of the first 'cheap' LFP server rack batteries that have a UL9540 listing (meaning, I believe, can be installed and permitted in jurisdictions following the 2018 IRC (section r327).

Questions:

Pytes claims that this is certified with Sol-Ark 12 and 15k on their press release here: https://www.pytesgroup.com/news-detail/&5380

the SGS listing here: https://procert.sgs.com/Cert/1002608065300156/eee26bc0-162a-4b0e-aadf-a817cf7fcf27.html shows it certified to UL9540 and calls it "Forest 15k", presumably a name they made up that combines their batteries with a Sol-Ark

Under Specific Characteristics they are clearly describing a Sol-Ark's specifications.

My question is, how would a code inspector know that this battery has been approved with the Sol-Ark since there is no direct mention of it in the listing?


If this really would get approved by AHJ's this would be a price leader by far compared to other UL9540 type systems. (Watts247 is selling these for $2000 for 5kWh, which is a bit steep compared to EG4's, but a bargain compared to Enphase, Fortress, Homegrid, Simpliphi etc..)

 

[themizz]

I answered my own question on this. I requested additional documentation from Pytes for their UL9540, see attached which shows it was approved with the Sol-Ark 15k, as for as I can tell this should be approved to install in 2018 IRC jurisdictions

 

[misterbubbacat]

 

[Balthazar-B]

Hi,

I wanted to get the forum's thoughts on this battery. It seems to be one of the first 'cheap' LFP server rack batteries that have a UL9540 listing (meaning, I believe, can be installed and permitted in jurisdictions following the 2018 IRC (section r327).

Questions:

Pytes claims that this is certified with Sol-Ark 12 and 15k on their press release here: https://www.pytesgroup.com/news-detail/&5380

the SGS listing here: https://procert.sgs.com/Cert/1002608065300156/eee26bc0-162a-4b0e-aadf-a817cf7fcf27.html shows it certified to UL9540 and calls it "Forest 15k", presumably a name they made up that combines their batteries with a Sol-Ark

Under Specific Characteristics they are clearly describing a Sol-Ark's specifications.

My question is, how would a code inspector know that this battery has been approved with the Sol-Ark since there is no direct mention of it in the listing?


If this really would get approved by AHJ's this would be a price leader by far compared to other UL9540 type systems. (Watts247 is selling these for $2000 for 5kWh, which is a bit steep compared to EG4's, but a bargain compared to Enphase, Fortress, Homegrid, Simpliphi etc..)

@themizz, did you end up implementing Pytes storage, and if so what's your experience mating the batteries with the Sol-Ark? You may have noticed that Watts247 and other retailers are now selling them for $1750. Perhaps because there's now kind of a successor out there priced around $2K?

 

[jrcromer]

View attachment 146254

SolarPowerWorld isn't a technical journal and isn't painting a complete picture. UL9540 2016 allowed for batteries to be listed independently from the inverter. UL9540 2020 requires the inverter to be referenced in the battery UL9540 listing. Literally my least favorite industry topic because of how much damage it causes the industry (imagine how you would feel as an installer, installing a UL9540 system, and being told by the inspector that it isn't a UL9540 system! It happens!) but I'm glad there are a variety of UL9540 2020 options now on the market. UL9540 2020 is getting some attention because it is mandated in California, but it the pain will be even more real in 2024 when IRC 2021 goes into effect.

 

[damo green]

SolarPowerWorld isn't a technical journal and isn't painting a complete picture. UL9540 2016 allowed for batteries to be listed independently from the inverter. UL9540 2020 requires the inverter to be referenced in the battery UL9540 listing. Literally my least favorite industry topic because of how much damage it causes the industry (imagine how you would feel as an installer, installing a UL9540 system, and being told by the inspector that it isn't a UL9540 system! It happens!) but I'm glad there are a variety of UL9540 2020 options now on the market. UL9540 2020 is getting some attention because it is mandated in California, but it the pain will be even more real in 2024 when IRC 2021 goes into effect.

That's a great point that 2016 9540 is much more lenient than current 9540 !