Will This PowerPro + Chargeverter Design Work (Well)?

[Madcodger]

Wondering if the solar brain trust can please provide commentary/advice on my proposed design for adding two additional PowerPro batteries and an additional Chargeverter, to my current system of three PowerPros and one Chargeverter.

Here's the current layout, which parallel the PowerPros as recommended by EG4 and Current Connected, and which makes use of a Victron Lynx (1000 amp busbar) to connect the Chargeverter to the PowerPros. This works perfectly, with all batteries charging and discharging equally whether from solar or via the Chargeverter.



But with winter coming, I'd like to add more storage and make use of our available generator capacity (10K running watts) via an additional Chargeverter. Because I have only two open "slots" available on the Lynx without doubling up on connections, and need to connect three things (two PowerPros and an additional Chargeverter) I've come up with this as my "desired" design. Will it work, without causing a big problem (e.g., batteries not charging/discharging at fairly equal levels)? Comments welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[wpns]

Why not connect the CVs to the spare ports on Batteries A and C? I'm unclear on what you need/want that Lynx for, other than the color, of course. 8*)
The CVs are 100A, the battery busbars are 600A, the connectors and parallel cables are 250A, just connect the chargers to the 'middle' of the battery bank and you're done.

 

[Madcodger]

Why not connect the CVs to the spare ports on Batteries A and C? I'm unclear on what you need/want that Lynx for, other than the color, of course. 8*)
The CVs are 100A, the battery busbars are 600A, the connectors and parallel cables are 250A, just connect the chargers to the 'middle' of the battery bank and you're done.

You’d have to ask Current Connected, who designed it, I guess. And EG4 suggested the same. I just know that it’s working like a charm as is, but I’d really like to get more capacity for winter. So, would you also connect the two new batteries (D & E) to batteries A & C as well? Would you just take the Lynx out altogether? And if I did want to keep the Lynx (it is awfully pretty), would the design I suggest work without causing a problem?

 

[timselectric]

Will what you plan work? Yes
Is it adding extra unnecessary parts and connections? Also yes

 

[wpns]

You’d have to ask Current Connected, who designed it, I guess. And EG4 suggested the same.

EG4 initially wanted to sell me Lynx Distributors for my (2) 18Kpv/(6)PPWMOD ESS, but when I pushed back the salesperson realized I didn't need any of that.

So, would you also connect the two new batteries (D & E) to batteries A & C as well?

Yes.

Would you just take the Lynx out altogether?

Also yes.

And if I did want to keep the Lynx (it is awfully pretty), would the design I suggest work without causing a problem?

Well, sure, though the battery charge distribution from the CVs will be slightly less good, it really won't matter.

Personally I'd remove the Lynx and mount it on the wall in my living room like a hunting trophy so all my friends could say "Wow!". 8*)

 

[Madcodger]

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful and appreciated.

 

[Robkh]

Have two EG4 6000XP inverters connected to three PowerPro batteries - 42.9 kWh. Despite maximal PV input, using this to run my pool circulator and heater, draws down my PowerPro battery bank.
I have a separate solar system Victron Multiplus II 120V 48/3000/35-50 with a 20 kWh battery bank in a detached garage and I can feed a 120V line to my EG4 PowerPro battery bank - I want to get a Chargeverter to top up my PowerPro bank occasionally with the power from this separate system.

Signature Solar recommends busbars, etc but since each PowerPro has 4 negative and 4 positive terminals connected by an internal busbar, why can’t I just modify the cables that come with the Chargeverter by adding black + orange EG4 PowerPro battery cable connectors and apply these directly to one of the three battery’s positive and negative terminals?

Has any one tried this?

 

[RinVt]

You can hook the charger to the battery's directly. that will work just fine. Rember that the charger will read the charge of that battery.

 

[timselectric]

Has any one tried this?

Yes, many are doing it that way.

 

[Robkh]

Thank you RinVt and timselectric I figured all three batteries are in parallel, just hooking to one battery will distribute the charge to all three.
Can the Chargeverter RS485jack pin out be connected on any of my three PowerPro batteries with a free battery com?

 

[timselectric]

Thank you RinVt and timselectric I figured all three batteries are in parallel, just hooking to one battery will distribute the charge to all three.
Can the Chargeverter RS485jack pin out be connected on any of my three PowerPro batteries with a free battery com?

Only if the batteries are not already communicating with something else.

 

[Robkh]

Only if the batteries are not already communicating with something else.

Nope, only to the 6000XPs. Don’t like to mix and match

 

[timselectric]

Nope, only to the 6000XPs. Don’t like to mix and match

Then no, it can't communicate with the batteries.
Because they are already communicating with the 6kxp's.

 

[Madcodger]

So, you'll need to read SOC through the 6000XPs. As others note, what you suggest certainly should work fine. I'm not sure why retailers recommend an external busbar and really don't think it's just to sell another item. I wish they would comment on that with their reasoning.

 

[timselectric]

I'm not sure why retailers recommend an external busbar

It's just a general recommendation.
Not all batteries have their own bus bar.

 

[Robkh]

An update I received from EG4 Tech Support:
No, you should not directly connect the Chargeverter battery cables to the PowerPro battery terminals using the orange and black EG4 battery cable connectors. It is important to use the appropriate cables and connectors specified in the installation manuals for both the Chargeverter and PowerPro systems to ensure compatibility and safety. We would recommend using a common bus bar to connect your Chargeverter to your PowerPro batteries.

 

[wpns]

An update I received from EG4 Tech Support:
No, you should not directly connect the Chargeverter battery cables to the PowerPro battery terminals using the orange and black EG4 battery cable connectors. It is important to use the appropriate cables and connectors specified in the installation manuals for both the Chargeverter and PowerPro systems to ensure compatibility and safety. We would recommend using a common bus bar to connect your Chargeverter to your PowerPro batteries.

Well, the connectors are not compatible, so you have to do something...

 

[bgreet]

An update I received from EG4 Tech Support:
No, you should not directly connect the Chargeverter battery cables to the PowerPro battery terminals using the orange and black EG4 battery cable connectors. It is important to use the appropriate cables and connectors specified in the installation manuals for both the Chargeverter and PowerPro systems to ensure compatibility and safety. We would recommend using a common bus bar to connect your Chargeverter to your PowerPro batteries.

I'm trying to understand why this is the case when the internal busbar is rated for 600a. @EG4TechSolutionsTeam can you provide some enlightenment? I currently have 6 eg4 batteries connected together to two 18kpvs. Is there a good reason to put them all on an external bus bar instead of just connecting two chargeverters directly to the "middle" batteries connected to each 18kpv?

 

[Madcodger]

As the OP on this thread, I still don't understand their reasoning; however, I can say that using an external busbar (Victron Lynx 1000A in my case) has worked well. My guess is that they're worried about overloading the built-in busbar in a situation where someone is trying to pump massive amounts of power through the system (much solar and the chargeverters and heavy loads, all at same time) but that's purely a guess. I'd still like to understand this better, though. Seems like you end up with the same amount of power going through that "connector" battery in the middle, no matter what. But both EG4 and Current Connected said to use the external busbar, so I did.

 

[EG4TechSolutionsTeam]

I'm trying to understand why this is the case when the internal busbar is rated for 600a. @EG4TechSolutionsTeam can you provide some enlightenment? I currently have 6 eg4 batteries connected together to two 18kpvs. Is there a good reason to put them all on an external bus bar instead of just connecting two chargeverters directly to the "middle" batteries connected to each 18kpv?

The chargeverter can't connect directly to the WallMount batteries with the cables included as they are not the same sized degson connectors. An external bus or custom cables would need to be made to connect the chargeverter to the WallMount. However, it would be recommended to use external bus bars when charging with a chargeverter.

 

[timselectric]

However, it would be recommended to use external bus bars when charging with a chargeverter.

Is there a reason behind that recommendation?
Or is it just what you are told to say?

 

[Madcodger]

Is there a reason behind that recommendation?
Or is it just what you are told to say?

Several of us have asked the EG4 team to answer that question via the forum, several times. And yet they haven't.

Do I care that I used (had to use??) an external bus bar? Not really. I'm fine with the outcome amd it didn't cost me much. But I do wish I knew whether it was REALLY required, and why. I never took "because I said so" as a good answer as a kid. That hasn't improved over the decades, and in this case, it's not at all acceptable from a supplier in whom we have placed our trust and to whom we have given our business.

We just want to know WHY, @EG4TechSolutionsTeam. We're fans of your stuff. Just please tell us WHY this is necessary, even if the answer relates to your product testing. It's a reasonable question.