FORTRESS POWER Avalon Smart Whole-Home Backup System Installation Guide
- June 1, 2024
- FORTRESS Power
Table of Contents
FORTRESS POWER Avalon Smart Whole-Home Backup System
Parallel Configuration Guide for PCS and BMS Systems
Introduction: The purpose of this guide is to familiarize installers and
technicians on properly setting up an Avalon ESS for multi-inverter multi-BMS
use. The goal being full use of up to 12 battery modules in stacks of 6 with 2
BMS.
Scope: This document covers the parallel configuration of two PCs and BMS units
to meet specific requirements.
Systems Overview
Requirements:
- Before initiating parallel operation, update the firmware of each unit (Gateway, SEP, PCS, BMS)
- Conduct initial testing with one PCS and one BMS to ensure proper functionality.
- Once individual units are confirmed to work fine, proceed with parallel configuration.
BMS Setup Guide
Step 1: Upload Firmware
Begin by uploading the firmware for all BMS units separately. Use Installer App
or Web Console
Updating via Installer App
SOP Avalon BMS upgrade .docx
| Step| # of People| Expected Time| Tools and Special
Tools| Special Knowledge
---|---|---|---|---|---
1| Access Installer App (Using Phone)| 1| 1 minute| Smartphone| Avalon
Installer App
2| Update Firmware (Installer App)| 1| 10 minutes| Smartphone| Understanding
of firmware updates within the installer App
Updating via Web Console:
| Step| # of People| Expected Time| Tools and Special
Tools| Special Knowledge
---|---|---|---|---|---
1| Access Web Console| 1| | Laptop, Internet
access.
| Knowledge of
finding IP
| | | | | address, Wi-Fi network
credentials
---|---|---|---|---|---
2| Update Firmware (Local Web Console)| 1| 10| Laptop, Internet access|
Knowledge of using Web Console
Step 2: Verify BMS and Battery Compatibility
| Step| # of People| Expected Time| Tools and
Special Tools| Special Knowledge
---|---|---|---|---|---
1| Check 1st BMS Voltage| 1| 10 minutes| Multimeter| Understanding of
electrical measurements, ability to use a multimeter
2| Check 2nd BMS Voltage| 1| 10 minutes| Multimeter| Understanding of
electrical measurements
3| Ensure Voltage Range| 1| 5 minutes| N/A| Understanding of electrical
measurements
- Ensure that the voltage of each battery matches the specified requirements and is within the acceptable range. Each battery module must be within 0.25V DC of one another during commissioning
- Keep the voltage gap between battery stacks as small as possible. A BMS voltage gap of 3V DC per stack or less is acceptable.
Step 3: Connect Signal Lines.
- Connect the signal lines for each BMS unit. Do not connect the positive and negative poles of the batteries in parallel at this stage.
- Ensure that the signal lines are connected correctly according to the guides.
- Power on each battery individually after connecting the signal lines.
- BMS1 Master and BMS 2 Slave.
Step 4: Access BMS Web Console or Installer App
- Once the batteries are powered on, access the web Console or Installer App functionality to verify their connectivity and functionality.
- Confirm that all BMS units are detected and accessible through the Web Console or Installer App.
- Once communication is successful, turn o`!>30$.%!3#’!;539.!=>;[email protected]&%.!)&##.)$#2!/&E.%!5#.0?
Step 5: Connect Power Lines
- Connect the power lines, establishing a parallel connection between the positive and negative poles of the batteries.
- Completing these final steps will ensure that the BMS setup is properly configured for parallel operation.
- The positive and negative poles coming from the PCS will be connected to a Master BMS
- From the Master BMS, the positive and negative terminals will be connected to the corresponding terminals of a Slave BMS. This is for 1 SEP, 1 PCS and 2 BMS positive and negative poles.
Use cases: Diagram for 1SEP 1 PCS 2 Parallel BMS
Parallel PCS and BMS
Requirements:
- Before initiating parallel operation, update the firmware of each unit (Gateway, SEP, PCS, BMS)
- Conduct initial testing with one PCS and one BMS to ensure proper functionality.
- Once individual units are confirmed to work fine, proceed with parallel configuration.
| Step| # of People| Expected Time| Tools and Special
Tools| Special Knowledge
---|---|---|---|---|---
1| Parallel System
Wiring
| 2| 2-3 hours| |
2| Parallel System Communication
Setup
| 1| 45 minutes| | Wiring diagram
3| Configuring Using Installer App| 1| | Smartphone| Knowledge of using the
Installer App
Parallel System Wiring
- Parallel BMS
- Connect to each Inverter PV input independently.
- Ensure each Inverter connected to the Avalon HV Battery
- Parallel connect the AC power grid output.
Parallel Communication Setup
- From SEP to Master PCS all the Communication Cables as regular.
- Use N-1 double-ended network cables with reinforced shielding for parallel communication.
- Connect the network cable to the communication port of both the master and slave units (Parallel_IN, Parallel_OUT), staggering the interfaces between them.
- Set DIP switches 1 & 2 of the first and last PCSs to ON, and those of other slave PCS to OFF
Configuring Using Installer App:
Using Installer App set up the first Master PCS
Proceed to connect SPH IN to the 2nd PCS and configure it’s settings according to using the Installer App
Master and Slave Configuration
- Configure PCS 1 and BMS 1 as the master units, responsible for controlling and coordinating the system’s operation.
- Inverter Parallel Settings
- Parallel Mode – Parallel
- Set Master/Slave
- Parallel Sync lock ON
Proceed to connect SPH IN to the 20* PCS and configure it’s settings according to using the Installer App
Final Verification
Upon successful completion of the setup process, verify the system
configuration as follows:
- Check the Product List in the Installer App
- Check the Web Console portal to see all the products.
