Victron with 12v Lifepower4

[bryansifsof44]

Hi I’m trying to help a cousin out with his Victron Quattro-II 12/3000 paired with a 12v Lifepower4 in his commercial fishing boat. We are trying to get closed loop to communicate between battery and inverter. I see with the LL with the screen you could set protocol, but unsure how you do it without a communications hub with screen. It looks like the communications hub is only available in 48v. Is closed loop communications possible?

This is his components in his system:
Lifepower4 EG4 LL 400AH 12 battery
Victron Quattro-II inverter
Lynx distributor 1000
Smart solar charger MPPT 75-15
Orion-Tr Smart 12-12 DC/DC charger
Victron 500 AMP Smart Shunt

 

[Brucey]

Pretty sure you will need a Cerbo or Venus os device. The ve.bus connector on the Quattro isn't designed for battery comms.

 

[bryansifsof44]

Thanks Brucey. I think he is about to order the Cerbo, just wanted to make sure that’s all he needs.

 

[Brucey]

Thanks Brucey. I think he is about to order the Cerbo, just wanted to make sure that’s all he needs.

@sunshine_eggo would know best to verify if you need the comms box as well.

 

[bryansifsof44]

Ok thanks. I only have seen a 48v communication hub. Is there a separate comm box you’re talking about?

 

[sunshine_eggo]

48V EG4 communicates with Cerbo via BMS-CAN port.

I do not know if the 12V works.

According to the changelog as of v3.10, Pylontech 12V batteries are supported. Given that the 48V EG4/Trophy/SOK all use the same pylontech protocol, I would EXPECT the 12V to work, but I would confirm with EG4 first.

 

[bryansifsof44]

Thanks for the reply. @EG4_Jared @SignatureSolarJames have any onsite on this? Thanks in advance.

 

[EG4_Jared]

A cerbo would be needed for battery communication as well as utilizing BMS-CAN. I will have to verify information with the changelog of the Communication Hub. As far as I am aware, the Communication Hub only works with 48v LIfePower4 batteries currently.

 

[bryansifsof44]

Jared thanks for the prompt reply. Is the Comm hub required for utilizing the BMS-CAN?

 

[EG4_Jared]

It appears that this version of the 12v LL batteries exclusively features RS485 communication on the BMS board. Therefore, to utilize closed-loop with Victron, a device like the CommHub would be necessary. However, since it is designed for the LifePower4 48v battery that we offer, I am still waiting for a response about the posibility of working with the 12v LL.

 

[bryansifsof44]

Thanks Jared. Looks like I should have pointed him to the 12v LL with the screen? I didn’t know it wouldn’t work in his case.