Victron energy VBC-HV User manual

Manual
EN
VE.Net Battery Controller (70-385V model)
VBC-HV

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1 INTRODUCTION
Victron Energy has established an international reputation as a leading
designer and manufacturer of energy systems. Our R&D department is
the driving force behind this reputation. It is continually seeking new ways
of incorporating the latest technology in our products. Each step forward
results in value-added technical and economical features.
1.1 The VE.Net Battery Controller (VBC-HV)
The VBC-HV is a device that monitors your battery status. It constantly
measures the battery voltage, battery temperature, and battery current,
and uses this information to calculate the actual state of charge of your
battery.
1.2 Introduction to VE.Net
VE.Net stands for Victron Energy Network. It allows all VE.Net
compatible devices to communicate with each other. This means that the
charger for example can get information from the battery monitor to
optimize the charge current. It is possible to control and monitor all your
VE.Net devices from a single VE.Net compatible control panel. This
saves space and allows you to control all your devices from one place. It
is however, not necessary to be limited to a single panel. Multiple panels
can be used on the network, allowing full control and monitoring
capabilities of all devices in multiple locations.
1.3 Why should you monitor your batteries?
The lifetime of your batteries depends on many factors. If the batteries
and the load process are monitored you can prevent your batteries from
being under- or over charged, or from being discharged too deeply. A
battery controller warns you if there is something wrong with the charge
current or with the general condition of the batteries.

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1.4 How does the VE.Net Battery Controller work?
The capacity of a battery is rated in Amp hours (Ah). For example, a
battery that can deliver a current of 5 Amps for a period of 20 hours is
rated at 100 Ah (5 * 20 = 100). The VBC-HV continuously measures the
net current flow into or out of the battery. This way it can calculate the
amount of energy removed from or added to the battery. But since battery
age, discharge current and temperature all influence the battery‟s
capacity; you cannot rely simply on an Amp hours reading. When the
same 100 Ah battery is discharged completely in two hours, it may only
give you 56 Ah (because of the higher rate of discharge).
As you can see the battery‟s capacity is almost halved. This phenomenon
is called Peukert efficiency (see chapter 4.1.2). Also, when the
temperature of the battery is low, its capacity is decreased even more.
This is why simple Amp hour counters or Voltmeters give you far from an
accurate state-of-charge indication.
The VBC-HV can display both the Amp hours removed (not
compensated) and the actual state of charge (compensated by Peukert
efficiency and charge efficiency). Reading the state-of-charge is the best
way to read your battery. This parameter is shown as a percentage,
where 100% represents a fully charged battery and 0% represents a
completely flat battery. You can compare this with a fuel-gauge in a car.
The VBC-HV also makes an estimation of how long the battery can
support the present load (time to go readout). This is actually the time left
until the battery needs to be charged again. If the battery load is
fluctuating heavily it is best not to rely on this reading too much since it is
a momentary readout and must be used as a guideline only. We always
encourage the use of the state-of-charge readout for accurate battery
monitoring.

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2 INSTALLATION OF YOUR BATTERY MONITOR
2.1 Safety Precautions!
1. Working in vicinity of a lead acid battery is dangerous. Batteries can
generate explosive gases during operation. Never smoke or allow a spark
or flame in the vicinity of a battery. Provide sufficient ventilation around
the battery.
2. Wear eye and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working
near batteries. Wash your hands when done.
3. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap
and water. If acid enters eye, immediately flood eye with running cold
water for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention immediately.
4. Be careful when using metal tools in vicinity of batteries. Dropping a
metal tool onto a battery might cause a short-circuit and, possibly an
explosion.
5. Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and
watches when working with a battery. A battery can produce a short-
circuit current high enough to melt such items, leading to severe burns.
6. The VBC-HV contains no user serviceable parts, and operates at
dangerously high voltages. Never remove the housing, as this causes a
risk of electric shock.
To install your battery controller you will need:
1. Wired VBC-HV and shunt in housing. The standard supplied shunt is
500A / 50mV, but any shunt with a current indication up to 100mV
can be used.
2. Standard supplied VE.Net power cable.
RJ45 Cat5 cable to two wire insulated flexible connection cable
AWG21/0.4 mm² with inline fuse holder and 1 Amp slow blow fuse.
3. Standard supplied temperature sensor.
4. Cat5 cable with two RJ45 connectors (to connect a VE.Net Panel or
other VE.Net device) available in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 meters.

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2.2 Mounting
The VBC-HV box can be mounted using the 4 mounting holes. To ensure
the best read out we recommend that you use the standard supplied
cables and place the controller as close as possible to the batteries.
During prolonged periods of high current, the shunt will become hot. It is
therefore recommended that the box is mounted so that the blades of the
shunt are oriented vertically to allow optimal air-flow.
2.3 Wiring
Turn off the power from the batteries and remove the fuse before you
start installation. Connect the wiring as shown in figure 1. The thick lines
represent the main current path cables; these should be of a heavy duty
type. Most of the connections are already made to the VBC-HV. You will
only need to connect the battery minus and system ground wires to the
shunt and the Battery+ wire to the battery. Optionally you can connect the
wires coming from the alarm relay.
Connect the Battery Controller to a VE.Net Panel or other VE.Net device
using a standard straight Cat5 cable. The total length of Cat5 cables used
in a VE.Net network should not exceed 100m.
After installation, and checking all the connections place the fuse to
power the battery controller.
Note: The VBC-HV cannot provide power to other VE.Net devices. In
order to power other VE.Net devices (such as the VPN), use either the
VE.Net power cable or connect another device to the network that is
capable of supplying power. Such devices include the VE.Net Battery
Controller 12/24/48V (VBC000300000), the VE.Net to VE Bus Converter
(VVC000200000), the VE.Net Tank Monitor, current model
(VCS000100000) and the VE.Net Tank Monitor, voltage model
(VVC000100000).
Note: The shunt and temperature sensor should be the only wires
connected to the negative terminal of the battery. The negative
connections of all other devices (including chargers) must be made to the
load side of the shunt (system ground). If devices are connected directly
to the negative terminal of the battery the VBC-HV will be unable to
measure their current consumption, and will give incorrect readings.

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Note: Do not connect any other wires to the shunt measurement output,
as this will affect the accuracy of the readings.
V+
I -
VE.Net
I +
T-
T+
GND
VBC
Battery system
+ -
Relay connection
Fuse 100mAT
Temperature sensor
Battery Vin
max 385V
VE.Net Vin max 70V
Figure 1
Battery negative
(System ground)
Battery positive
(Load)
Read the Safety precautions
in chapter 2.1 before
installing your VBC-HV.
Make sure that you first
connect the system before
placing the fuse.

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Battery Monitor
157V -0.5A 99%
3 USING YOUR BATTERY MONITOR
All control of the VBC-HV is provided through the VPN. To switch on the
VPN, hold down one of the buttons until the VPN beeps. When the VPN
has finished starting up, the device list will be displayed. If there are other
VE.Net devices connected, it may be necessary to press “▼” until the
Battery Controller is displayed. For more information on using the VPN,
refer to the VPN manual.
3.1 Quick status line
In the root menu of the VPN you will see this screen, which consists of
the name of the battery controller and the “quick status” line.
Notes:
1. You can always return to this position by pressing “Cancel”
repeatedly.
2. The state of charge is only displayed when the Battery Controller is
synchronised (see chapter 4.1.3 for more information).
3.2 Main menu
To view more detailed information, press the “Enter” button to enter the
Battery Controller menu.
Name
Description
Units
Battery voltage
Displays the voltage of the battery.
Volts.
Battery current
Displays the DC current that flows into or out of the battery.
Amps.
Consumed Ah
Displays the energy consumed since the battery was last fully
charged.
Amp hours.
State of charge
The state of charge indicates the percentage of the battery capacity
that is still available for consumption. A full battery will show 100%,
and an empty battery will show 0%. This is the best way to see
when the batteries need to be recharged.
Percent.
Time to go
Displays the estimated time, based on the current load, before the
batteries need to be recharged.
Hours and
minutes.
Bat. temperature
Displays the battery temperature.
Degrees
Celsius.
Software version
The software version of this device.
Battery voltage
State of charge
Battery current