[RE-wrenches] Paralleling two PF16 batteries on Midnite AIO

[Jason Szumlanski]

The height issue is exactly what I want to avoid. If the batteries can be
combined in the battery wiring compartments themselves, or combined at the
inverter input terminals, that solves the problem. But the manual
specifically calls out a "combine box" between the batteries and inverter.
Can that combiner box be a battery compartment or inverter cabinet? I guess
that is open to interpretation. Functionally, I don't see an issue doing
that.


Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208


On Thu, Jul 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I've used a 10x10x24" gutter directly under AIOs and then an 18x18x4" jbox
> for combining (3) PF16s with a victron combiner. Takes a fair amount of
> real estate but allows for easy addition of batteries. Putting a gutter on
> top of pf16s and an AIO onto of that sounds very clean but it would push
> the screen pretty high and wouldn't fit in many basements.
> Howie
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 11:41 AM Zeke Yewdall via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I have done several systems where we just paralleled two batteries on the
>> battery terminals, just like we'd do with lead acid batteries, with a
>> reverse return for the home runs.  With the active balancing, the reverse
>> return is apparently not as important, but I still think it's best practice.
>>
>> MidNite Power is working on a custom gutter/wiring box for coupling the
>> PF16's directly to the AIO, but not sure on timeline for it.  I've seen a
>> few really nice installs where someone used a standard 10" gutter with
>> cutouts in it directly on top of the PF16's, then set the AIO's on top of
>> that.  No exposed wiring or even conduit showing.
>>
>> Zeke
>> --
>> Zeke Yewdall
>> PV Engineer
>> NABCEP #031508-89
>> zeke at darkforestsolar.com
>> 303-523-3592
>> ______________________________
>>
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