Which Lithium Battery Works With My Inverter?
A lithium battery only works well when it matches your inverter on three points: battery voltage, communication (CAN or RS485) and the inverter maker's approved list. This guide explains each point in plain words and then goes brand by brand through Deye, Growatt, Huawei, Solis, Felicity and the local brands Inverex, Fronus, Knox and Crown, so you know what to check before you buy.
Updated 12 November 2026
Step 1: match the voltage
The battery voltage must match the inverter's battery input:
- 12V UPS and small inverters: 12.8V LiFePO4 (4 cells).
- 24V inverters (many 2 to 3kW units): 25.6V LiFePO4 (8 cells).
- 48V hybrid inverters (most 4 to 12kW home units): 51.2V LiFePO4 (16 cells) or 48V (15 cells).
- High-voltage hybrid inverters (some Huawei, Solis and Deye HV models): stacked high-voltage modules such as the Pylontech Force H3.
A 51.2V battery is sold as "48V" because it fits 48V inverters. Never connect a battery to an inverter of a different voltage class. See 12V (12V Lithium Battery), 24V (24V Lithium Battery) and 48V batteries (48V Lithium Battery).
Step 2: communication (CAN or RS485)
A modern lithium battery has a BMS (battery management system) that knows each cell's voltage, temperature and the true state of charge. With a communication cable, the inverter reads this data and charges exactly as the BMS asks.
- CAN: the most common link for hybrid inverters.
- RS485: used by Growatt SPF and many off-grid units.
- No communication (voltage mode): the inverter charges by voltage settings alone. This works, but the SOC shown on the inverter is a guess, and settings must be correct.
The cable pin-out differs between brands, so use the cable from the battery or inverter maker, or one made to their pin diagram.
Step 3: the approved battery list
Big inverter makers publish lists of batteries they have tested. If your battery is on the list, protocol and settings are known to work, and warranty claims are simpler. If it is not, it may still work in voltage mode, but you are on your own if something goes wrong.
Brand by brand
- Deye hybrid (low voltage): the approved list includes Pylontech, Dyness, BYD, Narada, Shoto and others. Set the battery mode to lithium and select protocol "00" for CAN on most listed batteries; check the list for the code your battery needs.
- Growatt SPF series: works with Pylontech and Dyness over RS485 using protocol L02, according to installer practice and battery guides. Other brands may need voltage mode.
- Huawei SUN2000 hybrid: designed for Huawei's own LUNA2000 battery only. Other batteries are not supported.
- Solis hybrid: communicates by CAN only; choose a battery that supports Solis over CAN.
- Felicity inverters: work best with Felicity batteries; other brands may need voltage mode.
- Inverex, Fronus, Knox and Crown inverters: these brands publish no public compatibility list. They generally pair with their own batteries; for other brands ask the seller to confirm communication, or use voltage mode with the battery maker's settings.
Lists and protocol codes change with firmware, so check the current list for your exact model.
Using a battery in voltage mode
If your battery and inverter cannot talk, set the inverter battery type to user-defined or lithium (no BMS), then enter the battery maker's voltages. For a 16-cell LiFePO4 battery, common safe values are bulk or absorption 56.0 to 56.8V, float 54.0 to 54.4V and low cut-off 48 to 50V. A 15-cell "48V" battery needs different, lower values. Our settings guide (Lithium Battery Settings for Growatt, Deye, Inverex and Knox) explains each menu item.
Parallel batteries and communication
When you connect two or more batteries in parallel, the batteries usually link to each other with a short data cable, and only the first (master) battery connects to the inverter. The master reports the combined state of charge and current limits.
- Use the same brand and model for every battery in the bank.
- Set the address or DIP switches on each battery as the maker's manual shows.
- Use equal-length power cables to each battery so current is shared evenly.
- Check the maximum number of parallel units on the datasheet.
If the inverter shows only one battery's capacity, or a BMS error, the address settings or data cable are the usual cause.
High-voltage batteries
Most homes in Pakistan use low-voltage 48V batteries. Some hybrid inverters, including Huawei SUN2000 and certain Solis and Deye models, use high-voltage batteries that stack modules in series, such as the Pylontech Force H3 (102.4V per module). A high-voltage battery will not work on a 48V inverter, and a 48V battery will not work on a high-voltage input. Check the inverter's battery voltage range on its datasheet before choosing.
Common mistakes
- Buying a 51.2V battery for a 24V inverter, or the other way round.
- Using a generic network cable with the wrong pin-out, so the inverter shows a BMS error.
- Leaving the inverter on the lead-acid or AGM profile, which may use the wrong voltages.
- Mixing two battery brands in parallel. Use the same model, and connect them as the maker shows.
- Expecting a Huawei hybrid to run a non-Huawei battery.
