Minimum Battery System Capacity
The Discover Lithium Battery and Sol-Ark device automatically manages battery charge and discharge rates. Using large solar arrays with battery banks that are too small can exceed the battery's operating limits to charge, possibly leading to the BMS triggering over-current protection. Battery capacity must accept the maximum charge current of the system, or charging must be curtailed below the operating limit of the installed batteries. This value is derived by adding the charge capacities of all inverter-chargers and solar charge controllers in the system. Additionally, battery peak capacity must support the surge requirements of the load attached to the inverter. Match all inverter peak power values with the sum of all battery peak battery current values.
Inverter Peak = (Inverter Surge Value) / (Inverter Efficiency) / (48V: Low Battery Cut-Off)
Model | Inverter Peak
| Charger Continuous Max (3) | AES RACKMOUNT 48-48-5120, 48-48-5120-H (4) | HELIOS ESS 52-48-16000 Minimum per inverter (5) |
Sol-Ark 5K-P | 345 A DC (1) | 120 A DC | 2 | 2 |
Sol-Ark 8K-P | 345 A DC (1) | 185 A DC | 2 | 2 |
Sol-Ark 12K-P | 345 A DC (1) | 185 A DC | 2 | 2 |
Sol-Ark 15K-P | 518 A DC (2) | 275 A DC | 3 | 2 |
(1) Calculated based on Surge Power 16,000 VA (10 s) and Efficiency 96.5% CEC, as published in Sol-Ark User Manuals (2022-05).
(2) Calculated based on Surge Power 24,000 VA (10 s) and Efficiency 96.5% CEC, as published in Sol-Ark User Manuals (2022-05).
(3) As published in Sol-Ark User Manuals (2022-05).
(4) Discover AES RACKMOUNT Battery Module, Peak Power: 218 A DC (3 seconds), 95 A DC Continuous Charge/Discharge (1 hour), as published in Discover AES RACKMOUNT Installation and Operation Manual (805-0043, Rev J).
(5) Discover HELIOS 52-48-16000 Battery, Peak Power: 300 A RMS (15 seconds), 200 A DC Continuous Charge/Discharge, as published in Discover HELIOS ESS Installation and Operation Manual (805-0090, Rev D).