Pika Energy’s B Link (B301c) battery converter receives ETL listing to the UL-1741 standard

Pika Energy has announced that its B Link (B301c) battery converter has received ETL listing to the UL-1741 standard for power converters.

With the listing of the B Link converter, all of the products in the Pika Energy Island product suite are now UL-listed and shipping to solar installers and OEM partners.

The Pika Energy Island is a system design for solar-plus-storage that includes the Pika Islanding Inverter (X7600 and X11400 Series), the Pika PV Link solar MPPT (S2500 Series) and the B Link converter. Using Pika’s patented REbus DC Nanogrid technology, all Energy Island components are connected on a common 380VDC bus with automated power flow and powerline carrier communications.

B Link is a bidirectional DC/DC converter that provides a 30A charging gateway for connecting high-capacity and highly efficient batteries, typically lithium ion, to Pika REbus DC nanogrids. B Link-powered smart batteries or energy storage systems are capable of up to 8kW of power capacity and 98% round-trip efficiency, both industry-leading performances.

Energy storage solutions using B Link as an internal power converter are plug-and-play with the Pika Islanding Inverter, connecting directly to the inverter’s integrated DC combiner using standard 8-gauge wire.

A leading provider of smart power electronics for solar-plus-storage, Maine-based Pika Energy said its new B Link battery converter opens up a new segment of the energy storage market by enabling solar equipment suppliers and installers to connect currently-available battery technology to next-generation inverters.

“B Link is a long-awaited device for the solar-plus-storage sector,” said Rob Smart, Pika’s Director of Partnerships. “This device drastically simplifies solar-plus-storage installations while enabling a broader mix of smart battery technology to enter the market. Our OEM partners are excited to launch powerful, highly efficient, and cost-effective energy storage products in 2017 using the B Link converter.”

B Link can connect to virtually any conventional battery technology ranging from lead acid to lithium ion, Smart added. The compact device (16.5″ x 6.5″ x 3.7″, 13.05 lbs) is appealing to OEMs who seek tightly-integrated components for small, lightweight smart battery and energy storage system development. B Link is complemented by Pika Energy’s Power Core product line, a suite of power electronics components for OEM customers. The company will start shipping B Link to OEMs in Q1 2017.