Schneider Inverter Integration Guide
Schneider
has an online monitoring system called the Insight Local and the Insight Cloud.
Two steps are needed to share your system with Fortress:
1) Register the site to the Insight cloud and then share the plant including
full admin/manager permissions with
techsupport@fortresspower.com.
2) Submit the system warranty and then include (or
later, fill out a support ticket) with the Insight Local username and password.
Warranty Submittal: https://www.fortresspower.com/warranty/
Support Portal: https://www.fortresspower.com/support/
Battery-Battery Connection
Note:
The eFlex communication ports are bi-directional and exactly
the same - it does not matter which port you use to connect to other batteries.
- While batteries are off. Install the battery-battery communication cables. Do not overtighten the IP65 weatherproof cap that covers the Ethernet port.
- Install the IP65 Bus terminator (including the stand-alone Ethernet plug) into one end of the communication circuit on the first and last battery.
- Proceed by turning batteries on and in sequence starting with Battery 1/Master.
Note: TheRJ45 pin-out converter is not a simple
female-female RJ45 connector! It includes a terminating resistor similar to the
other end of the battery communication circuit but also passes through the
inverter communication.
Running on 1 eFlex
Running any Schneider Inverter with 1 eFlex is not
compliant with Fortress minimum sizing standards.
If operating with one eFlex, please adjust the following
settings:
In the Batt Setup Menu, adjust amperage as
follows:
If waiting on a repair -> change charge/discharge amps to
60A.
Reminder:
Charge deeply discharged eFlex at 10A when recovering below 49V.
Battery-Inverter Connection
The eFlex communication ports are bi-directional and exactly
the same - it does not matter which port you use to connect to other batteries
or the inverter.
- While batteries are off. Install the battery-battery communication cables. Do not over tighten the IP65 weatherproof cap that covers the ethernet port.
- Install the IP65 Bus terminator (including the stand-alone ethernet plug) into one end of the communication circuit.
- Install a ethernet cable into one end of the battery communication circuit to land on the RJ45 pinout converter. The cable on the other side of the RJ45 pinout converter will need to be cut and modified before connecting to the Schneider Insight Home/Gateway. If not using a battery-inverter communication circuit, install an IP65 Bus Terminator instead.
- User will need an extra LAN Ethernet cable to make connection. Cut and strip the green, brown-white, and brown cables. and proceed to connect it to the Schneider Insight Home/Gateway ports. Follow the Chart/Images below.
- Proceed by turning batteries on and in sequence starting with Battery 1/Master.
Note: The RJ45 pinout converter is not a simple
female-female RJ45 connector! It includes a terminating resistor similar to the
other end of the battery communication circuit, but also passes through the
inverter communication.
|
From eFlex5.4kWh Insight Home |
|
InsightHome port 7 green, (wire 6) |
|
InsightHome port 9 brown-white (wire 7) |
|
InsightHome port 11 brown, (wire 8) |
|
From eFlex5.4kWh to Gateway/Insight Facility |
|
green, (wire 6) Gateway/Insight Facility port 16 |
|
brown-white, (wire 7) Gateway/Insight Facility port 18 |
|
brown, (wire 8) Gateway/Insight Facility port 20 |
Battery- Battery Connection
The eVault MAX uses canbus to communicate from battery to
battery.
This occurs over the COM_Parallel ports.
The ports are bidirectional.
Canbus communication requires resistor termination to
function without blips.
Fortunately, the eVault MAX has internal canbus resistors!
Terminate these resistors by using the dipswitches in the
upper service cabinet within the battery.
The dip switches should be in the ON position for the batteries at the end of
the communication circuit.
The dip swiches should in in the OFF position for the
batteries in the middle of the communication circuit.
Example - 4 batteries with end battery dipswitch ON and
middle battery dipstiches OFF
|
Number of Batteries |
Dipswitch Order |
|
1 |
ON |
|
2 |
ON, ON |
|
3 |
ON, OFF, ON |
|
4 |
ON, OFF, OFF, ON |
|
5 |
ON, OFF, OFF, OFF, ON |
Note: the eVault MAX can parallel up to 20 battery units in
closed loop communication.
Battery Touch Screen
The eVault has a touch screen. The bottom corners of the
eVault are touch interactive.
Battery ID, bottom left
Protocol ID, bottom
right
Battery ID
Number each battery 1,2,3,4,5.... until the end of the battery
circuit.
Except, if only installing one eVault MAX, number the battery "0".
Protocol ID
1 = Sol-Ark / Any inverter
2 = SMA
3 = Reserved
4 - Victron
5 = Schneider
If using only one battery, make sure the battery ID is
set to 0. Turn the terminator switch to 120ohms and place the
communication cable into the RS485 port. Finally switch to protocol 5.
- When paralleling multiple batteries, choose which battery will be the master and which will be the slave. You can do this by Setting the Master battery ID to 1 and setting the rest in chronological order.
- Place the communication cable on the Comm Parallel ports between each battery. To confirm that each battery is properly commissioned, each battery’s status light must be solid green.
- Switch the protocol ID to 5 on all batteries.
- Place the remaining Format B Ethernet Cable onto the Rs485 port.
- Cut and strip the end of the Format B cable
a) connect
wire 3 (green/white) from the battery to port 9 of
the Insight Home (18 on the Gateway & Insight Facility)
b) connect
wire 5 (blue/white) from the battery to port 11 of
the Insight Home (20 on the Gateway).
c) connect
wire 6 (green) from the battery to port 7 of
the Insight Home (16 on the Gateway).
Battery Touch Screen
Programming the eVault LCD. **The eVault Classic does not support closed loop with Schneider inverter**
The eVault has a touch screen. The bottom corners of the
eVault are touch interactive.
The bottom left corner of the LCD toggles between the
"master" and "slave" status of the battery.
The bottom right hand corner of the screen establishes battery number.
One eVault battery:
Designate the battery as "master" with Parallel
Num "1"
Two or More eVault batteries:
1) Run multiple batteries in "Master - 1" mode, please charge
all batteries to the same voltage.
2) When paralleling multiple batteries, one battery may get
"stuck" by not opening its relay contactors and flowing amperage in
or out of the battery. Toggle the battery between master and slave modes until
it clicks on, and then leave in "Master-1" mode. After the battery unsticks, power down and then power back up the battery
banks using the push button if convenient.
Battery/Inverter Integration
Follow these steps to successfully integrate the
battery’s BMS to the XW PRO.
Note: You can integrate the battery's BMS with
other Schneider Models using a Gateway or an Insight Home/Facility but will not
achieve Closed Loop.
Note: Choose a 19200 BAUD Rate for the eVault Max.
Otherwise use a 9600 BAUD Rate for the eFlex
To confirm that the BMS was successfully integrated into
the inverter you will see the image of the battery’s BMS on the devices section
along with the battery’s internal information/parameters
Associate the Battery/’s as House Battery Bank 1
Under the Setup section >BMS setup choose the battery
profile that you are using and the quantity. This will automatically configure
your charging settings. Note this will not exempt you from manually
programming these settings on the Battery Management Systems section.
Universal Parameter Settings (Closed Loop)
To modify device settings, go to >Devices>Select
Device> Configurations. For each setting, please input the following closed
and open loop settings in case the battery loses communication with the
inverter. To view all features, click on Advanced rather than Basic
Settings for MPPT chargers
Universal Parameters Settings (Open Loop)
All Open Loop Settings are programmable with a SCP,
Insight Local or/and Insight Cloud. Disregard the communication cable that
would go from battery to inverter.
Settings for Fortress Batteries with Schneider
Inverters
|
Charger Setting > Custom Setting |
|
|
|
80% DoD, 8000 cycles |
|
Battery Type |
Lithium |
|
Charge Cycle |
External BMS |
|
Bulk Voltage |
55.2 V |
|
Max Bulk Current |
eFlex:60A per battery eVault:100A per battery eVault MAX 150 per battery LFP-10: 70A per battery |
|
Max Discharge Current |
eFlex: 60A per battery eVault: 160A per battery eVault MAX: LFP-10: 100A per battery |
|
Battery Capacity |
eFlex: 105AH per battery eVault: 360AH per battery eVault MAX: 360AH per battery LFP-10: 200AH per battery |
|
Max Charge Rate Percentage (%) |
eFlex:55A per battery eVault:100A per battery eVault MAX 150 per battery LFP-10: 70A per battery
Divided by Total Inverter DC Amperage |
|
Default Battery Temperature |
Warm |
|
Recharge Volts |
51.5 |
|
Grid Support Volts** |
54 |
|
Absorb Volts |
55.2 |
|
Absorb Time |
1 Hour |
|
Charge Block Start |
Default |
|
Charge Block Stop |
Default |
|
Advanced Settings > Inverter Settings |
|
|
Low Battery Cut Out Voltage |
48V (51.2V if allowed) |
|
LBCO Hysteresis |
2.0V |
|
LBCO Delay |
5 Sec |
|
High Battery Cut Out Voltage |
65V |
|
Search Watts |
Default |
|
Search Delay |
Default |
Settings with Schneider Charge Controllers
***Parameter Setting for Fortress Batteries with
Schneider XW+ & XW Pro MPPT 60/80
|
Advanced Setting > Charger Setting |
|
|
Battery Type |
Custom |
|
Custom Setting |
|
|
|
80% DoD, 8000 cycles |
|
Charge Mode |
3 Stage |
|
Eqlz Support |
Disabled |
|
Bulk Voltage |
55.2 V |
|
Absorb Voltage |
55.2 V |
|
Absorb Time |
60 minutes |
|
Float Voltage |
55.2 V |
|
Battery Temperature Compensation |
0mV/C |
|
Battery Capacity |
eFlex: 105AH per battery eVault: 360AH per battery eVault MAX: 360AH per battery LFP-10: 200AH per battery |
|
Max Charge Rate Percentage* |
eFlex:60A per battery eVault:100A per battery eVault MAX: 150A per battery LFP-10: 70A per battery
Divide by total CC amp output |
|
Charge Cycle |
Warm |
|
Recharge Volts |
53 V |
|
Absorb Time |
1 Hour |
|
Default Battery Temperature |
Warm |
|
Battery Voltage (Auto-detected) |
48V |
Note: The charge controllers can be set to a 3 stage
charging cycle, but the inverter should be kept in a 2 stage charging cycle.
Doing so, as well as setting the charge controller recharge voltage to be
greater than that of the inverter recharge voltage, will prioritize charge
controller charging over the inverter charging. Inverter charging is a
grid/generator charge which has a lower priority than solar charge controller
charging
Important Note
Please Note, that these are recommended parameters for
specific Mode Settings. Modes such as Off Grid and Back up require other
additional modification aside from this document. Please reference XW Pro Commissioning Guide - Schneider Electric Solar
(schneider-electric.com) under Select System type. Make sure
that you program the correct Region Settings on your inverter. Finally state
the correct Time Zone settings under the Setup section.
Off-Grid
Settings for Inverter
Settings for MPPT chargers
AC Coupling, Back Up
***Note: If DC Coupled, disable AC Coupling
*** Note: Disable Grid Selling since Pv is directly
connected to meter.
Grid-Tied Export
Self-Consumption (Zero Grid Export)
Generator Settings
Generator Settings (Applicable to all Mode Settings)
20% state of charge is approximately 51.2V-51.4V.
95% charge is approximately 53.7V. A 100% charge 54.4V.
NOTE: Voltages are assuming an open circuit resting
measurement. The settings that would discharge the battery down to 49V, are too
low for Fortress batteries. Fortress batteries should only be intentionally
discharged down to 20% SoC or 51.4V and then be recharged by available charging
sources. Some inverter firmware will not allow setting the LBCO (Low Battery Cut Out) higher than 48V.
Firmware Updates
Firmware updates are rarely needed. Most firmware updates
solve a minor issue - major firmware updates typically are adding compatibility
with new-to-market hardware or to accommodate developments in battery-inverter
communication.
Most of our installers use the firmware update tool to
confirm proper system commissioning or unlock batteries from their protective
modes during a deep discharge.
To update the battery firmware, please visit https://www.fortresspower.com/firmware.
Solar contractors should visit https://www.fortresspower.com/support and
request a firmware update tool.
If you cannot determine the instructions, we are happy to
assist you with a remotely - there are things we can do before you visit site
to make your site visit much easier, and we can also assist you onsite
(preferably scheduled in advance).
Firmware update tools are available for sale at https://www.fortresspower.com/products/firmware-update-tool/
However, we recommend end users wait for the Fortress
Guardian Hub instead of buying the firmware update tool.
Voltage to % Chart
The voltage curve of lithium is very flat from the bottom
20% of the battery to the top 80% of the battery, at which point is becomes
rather steep at both ends. It is very easy to tell when a battery is moving
towards the bottom or top of its range - the middle bit is hard to guess
because it will fluctuate with load. Here is a very loose approximation of
Fortress battery voltage and state-of-charge:
|
Resting Voltage |
% State of Charge (SoC) |
|
48V |
0 |
|
51V |
10 |
|
51.5V |
20 |
|
52V |
30 |
|
52.3V |
40 |
|
52.4V |
50 |
|
52.5V |
60 |
|
52.8V |
70 |
|
53.2V |
80 |
|
53.7V |
90 |
|
>54V |
100 |
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