SOK vs Pyte

DIY
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1

Hi everyone,

I’m considering upgrading my energy storage system and am currently choosing between SOK rack-based lithium batteries and Pytes. There’s roughly a 20% price difference — about €5,000 vs €6,000. Compatibility with Victron System is also an important factor for me.

Both seem like solid options, but I’m unsure which one offers the best balance of reliability, flexibility, and long-term value.

Does anyone here have hands-on experience with one or both of these systems, especially in combination with a Victron Multi? Pros, cons, or things I should pay special attention to would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance! :folded_hands:

1 Like
2

Note that compatibility, as used by many people, is not the same thing as support by Victron.

3

I assume both are compatible somehow, but how plug-and-play is it? And is either of the batteries officially supported?

4

These are the well-known battery manufacturers for which there are setup instructions.

Pylontech is plug & play :wink:

Pytes was not so widespread two years ago.

For everything else, you will have to find the values yourself online or here in the forum, which can take a little work.

What kind of battery system do you currently have installed, since you mentioned expansion?

5

I currently have a 7.5 kWh LiFePO₄ battery from an unknown manufacturer. Local danish guy :nerd_face: It works well overall, although I have some minor issues with SOC synchronization. Other than that, it has been fine.

I am now looking to increase the capacity to around 20 kWh, as solar production in Norway is limited during parts of the year, and I need more stored energy when the system is heavily used in periods.

I thought Pytes and Pylontech was quite a like when it comes to plug and play?

6

Look at NKON dot NL. They are offering 16 kWh battery packs with Seplos BMS, active balancer, heating system and fire extinguisher for as little as 1.570 €. The 32 kWh pack is 2.890 €. The Seplos BMS is compatible with Victron.

7

Also note your intended battery may not properly work with your existing battery. It is not recommended to use another model, especially from another manufacturer, unless they have identical parameters.

8

I was not thinking of using them together. I will be using the old one at a different location :hugs:

9

That doesn’t sound bad, it’s worth checking them out. Do you have any experience with them?

Do you know whether the batteries have heating pads, or if they can charge and discharge in cold weather?

Are they designed to be installed outdoors or indoors?

10

I have a DIY battery with the very same cells, but with an JK BMS. From all what can be read the Seplos BMS seems to be the better choise.

They have batteries with and without heating pads and fire extinguisher. All LFP batteries can’t be charged below 0°C. Minimum discharge temp is -20°C. So the batteries with heating system are built for lower temps.

I would always keep them dry.

11

The questions I can not be answer is, who to control the two independent batteries with two or one common BMS with the Cerbo.

For me, the number of cells must be at first the same.

@Hersjoen is it a grid tied or off grid system?

12

The system is off grid.

I might have been un clear. Just going to connect the new batteries not mixing.

13

Ok, uninstall the old battery and install the new battery. That is the easier way.

For the battery heating you need additional power that you normal not have in the winter time. The battery uses first the power to heat up, then to charge.

So place the battery at a warm place and build a isolation box around, so the battery can heat up itself.

14

Have you been able to synchronize the bms with victron?

15

I have installed hundreds of pylon Tech batteries us 3000 and US 5000 im also very happy with pytes v5 and using them is very easy to connect to the GX

16

I don’t have a NKON battery with Seplos BMS. I have a DIY battery with JK inverter BMS. And yes, the JK inverter BMS works perfectly with Victron. Just connect BMS and Cerbo via CAN bus, and it works …

17

Thx for sharing your experience :folded_hands:

18

NKON looks like a solid product! I’m actually thinking of making a order for the 32kwh.

the only thing I’m thinking about is the weight. Is is quite difficult to manage 233 kg :sweat_smile:

is there any benefit of taking 32 kwh vs 2x16 or 6x5,12 from NKON?

19

IMO the most important benefit of using a single 32 kWh battery is that you have only one single BMS to connect to the Cerbo. It makes the configuration much simpler. OK, and another small benefit is, that you probably have only 16 cells in a single battery vs 96 cells in the 6x5.12 configuration. And the probability of a single cell failing or of a failing BMS with 96 cells is 6 times higher.

20

I agree, with most of you points. but you also have single point of failure. If you first have issue with a cell or bms you have 0 capacity, and a 250 kg battery to return. While in a modular if there is a problem you can change that.