question

perma-batteries avatar image
perma-batteries asked

PYLONTECH LV HUB TROUBLESHOOTING

ello guys,


Given the difficulty of correctly configuring an LV HUB with GX and several clusters of US2000C/3000C, I thought it would be good to lay out our parameters that have been successfull with our Victron systems, after many trials and tribulations. LV HUB manual lacks clarity.


  • VERY IMPORTANT : Adress of the LV HUB must be : 000111 (not shown in any Pylontech manual !)
  • 2022-04-08-12-58-59.jpg
  • Cable used : Victron Type A (from "CAN OUT LV HUB to GX).
  • Cable used to connect Master US3000C battery (group 1) to the LV HUB port "1" : specific cable supplied by Pylontech (PIN 1/3 : null), with blue tag on it.
  • You need to use straight UTP cable to connect each stack (B/RS485 to ACAN to slave, and so on). You can use the Pylontech cable with the blue tag on it shown "battery connection parallel". BE VERY CAREFUL on the quality of the UTP cable, it can otherwise mess up all CANBUS communication between each stack.
  • You have for example 38x US3000C, 3x stacks of 12x US3000C. You let all ADD of the batteries as defaut (all UP). Here's the procedure
  • Disconnect LV HUB from master battery.
  • Boot up every single battery, sequence 1-2-3 .... to the last battery.
  • Then you should hear an alarm buzzer which goes like this " bip, bip, bip" (three times). That means every battery is online and connected.
  • Then you change the DIP of ONLY the master battery of GROUP 1 to 0010. (please find pictures attached).
  • Then you connect the master battery to the LV HUB (using proprietary RJ cable with PIN 1-3 null). Use that specific cable, otherwise communication won't work.
  • Then you boot up the LV HUB. You will hear the LV HUB rings. Then all the groups connected shall be shown on the LED.
  • Once it is done, you connect the LV HUB to the GX device with TYPE A cable only (Type B will NOT work and will put the LV HUB in error mode). Do not forget to use RJ45 120 Ohm terminator on the BMS CAN unused of the GX device.
  • You're all set.


Hope this helps !

Pylontechpylontech lv hub
3 comments
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Michael Timler avatar image Michael Timler commented ·
Unfortunately, the announced picture 2022-04-08-13-00-36.jpg is missing in the attachment. But exactly this information would be very valuable. Is there a possibility, that you will post this as well?


Thank you for all this valuabale informations!

Yours Michael, struggling with exactly these problems right at the moment.
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perma-batteries avatar image perma-batteries Michael Timler commented ·

Hello Michael,

2022-04-13-22-53-36.png

No prob ! Please find picture again.

For help, contact us at contact@perma-batteries.com


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dustin76 avatar image dustin76 commented ·
Hi,


Thank you for the help. I cant seem to get my hands on the cable that goes from 3000C master to LV hub that you speak of. How exactly is it pinned out, so i could crimp my own... Not too sure what you mean 1/3:null


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11 Answers
wkirby avatar image
wkirby answered ·

Thank you. I think this will be very helpful.

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Rob Fijn avatar image
Rob Fijn answered ·

Thank you very much for your post. Very valuable.

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markus avatar image
markus answered ·

Many thanks. Should be included in the Victron-Pylontech documents.

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mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image
mvader (Victron Energy) answered ·

Hi @perma-batteries , thank you!

I asked Pylon to review above, their comment was that its all correct except for the first point:

The address shall be 000001 to communication with Victron and common CANBUS inverter, 000101 is for communication with a dedicated brand of inverter.


Could you amend that in your post?


Also I briefly read and compared page 8 of their LV Hub manual ("Communication HUB LV-HUB Production Manual, Information version 2.2"), and the process described in their is almost the exact same as what you posted above. Or not?

In general I want to try and avoid duplicate information: best for all this is if its properly documented in the Pylontech documentation. And not copied accross onto our documentation.


All the best, Matthijs

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perma-batteries avatar image
perma-batteries answered ·

Hi Matthijs,


Thanks a lot for your response. Pylontech's reponse however is misleading as we've been exchanging in them on several times. Reality is that they're basically clueless about how to proper set up the LV HUB with Victron and after countless combinations of the DIP switch tests and many trials and errors we came to the conclusion that only the above configuration would enable proper communication between CAN of the LV HUB and GX. This is : 000111 on the LVHUB, NOT what their documentation says. They keep telling us "refer to the documentation", this is expected from a Chinese brand, but we found out that their support is not up to the hype and definitely not up to such a major battery manufacturer. We exchanged with fellow Victron installers (Mexico, Spain, etc..) which are also using our LV HUB parameters with success. If we set up the parameter 000001, we have NO CANBUS communication with GX at all. I think therefore Pylontech should try to test their product (LV HUB) with Victron, and see for themselves the issue we faced.





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offroadflow avatar image
offroadflow answered ·

Thanks for the effort.

But unfortunately the DIP setting of the HUB can't be right since 000111 puts the hub right away in error mode (red blinking Led).

With 000001 it's green blinking (not connected to the GX).

My setup I try to reconnect to a Venus is 3 stacks of 4 US2000 through a Upower hub. It used to work fine but after having to replace the Venus it wont be recognized anymore.

And nobody has a clue why. Whether the spanish "professionals" nor me nor does Victron themselves at least try to solve this weird mystery.

Not happy with the aftersale at all folks!


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Rob Duthie avatar image
Rob Duthie answered ·

Hi All


Yes being though that process to fix the issues i had to load new firmware into the LV hub and also the batteries got new firmware as well. to solve the issue.

this was for the UP3000 series.

I have the latest manaul from them Ver 2.2 for configurations

I have the new firmware and files, software to do it on hand.

Regards

Rob D

NZ

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offroadflow avatar image offroadflow commented ·
Hello @Rob Duthie. Thanks for answering!

I assume the firmware for the 3000 is not for the 2000...

And my hub seems to be the same, even tho it carries another brands name.

Shall I have a look at the Pylons website for a new 2000 firmware first or do you have this as well?

Thanks again!

Much appreciated

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Rob Duthie avatar image Rob Duthie offroadflow commented ·
Hi

For both the 2000 and 3000. You won't find it on the web site, you have to know someone which i did after having issues, and they sent me the interface leads and all the new firmware and software to use.

The interface leads are easy to make your self if required.

Regards

Rob D

NZ

1 Like 1 ·
offroadflow avatar image offroadflow Rob Duthie commented ·

This is mad.

And this is why I personally stick with the good old OPzS.

So, could you help me any further by providing me with the firm- and software you mentioned please?

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Rob Duthie avatar image Rob Duthie offroadflow commented ·
Hi

Looked in to my notes, the firmware i have is not for the C version batteries. The debug cable is a RJ11-DB9-USB type.

So we need to check what version your LV HUB then the batteries.

I will need email adddress to send the sofware file to.

and other info.

Regards

Rob D

NZ

1 Like 1 ·
offroadflow avatar image offroadflow Rob Duthie commented ·

Thanks again.

My email is the victron@projectoffroad.net

Cheers

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Mike Dorsett avatar image
Mike Dorsett answered ·

I'm looking at the possibility of a larger system for a client. After looking through a couple of related posts too, it seems that the maximum number of US3000C connected to an LV-hub is 40. Is it possible to connect multiple hubs - either to each other or to the Venus device? The system under consideration would need possibly 3 or 4 hubs to be connected...

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offroadflow avatar image offroadflow commented ·
Yes, I've seen multiple hubs connected to one main hub.

Just cant remember where... I reckon it was the official PylonTech website tho

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apfelsaft avatar image
apfelsaft answered ·

Thank you for your guide.


I have 4x5 US3000C but the LV-Hub only shows 3 Groups. Sometimes 4 and than after a while 3. Also the installed and available capacity shown on the cerbo is not correct.


Will a firmware update of the LV-Hub help?

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apfelsaft avatar image
apfelsaft answered ·

After using the latest Firmware for the LV-Hub my 20x US3000C are displayed correctly. The Version is 1.8 and you can get it by mailing jeff.cheaung@pylontech.com.cn


To connect the groups to the LV-Hub we used the LV-Hub manual. It's working as described but you have to take exactly those steps in chapter 3.3 and use the matching cables. Thats essential.


Also very important if searching for manuals that you look for the exact battery you have. There are mayor differences between US3000C, US3000 and so on.

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flaux avatar image flaux commented ·
Hey Apfelsaft


Do you really think that Jeff send a firmware with instructions, do update the LV Hub ?

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Mark Whittaker avatar image
Mark Whittaker answered ·

Hi all,

Here is a drawing I make up after my LV Hub experience.

HUB.pdf


hub.pdf (1.8 MiB)
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