The Discover AES range of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries is compatible with Victron products in various systems.

For product details, installation and operation manuals, visit the Discover Battery website www.discoverbattery.com » Solutions » Solar » Resources or use this direct link https://solar.discoverbattery.com/aes-lifepo4-batteries-renewable-energy/

These instructions are intended to be used in conjunction with the product manual(s) supplied by Discover Battery.

1. Introduction

The Discover AES LiFePO4 Battery includes a Battery Management System (BMS) within each battery pack. This interfaces with the Victron GX device and can support multiple batteries connected in parallel.

These instructions provide information about the integration of Discover AES Lithium batteries with Victron Energy devices in a Closed Loop configuration using the AES LYNK Communication Gateway with installed AES LYNK Edge Card for Victron. AES battery can be use in Energy Storage System (ESS) for self consumption, Grid backup and Off-grid applications. These instructions apply to an off-grid application.

Note that in a Victron networked system the charging variables will be managed automatically by the AES battery BMS and the Venus GX / Color Control GX device. Discharging variables are managed by the set up of the Victron inverter.

2. Documentation

Victron Energy Reference Documents:

• Quattro Inverter Charge Manual
• MultiPlusInverter Charge Manual
• SmartSolar / BlueSolar Charge Controller Manual
• Venus GX (VGX) / Color Control GX (CCGX) Manual

Discover Reference Documents:

• Discover Energy 808-0004 42-48-6650 Data Sheet
• Discover Energy 808-0005 44-24-2800 Data Sheet
• Discover Energy 805-0015 AES LiFePO4 Battery 44-24-2800 42-48-6650 Manual
• Discover Energy 805-0017 AES LYNK Communication Gateway User Manual
• Discover Energy 805-0020 LYNK Edge Card Victron User Manual

3. Overview 3.1 System Overview The AES LYNK Communication Gateway unlocks the full potential of a Discover AES LiFePO4 Battery by enabling the internal Battery Management System (BMS) to optimize the charge and discharge configurations of the world’s best inverter chargers and solar charge controller systems in a closed loop configuration.

AES LiFePO4 batteries must be set up to work with Power Conversion and Monitoring devices in either an Open Loop or Closed Loop configuration.

AES LiFePO4 battery charge and discharge settings in a Open Loop configuration are set up manually through the controller for the Power Conversion device at the time of installation. This is commonly referred to as a ‘lead acid drop-in replacement’ configuration. For information on Open Loop set up with Victron devices please visit the Discover Battery web site www.discoverbattery.com » Solutions » Solar » Resources » Application Note »> Discover-AES-Lithium-Open-Loop-Integration-Victron-Energy.

In a Closed Loop configuration the battery charge and discharge rates and settings are dynamically controlled by the BMS of the AES LiFePO4 Battery over a connection with the power conversion devices in the network. These instructions are for a Closed Loop configuration.

To connect with the communication network of a specific brand of inverter charger or solar charge controller, the LYNK Communication Gateway requires an AES LYNK Edge Card with the appropriate communication port.

3.2 Minimum Battery Capacity Battery charge and discharge rates are managed automatically by the AES LiFePO4 Battery and Victron CCGX device. Using very large solar arrays with battery banks that are too small can exceed the operating limits of the battery to charge and possibly lead to the BMS triggering over-current protection. Battery capacity must be sized to accept the maximum charge current of the system, or the the charging devices must be curtailed to charge below the operating limit of the installed batteries. This value is derived by adding together the charge capacities of all inverter/chargers and solar charge controllers in the system. Additionally, battery peak capacity must be sized to support the surge requirements demanded by the load attached to the inverter. Match the sum of all inverter peak power values with the sum of all battery peak battery current values.

*92% Efficiency at 48V

*92% Efficiency at 24V

4 Configuring Victron Products 4.1 VE.Configure Settings You will need the latest firmware on all connected devices. This section presumes familiarity with VEConfigure software. These settings are for an off-grid application. These parameters once set will become the default values used if communication with the AES battery is interrupted for some reason. During normal operation the charge characteristics are governed automatically by the CCGX via DVCC, with instructions from the connected AES battery. However it is necessary to set the discharging parameters for DC input low shut-down found under the Inverter Tab. After setting the parameters, ‘send’ all parameters to the inverter and CCGX. Restart the CCGX after completion.

Charge efficiency (2)| 95% |95%|

(1) Enabled is recommended. (2) Precautionary setting as they are ignored during normal operation and communication with AES Battery. (3) The lowest operating voltage allowed, increase voltage as required. (4) Restart voltage after DC input low shut-down, recommended to be set to the minimum value (minimum varies according to the DC Input low shut-down value). (5) 51.0 V value (approximately 15% SoC) will trigger low battery warning, increase or decrease as preferred. (6) ‘Enable AES’ has no relation to the AES Battery, refer to Victron manuals for information on setting and function. (7) The recommended minimum is 1.0 hour. A longer period of time may be required to compensate for multiple batteries to achieve a smooth completion of charge.

NOTE: Confirm the Float Voltage after completing the installation of any Victron ‘Assistants’, and if necessary reset the Float Voltage back to 26.8 V / 53.6 V.

4.2 VE.Direct MPPT Settings During normal operation the MPPT charge characteristics are governed by the CCGX via DVCC, with instructions from the connected AES battery. The settings below are precautionary. This section presumes familiarity with VictronConnect (Bluetooth App) used to configure, monitor and diagnose Victron MPPT products which feature Blue-tooth, or are equipped with a VE.Direct Port.

(9) May be set to lower value if necessitated by charger controller size. (10) Duration of absorption period after the bulk charge interval. The recommended minimum is 1.0 hour. A longer period of time may be required to compensate for multiple batteries to achieve a smooth completion of charge.