9. ESS Quick Installation Guide
This quick installation guide lists all the steps that are needed to install and configure a Victron Energy ESS system. It briefly explains each step. It also provides links to locations where more in depth information about each step can be found.
The full ESS manual can be found here: ESS Design & installation manual
9.1. Step 1 - Understand how a Victron Energy ESS system works
Familiarize yourself with the Victron Energy ESS system.
A good place to start is to watch this video:
9.2. Step 2 - Decide what type of ESS
There are a few different ways to set an ESS system up. A combination of these are possible as well:
DC coupled ESS
AC coupled ESS
Energy meter is used
Grid parallel
Essential loads are used
See below drawings to get an idea of all possibilities. The first drawing shows the wiring when a MultiPlus-II is used; and the second one shows how it is wired with a MultiPlus or Quattro.
Both drawings show all AC- and DC-Coupled combinations.
9.3. Step 3 - Select the system hardware
Please see below lists. links are provided to the relevant equipment product pages
You will need:
Victron inverter/charger(s): https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers
Victron Interface MK3-USB: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/interface-mk3-usb
A Victron GX device such as the CCGX or Venus GX: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/venus-os:start
RJ45 UTP cable(s): https://www.victronenergy.com/cables/rj45-utp-cable
Batteries
For a DC coupled ESS you will also need:
Victron MPPT solar chargers: https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers
Victron VE.direct cable(s): https://www.victronenergy.com/cables/ve.direct.cable
Solar panels
For an AC coupled ESS you will also need:
Grid tied inverter
Solar panels
If the ESS needs an energy meter, you will need:
Victron Energy meters: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/energy-meter
And one or more of the Energy Meter accessories:
Victron ASS030572018 - RS485 to USB interface 1.8m: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/rs485%20to%20usb%20interface
Victron Zigbee to USB and RS485 converter: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/zigbee-converters
To measure PV power coming from a grid-tie PV inverter of a type other than Fronius, SMA, ABB or Solar Edge, you will need one of these:
Victron Current sensor: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/ac-current-sensor
Victron Energy meters: https://www.victronenergy.com/accessories/energy-meter
Details on how to measure grid-tie PV inverter output are in the CCGX manual: https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/CCGX/en/installation.html#UUID-347e92f6-0d4b-eef5-9787-22fbcb9aa13c
To equip the system with WiFi you will need:
Victron WiFi module: BPP900100200 or BPP900200200
Details on connecting your GX device to the internet are in the CCGX manual, chapter Internet
In case of a smart battery such as BYD, you might need:
VE.Can to CAN-bus BMS cable: https://www.victronenergy.com.au/cables/ve-can-to-can-bus-bms
9.4. Step 4 - Install all equipment
Install and wire all system parts according to their manuals.
Do not connect communication cables between the various parts, this will be done at later stage
To find the applicable installation manuals see the links in the prevision steps. These links will direct you to the relevant product section. Then click on a the applicable product. On the product page scroll down to “Downloads”, and then select “manuals” from the drop down box.
9.5. Step 5 - Update firmware of all equipment
CCGX or Venus GX
The easiest way is to let the CCGX or Venus GX do an automatic update. This can be selected from its menu, once it is connected to the internet. Alternatively update via a SD card. For instructions how to update see: How to update a GX device
Inverter/chargers and MPPT Solar Chargers
Use VictronConnect; instructions are in the VictronConnect manual, section Firmware updates.
9.6. Step 6 - Set up parallel and/or 3 phase inverter/chargers
(skip this step if only a single inverter/charger is used)
If the ESS system contains multiple inverter/chargers, they first will need to be set up to run in parallel and/or 3 phase.
For instructions on how to do that see this manual: Parallel and three phase VE.Bus systems
9.7. Step 7 - Configure the inverter/charger(s)
The inverter needs to be configured
Download and install the VE Configure Tools software package from Software downloads section
Connect computer via MK3 interface to the inverter/charger
See this video on how to use VE.Configure: https://youtu.be/V1Zceq02vMA
The following settings are important:
Battery monitor settings
Charger settings
AC input limit settings
Grid settings
Add ESS assistant to the Inverter/charger(s)
For details, see the relevant section in the ESS Design and installation manual.
9.8. Step 8 - Connect all communication cables
Connect CCGX to inverter/chargers use RJ45 cable
Connect MPPT to CCGX use VE.direct cable
Connect energy meters to CCGX using the USB to RS485 interface or Zigbee units
Connect smart battery to CCGX, use special RJ45 cable
Connect CCGX to internet via Ethernet cable or WiFi module
9.9. Step 9 - Make the GX device settings
Go to ESS settings on CCGX, make ESS settings
Go to CanBus, select smart battery
Find Fronius, SMA or Solar edge on CCGX. assign correct role
Find current sensor on CCGX, assign correct role
Find Energy meter(s) on CCGX, assign correct role
For details, see the relevant section in the ESS Design and installation manual.
9.10. Step 10 - Set up VRM
Go to Victron VRM
Make a user account (in case you do not yet have account)
Add the system to your account
Check if logging is correct
For more information, refer to the VRM Portal documentation.
9.11. Step 11 - Commissioning
Commission the system, see ESS manual, section Commissioning.
Consider limiting access to end-user
Consider turning automatic firmware updates off