This is a great leap forward for those using High Voltage battery setups and also those using 2nd Life EV batteries in HV setups.
Now its possible to benefit from a lot of the features within the Victron Ecosystem. Real time monitoring and scope for EVCS integration, Shelly integration etc based on SOC controls, and you don’t necessarily need a HS19 Inverter.
Aside from the officially supported list of compatible batteries, many other options are possible with this protocol.
I’m not convinced that they have DIY batteries in mind for HV applications, given the potential for disaster.
It isn’t really a product for the do-it-yourselfer.
Bit like microgrid, it requires expertise, training and experience to do well and safely.
Absolutely, safety is paramount in working with HV battery systems, same protocols as working in EVs should be adopted. Not really something for DIY segment.
One area that there seems to be a lot of activity on the web is using a well known battery CANbus bridge / emulator with high voltage EV batteries enabling them to communicate with inverters
With the HS19 spec, one could think Victron has designed it with a higher battery voltage to rule out EV batteries and emulators from being used. To use EV batteries a proper 3rd party BMS and a great deal of expertise and equipment would is needed to realise a safe and reliable solution.
One thing that’s really strange is the victron official list of supported batteries, particularly the listed Pylontech model; Force H3
Why would you design an inverter in 19" format for installation in a rack cabinet and use non 19" batteries?
How and where are you supposed to mount a H19" Inverter with one of these stacking battery solutions below?
Also the HS19 only has one battery and BMS input, where other solutions have 2 channels for greater flexibility in storage capacity. So based on Pylontech datasheet below max capacity would be 35.8kwh. Not a lot at all!
Surely victron should have listed likes of the PowerCube H2 as an approved compatible battery solution. As pictured above. I believe it works, is that not same model that was demonstrated at the expos where the HS19 was launched, intersolar etc… and of course is 19" format !
Not sure why multiple BMS channels are needed, it is up to the battery manufacturer to provide an architecture that can scale behind the inverter.
It isn’t up to victron to qualify batteries, that is up to the battery manufacturer what they intend to submit.
Pytes is currently working together with Victron to get the communication “certified”.
With the HV48100 Pytes has a rack mounted battery, but you will need at least 13-14 modules (65-70kWh) to hit the minimum voltage for the HS19 because each module only has 51,2V (16S LFP - I guess they just use the V5 with a modified BMS).
They also have the Pi CH1 that is a stackable battery similar to the Pylontech Force-H3 (102,4V and 5kWh per module).
Based on the 650Vdc Min Voltage of the HS19, would need 14 modules, 665V-806.4V, but would be as well going with 15 modules which is the Max. It would all fit neatly in a double 19" Rack enclosure.
On the HS19, a big downside is it’s very high minimum voltage and narrower battery voltage range results in little flexibility on battery size. E.g with Pytes if you wanted more than 76.8kW you would have to go same 76.8kwh again, assuming that 2 banks could be paralleled.
Applying the HS19 to utilise it’s full capability of the inbuilt MPPT charging, if say 30kW of panels were connected, you would need a sizeable battery bank anyway, otherwise generation would be heavily curtailed.
