given the rather smalll (240 mm2) cross section of the lynx busbars, how confident should I be in using it? I had planned on using 2 x power in and 2 x distributor but now i start to hesitate, not sure if it will be up for the full load. Honestly though i will never max out the total 3 phase power available, more likely max out a phase at a time, but still. i want to be safe.
any ideas? I have seen that video online of the victron system for the sawmill in the UK using lynx modules, not sure how they manage that amount of power, I’d love to know more about that.
bigger copper means no lynx system, which i would like to avoid, hence this question. also to better understand the 1000A rating victron gave to the lynx. it can’t be continuous right?
you are very right though @lxonline . i won’t do 45kVA continuous in probably ever. TBH, the highest continuous that busbar will see is probably 25-30 (and that is continuous). Which would be 625 A@48V
No, the Lynx system cannot do 1000A continuous without active cooling. We have calculated that 500A continuous current can be maintained using the vents on the Lynx products in a room-temperature environment. But, if you are smart about distributing your batteries, sources, and loads relatively evenly across the Lynx bus, you can keep your local currents down to 400A-500A.
We have a video on our YT channel. I’ll post a link below but I’m not sure if the community software will allow it.
For Lynx maximum current specification, you also need to take into consideration the current cutting capacity of the fuses. Maxifuses have only 1000 A cutting-current capacity.
This means that any short-circuit current above 1000 A (even for a 25A fuse) may result in a permanent DC arc over the fuse (and Lithium batteries can easily have 10 kA short-circuit currents, resulting basically in an malfunctioning fuse, that can cause fire at the Lynx Distributor and also everywhere else in the circuit where the over-current is not cut. And you do not want to be anywhere near a 2000A arc (especially DC) without proper personal protection equipment.
I have privately reported to Victron this specification issue when I realized that. I could return the 2 Lynx distributors for a full refund, reporting also the specification issue to the national Victron distributor, suggesting to down-spec the Lynx Distributor as a life-security issue, or at very least to put a warning about maximum fuses current-cutting capacity. I hope someone from Victron finally realizes this security issue and fixes the official specifications.
As a result I had to custom-manufacture an industrial DC busbar, properly dimensioned cupper bars, with HPC fuses capable of cutting 20 kA short-circuit current, of course taking more space and costing quite more.
Regarding short-circuit protection, you may go away with external HPC fuses, but then you need to also dimension the external protections to the fault-case of an arking megafuse (coherent current dimensioning and short-circuit cutting times).
Edit: Also you should put the Lynx, when using Lithium batteries, into a protected closed, safe, environment, as any piece of metal falling through the holes could generate a DC spark projecting hot metal around.
