Pylontech Battery Review
Company History
Founded in 2009, Pylontech or Pylon Technologies Limited emerged as a dedicated provider of battery energy storage systems (BESS), leveraging expertise in electrochemistry, power electronics, and system integration. Over the years, the company has achieved remarkable success, doubling shipments annually for eight consecutive years and establishing itself as one of the leading global energy storage system providers.
Pylontech, headquartered in China, has sold over 4.5 GWh of low- and high-voltage lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. By 2022, the company was one of the top global residential battery suppliers, with over one million energy storage systems commissioned in over 80 countries. The modular battery design was among the first in the energy storage system market built around a rack-mounted format combining lithium cells with a battery management system (BMS). Unlike other battery providers, Pylontech is a vertically integrated company - controlling all stages of development and production, from cell design to module construction. This ensures a high level of quality control and ultimately reduces costs to consumers.
Pylontech US Series Battery Summary
Type: Rack-mounted modular battery system (managed - closed-loop)
Cell Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) cells
Capacity: 90% usable capacity (80% recommended)
Cycle life: 6000 cycles or 15 years (based on testing described below)
Price: approx AUD$635 per kWh (US$480/kWh)
Warranty: 10 years to 60% minimum retained capacity.
Compatibility: Most 24V & 48V off-grid and hybrid inverters.
Pylontech Battery Evolution
The company commenced mass production of the first-generation Extra2000 rack-mount lithium batteries for European and Australian markets in 2014. These batteries were some of the first Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) self-managed modules with integrated communications. Although they were very advanced at the time, they suffered several reliability issues (many of which were due to the installation and inverter configuration). Fortunately, the learnings from the first-generation batteries provided some valuable experience for the company's foray into scalable battery storage. Pylontech introduced the next-generation US2000 Series in late 2015 with 2.4kWh capacity. This series offered a significant advancement in battery management technology with the adoption of the CANbus communication protocol, which has become the industry standard, prioritizing scalability and compatibility. They also integrated Amphenol connectors for secure, reliable and safe cable connection.
Pylontech US3000C battery features and connections
Following this, Pylontech expanded the US series with the larger 3.55kWh capacity US3000 series, allowing for up to 16 batteries to be connected in parallel (using the US3000C version). As the demand for more storage capacity increased and battery systems became larger, the company upsized again and launched the 4.8kWh US5000 series batteries in early 2022. These larger capacity modules are better suited for off-grid systems as they allow for considerably higher continuous and surge power output with a 100A output, four times greater than the first US2000 series, which is rated at 25A.
US Series Batteries - Scalable Rack-mount system
Pylontech US5000 modular off-grid battery system installed by Transfer Solar
The US series is the most popular battery offered by Pylontech and the battery we will focus on in this review. As an off-grid installer, this is a battery I have had a lot of experience with when designing and installing the numerous 48V Pylontech off-grid power systems. The US Series is a scalable, rack-mount battery system that is, importantly, compatible with almost all leading off-grid inverters. Compatibility is a key criterion when designing an energy storage system, and Pylontech boasts an impressive list of compatible inverters. Victron is one of the most common inverters used in combination with Pylontech batteries. The Victron Multiplus and Quattro series inverters are some of the most popular off-grid inverters used around the world. The Victron VRM system has specific control parameters designed for seamless integration with Pylontech’s closed-loop communication, enabling precise battery charging and operation.
Scalability is also essential with off-grid solar systems, and the US series batteries can be easily connected with up to 16 modules in parallel to 76.8kWh total battery capacity (using US5000 modules). For greater storage capacity, the additional LV Hub can be used to interconnect up to 5 stacks of 8 batteries in parallel, allowing for a sizable 192kWh total storage capacity.
Battery Management System (BMS)
Excluding the cells, the most important part of a lithium battery module is the Battery Management System or BMS. The US Series BMS is a MOSFET based system that protects the battery from over-charge/discharge, excess current, and high/low temperatures. It also manages each cell's battery state, cell balancing, voltage and temperature. The simplicity of the BMS system is one of the best features. To set up a new or upgraded system, the battery modules are simply interconnected with the supplied Link cables and the master battery is selected by pressing the small red button, while it detects all connected batteries within seconds. The BMS board also provides numerous communication options, including CANbus & RS485.
US Series Battery Key Features
Lithium Iron Phosphate or LFP (prismatic) cells - Safe, stable & reliable
Connect up to 16 units in parallel for up to 77kWh (US5000)
Optional LV Hub allows up to 40 batteries or 192kWh
95% usable capacity (80% DoD recommended)
Compatible with standard 19″ server racks
Soft-start resistor to reduce high inrush currents
Standard CANbus or RS485 protocol for communication
10-year warranty
Backwards compatibility
US2000 Series - 2.4kWh Battery
The US2000 Series was the first rack-mount battery from Pylontech with the newly redesigned BMS based on the more reliable CANbus communications. The 2.4kWh total capacity was adequate at the time, but the power output was somewhat limited, with only a 25A (1200W) continuous rating. This model battery is no longer available in most regions and has been replaced by the larger US3000 model.
US3000 Series - 3.55kWh Battery
In 2017, Pylontech unveiled the larger 3.55kWh capacity US3000 Series based on the same BMS design but incorporating more capacity to cater for the growing demand for larger battery systems. This large size was much better suited to off-grid systems which generally require more storage capacity. The US3000C version features a more advanced BMS and can accommodate up to 16 modules in parallel without the need for the LV-Hub (combiner).
US5000 Series - 4.8kWh Battery
The latest chapter in the Pylontech lineup is the US5000 Series. This larger 4.8kWh capacity battery boosted the power significantly over the previous models, with an impressive 100A continuous power rating, and 120A rating for up to 15 minutes. The surge rating is also much higher at up to 200A, meaning the US5000 batteries are able to reliably power difficult inductive loads with high peak (inrush) currents. The US5000-B is also the first battery in the US series with an integrated 2-pole DC circuit breaker, meaning it complies with the strict Australian battery installation standards.
Backwards Compatibility - Mix and Match
One of the key features of the US series batteries is the ability to mix different batteries into one common battery system. Backwards compatibility is rare among battery manufacturers due to the rapid advancement in battery technology and new models being released. Unlike most battery manufacturers, Pylontech has enabled this to ensure battery systems can be upgraded even when older models are no longer available. This means older US2000 series batteries can be seamlessly combined with the newer US3000 or US5000 series without additional components or upgrades. The only requirement is that the newer generation battery must be set as the master during the initial setup. However, depending on the model, if more than eight batteries are connected in parallel, both the first and last batteries must be of the newer model. Learn more about mixing different US series batteries in our Pylontech forum discussion.
Battery Testing and Durability
Located in Canberra, Australia, ITP Renewables has been conducting battery performance tests since 2016. Their accelerated testing program, conducted in a variable climate-controlled lab to simulate real-world conditions, has yielded intriguing findings. Only two battery systems, Sony and PylonTech, emerged from the tests without any failures or premature degradation. The degradation of lithium cells is influenced by various factors such as temperature, depth of discharge, and charge rate. According to the available data from ITP, the average end-of-life for lithium batteries falls within the range of 3000 to 4500 cycles or 9 to 12 years.
Battery cycle life performance test results - ITP renewables battery test center results
Test results indicate a battery lifespan beyond 12 years
The Pylontech results indicated a battery lifespan beyond 12 years based on the recorded test data, which showed a battery state of health (SOH) of ~77% after 2,830 cycles, or 7.8 years. This can be averaged out as a capacity loss of 2.95% per year. The Pyontech warranty specifies a minimum 60% retained battery capacity after 10 years. However, the batteries would last almost 14 years at this degradation rate before reaching the minimum 60% capacity level. It should be noted the ITP testing process was more rigorous than would be expected in real-world conditions, so the lifespan could be even longer, providing the battery is appropriately managed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Pylontech US2000 battery cycle life test results- ITP renewables battery test center results
Technical Service Issues
While Pylontech batteries have proven to be very reliable, there will always be issues with battery cells or BMS's, especially as batteries age, need upgrading or reach the end of life. After installing dozens of Pylontech US Series battery systems in off-grid solar homes over the last six years, I have only ever experienced one issue with an internal battery fault (alarm). The fault was with a newly installed battery and was firmware (BMS) related. After a phone call to the solar/battery supplier, it was easily rectified by reshuffling the battery order (newest to oldest). However, without local support, it would have been challenging to find the service information and troubleshoot the problem since very limited technical support is available directly from Pylontech, even for professional solar installers. The installation manual is very good but only addresses some technical issues, and I would expect more technical support and easily accessible information from such a large, well-established company.
Diagnostic software unavailable
US series batteries relay critical operating data to the inverter, such as the min/max cell voltage, temperature, and fault codes. Although, this depends on the inverter and operating software. I generally use the Victron Cerbo GX system with Pylontech batteries which is a proven, reliable combination. However, Pylontech does not offer a dedicated diagnostic tool or software to help diagnose any faults or errors. There is a Pylontech version of the universal BatteryView software, but it's surprisingly hard to find and access the software online. Most Pylontech battery faults are software-related and simply require a firmware update. However, Pylontech has several BMS hardware types that use different firmware and are not compatible. Because of this, many DIYers and even solar professionals have loaded the wrong firmware, resulting in a dead (dark) battery. It would be great if Pylontech could provide accurate, detailed user information and dedicated software to enable easy and safe firmware upgrades.
Summary - Should you get Pylontech batteries?
In short, if you are looking for a cost-effective off-grid battery solution, I would suggest Pylontech as a good, reliable option. The company’s popularity around the world is a testament to its commitment to innovation and compatibility. From the lessons learned with the early Extra2000 Series to the latest US5000 Series, each new release reflects Pylontech's responsiveness to market demands and its dedication to providing simple, reliable, scalable energy storage solutions.
The company's continuous evolution positions it as one of the top battery providers for residential off-grid solar applications. In my experience, having installed dozens of Pylontech batteries over the years with only a few minor issues, I would regard the US Series as some of the best value-for-money rack-mount lithium batteries available. However, one of the few criticisms is the lack of a dedicated Pylontech diagnoses tool and software to help troubleshoot errors and aid updates, something most competing manufacturers have provided.
Pylontech's emphasis on adaptability, coupled with its universal battery management systems, ensures that users can confidently invest in a battery that can be easily expanded as energy needs evolve and expand. Additionally, the great results from ITP Renewable's rigorous battery testing provide confidence that Pylontech batteries should perform reliably even beyond the 10-year warranty period.
