Victron energy BSLBATT - User Manual

Installation & set-up guide

Summary

Safety Guidelines

General Safety Precautions

Covers handling, dismantling, electrolyte, terminals, and fire hazards for safe battery operation.

Pin-out Diagram

Component Identification

Details the labels (A-P) for the battery's physical components and ports.

Battery Setup

General Battery Operations

Covers turning the battery on/off and general handling.

CAN Communication Setup

Details connecting the battery via CAN bus to Victron GX devices.

Dry Contacts Functionality

Explains the use of dry contacts for system communication and signals.

Other Port Usage

Describes the function of RS485 and RS232 ports for programming.

Multiple Battery Configuration

Covers connecting and configuring multiple batteries in parallel.

Cable Sizing for Multiple Batteries

Recommended cable sizes for parallel battery configurations based on capacity.

Dip Switch Settings (5.1-10.2 kWh)

Configuration of dip switches for parallel setups of 5.1, 6.4, and 10.2kWh batteries.

Dip Switch Settings (8.2 kWh)

Configuration of dip switches for parallel setups of 8.2kWh batteries.

Inverter Setup

Battery Sizing for Inverters

Recommended and minimum battery counts for various inverter sizes and battery capacities.

GX Device Setup

Steps to configure the BSL battery settings on a Victron GX device via VE.Can.

Inverter Settings

General Tab

Configuration settings for the Victron inverter's general parameters.

Grid Tab

Settings for grid connection parameters, frequency, and voltage limits.

Inverter Tab

Settings related to the inverter's output voltage, shut-down levels, and AES.

Charger Tab

Configuration of battery charging parameters like voltage, current, and absorption times.

Assistant Tab (a)

Settings for virtual switch usage and relay control in Victron assistants.

Assistant Tab (b)

Assistant setup and management for configuring battery system parameters.

Assistant Tab (c)

Configuration of battery system types within Victron assistants for different battery chemistries.

Assistant Tab (d)

Setting the battery capacity parameter within Victron ESS assistants.

Assistant Tab (e)

Option to automatically adjust battery type settings in VEConfigure assistants.

Assistant Tab (f)

Configuration of sustain voltage to prevent battery damage during prolonged low states.

Assistant Tab (g)

Dynamic cut-off settings for battery discharge levels based on current.

Assistant Tab (h)

Restart offset for inverting after low battery conditions are resolved.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features

The BSLBATT lithium battery is a robust and versatile energy storage solution designed for various applications, particularly in conjunction with Victron energy systems. This document outlines its installation, setup, and key operational guidelines.

Function Description:

The BSLBATT battery serves as a core component in energy storage systems, providing reliable power for inverters and other electrical loads. It is designed for parallel connection, allowing for scalable energy capacity to meet diverse power demands. The battery integrates a Battery Management System (BMS) that facilitates communication with external devices, monitors battery health, and ensures safe operation. It supports CAN-Bus communication, enabling seamless integration with Victron GX devices for comprehensive system monitoring and control. The battery also features dry contacts for communication with non-smart systems, providing basic status signals like low battery or fault conditions.

Important Technical Specifications:

The manual details pin-out diagrams for the 5.1kWh BSL battery, which is representative of the series, with other battery pin-outs being similar. Key ports include RS485 for firmware updates and parallel connections, a CAN Port for CAN communication, and an RS232 Port (typically unused). The battery incorporates a circuit breaker for terminal power, positive and negative terminals, and mounting holes for installation. Different battery capacities are available, including 5.1kWh (100Ah), 6.4kWh (125Ah), 10.2kWh (200Ah-Power wall), and 8.2kWh (160Ah). The recommended cable sizes for connecting batteries to the inverter vary based on the number of parallel batteries and their capacity. For instance, a single 5.1kWh battery requires a 35mm² cable, while four 5.1kWh batteries require 95mm² or 2x50mm² cables. Inverter sizing recommendations are provided for various battery capacities. For a 15kVA inverter, 4 units of 5.1kWh or 6.4kWh batteries are recommended, with a minimum of 3 units. For 10.2kWh batteries, 4 units are recommended for a 15kVA inverter. For 8.2kWh batteries, 3 units are recommended for a 15kVA inverter. The Victron GX device settings include a recommended Charge Voltage of 54.5V, a Charge Current Limit of 80A per battery, and a Discharge Current Limit of 105A per battery. The system's battery capacity is set to 125Ah in the example configurations.

Usage Features:

• Turning On/Off: The battery can be switched on or off by holding down the recessed "RESET" button for approximately 3 seconds.
• Parallel Connection: Up to 15 batteries can be connected in parallel. Each battery requires a unique binary address configured via dip-switches. RJ45 patch network cables are used for inter-battery communication, connecting to port 4 or 5.
• CAN Communication: A VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS "Type B" cable is essential for communication between the BSL battery and the Victron GX device. The unused VE.Can port on the GX device must be terminated with a Victron blue terminator. The CAN speed on the GX device needs to be set to 500 KB.
• Dry Contacts: These are primarily for non-smart systems, providing signals for low battery (closing with low battery signal) and fault/protection (closing with fault/protection signal). Working current should be less than 2A.
• Inverter Settings (Victron): The manual provides detailed steps for configuring Victron inverters using VE.Configure 3 software. This includes setting system frequency (50Hz/60Hz), shore limit, enabling battery monitor, and defining state of charge parameters.
• Grid Tab Configuration: Settings related to grid interaction, such as country/grid code standard, loss of mains (LOM) detection, and transfer switch parameters (AC low/high disconnect), are configurable.
• Inverter Tab Configuration: This tab allows adjustment of inverter output voltage, PowerAssist settings, DC input low shut-down/restart voltages, and SOC low shut-down/restart percentages. It also includes options for enabling AES (Automatic Economy Switch) and selecting AEB type (modified sine wave).
• Charger Tab Configuration: Charger settings include enabling the charger, weak AC input, stop after excessive bulk, and configuring for Lithium batteries and VE.Bus BMS. The charge curve is fixed, with adjustable absorption voltage (55.00V), float voltage (54.00V), charge current (50A), and absorption times.
• Assistant Tab (ESS - Energy Storage System): This section guides users through setting up the ESS assistant, including selecting the battery system type (LiFePo4 with VE.Bus BMS), entering the correct battery capacity, and configuring battery type selection (allowing the assistant to change default settings). It also covers "Sustain voltage" to prevent deep discharge and "Restart offset" to define the voltage level required for the inverter to restart after a low battery shutdown. "Dynamic cut-off" parameters are also detailed, which influence the DC input low shut-down level based on discharge current.

Maintenance Features:

• Qualified Personnel: All work or maintenance on the BSL battery must be carried out by qualified personnel only.
• No Disassembly: Users are explicitly warned not to open or dismantle the battery and/or cells.
• Electrolyte Safety: The electrolyte is highly corrosive. In case of damage or leakage, avoid contact with skin or eyes, and do not ingest.
• Terminal Safety: Battery terminals are always live. Do not place tools or other items across them, and do not pierce, short, or damage them.
• Fire Hazard: Do not discharge the battery below the specified minimum level to avoid increased fire risk. Do not charge swollen or damaged batteries. In case of fire, use CO2 or Dry Powder extinguishers; Class D extinguishers are not suitable.
• Disposal: Batteries must be disposed of through proper local regulations and are not suitable for regular refuse/recycling.
• Firmware Updates: Port 1 (RS485) is used for updating firmware.
• Information Retrieval: Port 1 (RS485) and port 3 (RS232) are used for programming and retrieving information, and must be left open during normal operation.

Victron energy BSLBATT Specifications