This page describes how to set up Victron Energy systems with StorageDOCK batteries. StorageDOCK batteries communicate with the Victron GX device over BMS-Can. When correctly connected, the battery BMS transmits Charge Voltage Limit (CVL), Charge Current Limit (CCL), Discharge Current Limit (DCL), State of Charge (SOC), cell voltages, and temperature data to the GX device. The GX device then distributes these limits to all connected Victron inverter/chargers and solar chargers via DVCC.

StorageDOCK batteries are available in two product ranges:

• ES Range – Residential systems (5.4 kWh to 24 kWh)
• LV-Com Range – Commercial systems (16.4 kWh to 98.4 kWh)

Always ensure that both Victron and StorageDOCK firmware are updated to the minimum required versions before commissioning. Firmware versions used during official Victron R&D testing are listed in Section 3.

Nominal voltage for all ES Range models is 51.2V (16 cells × 3.2V per cell). “48V” is the conventional system voltage designation used in Victron and inverter sizing. Usable energy is calculated at 80% DOD. Capacity in Ah and recommended inverter size are confirmed for ES5.4K and ES18K; refer to individual datasheets for remaining models.

StorageDOCK batteries are compatible with the following Victron product categories when connected via BMS-Can to a supported GX device:

• GX Devices: Cerbo GX, Cerbo-S GX, Ekrano GX
• Inverter/Chargers: VE.Bus Inverter/Chargers, & RS range, (minimum firmware: see Section 3)
• Solar Chargers: SmartSolar MPPT (minimum firmware: see Section 3)
• Monitoring: Victron VRM Portal (SOC, cell voltages, temperatures, alarms)

Only 48V Victron inverter/charger models are compatible with StorageDOCK batteries. 12V and 24V models are not supported.

The following firmware versions were used during compatibility testing. It is always recommended to install the latest available firmware on all devices during commissioning.

The following hardware is required to connect StorageDOCK batteries to a Victron system:

1. A compatible Victron GX device (see Section 2)
2. VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS cable – Type B (Victron part number: ASS030520200)
   This cable is required for the pinout conversion between the GX device VE.Can port and the StorageDOCK CAN connector.
3. StorageDOCK batteries include built-in CAN bus termination — no external terminator is required on the battery end.

If other VE.Can devices (e.g., VE.Can MPPT solar chargers) are also connected to the GX device's VE.Can bus, ensure the last device in the VE.Can chain has a terminator fitted. The StorageDOCK CAN port connects to a VE.Can port configured for BMS-Can 500kbps on GX device, which is a separate bus from Victron VE.Can (250kbps) on supported GX devices.

StorageDOCK batteries require the VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS Type B cable (ASS030520200).

When multiple StorageDOCK batteries are installed in parallel:

• Only one CAN cable connection to the GX device is required — connect to the designated master battery unit.
• See SSS StorageDOCK documentation for details how to configure additional battery units for parallel operation.
• The master BMS aggregates CCL and DCL values across all paralleled units and reports the combined limits to the GX device.
• A maximum of 8 units may be connected in parallel per StorageDOCK system.

Parallel Charge and Discharge Current Limits by Model:

Due to internal BMS and bus-bar design, aggregate current limits are not simply a linear multiple of single-unit ratings. The BMS transmits the combined CCL and DCL values shown below to the GX device. Maximum parallel units for all ES Range models is 8.

ES5.4K:

ES18K:

Parallel aggregate current limits plateau at 3+ units on both models, additional units do not proportionally increase CCL or DCL. For ES7.4K through ES24K parallel limits, refer to the individual product datasheets.

On the Victron GX device, navigate to:

Settings → Services → CAN-bus profile

Select: CAN-bus BMS (500 kbit/s)

After the GX device reboots and detects the StorageDOCK battery, navigate to:

Settings → System Setup → Battery monitor

Select the StorageDOCK battery from the list of detected devices. This ensures the GX device uses the BMS-provided SOC, voltage, and current data as the primary battery monitoring source.

DVCC (Distributed Voltage and Current Control) is the mechanism by which the GX device distributes the BMS-provided charge and discharge limits to connected Victron devices. DVCC must be active for StorageDOCK batteries to function correctly in a Victron system.

The following DVCC settings are required and are enforced automatically by Venus OS upon detection of a StorageDOCK battery via CAN-bus:

Refer to the Victron DVCC manual for a detailed explanation of each DVCC parameter and how they interact with a CAN-bus BMS.

The StorageDOCK BMS transmits CVL, CCL, and DCL to the Victron GX device over the BMS-Can. The GX device distributes these values to all connected inverter/chargers and solar chargers via DVCC.

CVL transmitted by the BMS over CAN-bus is 56V for all StorageDOCK models. This corresponds to a maximum cell charge voltage of 3.50V per cell across the 16-cell pack. The recommended VEConfigure/VictronConnect bulk and absorption charge voltage setting is 56.4V (see Section 13) - this is slightly above the BMS CVL and will not override it, since the BMS CVL takes precedence when DVCC is active.

It is normal for these values to vary during the charge cycle as the BMS signals to the Victron system if it needs to increase or decrease charging, and discharging.

StorageDOCK batteries implement hardware-level BMS protection independently of Victron. Under normal DVCC operation, Victron devices will respect the CVL/CCL/DCL limits transmitted by the BMS and will not reach the hardware protection thresholds below. These thresholds act as a last-resort safety layer.

Voltage Protection:

Temperature Operating Limits (ES18K):

The BMS will limit or halt charging if cell temperature falls outside the recommended charge temperature range (5°C – 45°C). Operation outside the recommended temperature range will affect cycle life and may void warranty. The installation must be indoors, dry, clean, and temperature-regulated with a minimum of 200mm ventilation clearance around the unit.

Primary over/under-voltage protection is based on individual cell voltages, not pack voltage. Pack voltage thresholds are monitored for reference only and do not trigger cutouts independently.

As the battery approaches full charge, the BMS continues active balancing. If a runaway cell condition is detected:

1. The BMS switches off the DSG MOSFET when any cell reaches 3.750V
2. If the MOSFET fails to switch off, the hardware breaker trips at 3.900V per cell

• The BMS monitors individual cell voltages continuously throughout discharge
• When the battery reaches 0% SOC, the BMS shuts down to protect the cells
• No manual intervention is required to recover — the battery self-recovers automatically when AC or PV power is available (see Section 11)

StorageDOCK batteries incorporate active cell balancing with the following parameters:

StorageDOCK batteries support fully automatic black start recovery from both PV and AC sources. No manual intervention such as pressing reset, toggling a switch, or resetting a breaker is required during normal operational ranges.

Keepalive timeout behaviour:

• If the GX device does not send the keepalive message within the 10-minute timeout window, the StorageDOCK battery will remain operational provided the minimum cell voltage stays above 2,800 mV
• If the keepalive message is not received and the minimum cell voltage drops to or below 2,800 mV, the hardware breaker will trip to protect the battery cells

Black start testing was conducted in accordance with the four official testing protocols provided by Victron R&D. The StorageDOCK ES5.4K passed all required tests.

ESS Mode during test: Keep batteries charged | Grid feed-in DC-coupled PV: OFF

VRM telemetry – at 0% SOC (pre-recovery):

VRM telemetry – at 11% SOC (post-recovery):

VRM telemetry – at 5% SOC (pre-recovery):

VRM telemetry – at 99% SOC:

VRM telemetry – at 100% SOC (30 minutes after reaching 99%):

The StorageDOCK BMS reports the highest and lowest voltage cells to the Victron GX device and VRM portal. Only these two cells are displayed in the Victron interface.

Example: M1B2C17 = Module 1, Bank 2, Cell 17

Example: S3:M1C17 = Stack 3, Module 1, Cell 17

With DVCC active and the BMS transmitting CVL over CAN-bus, the GX device respects this limitation, even if higher voltage settings are set in VEConfigure or VictronConnect. The BMS CVL of 56V takes precedence during normal operation. It is still essential to configure VEConfigure / VictronConnect with charge voltages that are equal to or slightly above the BMS CVL, this prevents spurious warnings.

The following charge voltage settings should be configured in VEConfigure or VictronConnect (for MultiPlus/Quattro) or VictronConnect (for MPPT solar chargers):

LiFePO₄ batteries do not require a traditional bulk/absorption/float charge cycle. With DVCC active, the BMS manages the charge voltage ceiling via CVL.

For ES Range and LV-Com models, refer to the individual product datasheets for recommended inverter sizing.

1. Confirm that VE.Can & CAN-bus BMS (500 kbit/s) is selected under Settings → Services → CAN-bus profile
2. Reboot the GX device after changing the CAN-bus profile — detection does not occur without a reboot
3. Verify the CAN cable is a Type B VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS cable and is securely seated at both ends
4. Confirm that StorageDOCK BMS firmware is at or above the minimum required version (v1.11 for ES Range; v10.4 for LV-Com)
5. Confirm the battery is powered on and the BMS is active

1. Verify DVCC is ON and SVS is ON in Settings → DVCC on the GX device
2. Verify SCS is OFF — enabling SCS alongside a CAN-bus BMS can produce conflicting current limits
3. Confirm the Battery Monitor is set to the StorageDOCK battery under Settings → System Setup → Battery monitor
4. Check that no other battery monitor (e.g., SmartShunt) is selected as the primary battery monitor

1. Verify that at least one AC or PV charge source is connected and active
2. Check that the minimum cell voltage has not fallen to or below 2.800V — if the keepalive signal was lost and a cell reached this level, the hardware breaker will have tripped
3. If the hardware breaker has tripped, refer to the StorageDOCK installation manual for the breaker reset procedure and root cause investigation before restarting