FoxESS (Wenzhou, China, founded 2019) builds one of the more affordable hybrid inverter portfolios. Its H-series (DC-coupled hybrid) and AC-series (AC-coupled battery-only) share a Pylontech-compatible CAN protocol at 500 kbit/s and a matching HV battery window.
Short version. Four FoxESS families are relevant: H1/AC1 (single-phase, 3.7–6 kW), H3/AC3 (three-phase residential, 5–12 kW), H3 Smart (three-phase residential, 10–15 kW, LFP-friendly) and H3 Pro (commercial three-phase, 20–30 kW). All models expect a Pylontech-compatible battery over CAN at 500 kbit/s and operate in a 80–500 V DC battery window (per fox-ess.com datasheet H1/H3 series). BMS-EV emulates the Pylontech HV master and forwards the EV pack's SOC, current, temperature and limits.
| Model family | Phase | AC power | Battery DC range | Max DC current | Coupling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1-3.7 / H1-4.6 / H1-5.0 / H1-6.0 | 1-ph | 3.7–6.0 kW | 80–500 V | 25 A | DC hybrid |
| AC1-3.7 / AC1-4.6 / AC1-5.0 | 1-ph | 3.7–5.0 kW | 80–500 V | 25 A | AC-coupled (battery only) |
| H3-5.0 / H3-6.0 / H3-8.0 / H3-10.0 / H3-12.0 | 3-ph | 5.0–12.0 kW | 80–500 V | 26 A | DC hybrid |
| AC3-5.0 / AC3-8.0 / AC3-10.0 | 3-ph | 5.0–10.0 kW | 80–500 V | 26 A | AC-coupled (battery only) |
| H3 Smart 10.0 / 12.0 / 15.0 | 3-ph | 10.0–15.0 kW | 80–500 V | 30 A | DC hybrid, LFP-friendly firmware |
| H3 Pro 20 / 25 / 30 | 3-ph | 20.0–30.0 kW | 180–800 V (Pro-800 variant) | 50 A | DC hybrid, commercial |
FoxESS speaks Pylontech HV Force H2 dialect over CAN at 500 kbit/s. The essential frame set is compact:
0x351 charge / discharge voltage and current limits0x355 SOC, SOH0x356 pack voltage, current, average temperature0x35A alarm and warning bitmap (per Pylontech HV spec)0x35C battery request (charge enable / discharge enable)0x35E manufacturer name (ASCII "PYLON")BMS-EV publishes these six frames at 1 Hz. The inverter's heartbeat timeout is 5 s; the controller opens its pack contactor on any loss of the vehicle BMS heartbeat within 100 ms.
| EV battery | Nominal V | Operating V | FoxESS model fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf 40/62 kWh | 350 V | 300–405 V | H1, H3, H3 Smart (all fit) |
| BMW i3 33/42 kWh | 355 V | 260–400 V | H1, H3, H3 Smart |
| Tesla Model 3/Y | 350–360 V | 260–405 V | H1, H3, H3 Smart |
| VW MEB 58/77 kWh | 400 V | 310–450 V | H3, H3 Smart (top edge) |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | 356 V | 250–410 V | H1, H3, H3 Smart |
| Porsche Taycan / e-tron GT 800 V | 800 V | 610–835 V | H3 Pro-800 variant only |
| EV battery | Usable capacity | Best-fit FoxESS model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf 40 kWh | 36 kWh | H1-5.0 / H1-6.0 | Single-phase, residential |
| BMW i3 33 kWh | 27 kWh | H1-4.6 / H1-5.0 | Compact match |
| BMW i3 42 kWh | 37 kWh | H1-6.0 or H3-5.0 | 1-ph or 3-ph |
| Tesla Model 3 SR+ (55 kWh) | 50 kWh | H3-8.0 / H3-10.0 | Three-phase |
| Tesla Model 3 LR (75 kWh) | 70 kWh | H3-10.0 / H3-12.0 | H3 Smart 12/15 for higher C-rate |
| VW ID.4 77 kWh | 72 kWh | H3-10.0 / H3 Smart 12.0 | Top of DC window at 100 % SOC |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | 60 kWh | H3-8.0 / H3-10.0 | |
| Porsche Taycan 93 kWh (800 V) | 84 kWh | H3 Pro-25 (Pro-800 variant) | Requires the 800 V SKU |
H1/H3 if you are installing PV plus battery on one inverter — DC coupling is more efficient (no PV → AC → battery conversion) and reduces component count. AC1/AC3 if you already have a PV inverter from another manufacturer and want to retrofit storage — the AC-coupled unit sits parallel to the existing PV inverter on the AC bus.
Not natively. FoxESS residential inverters have no LV (48 V) input. To reuse Leaf modules at 48 V you either need a different inverter (SolaX X1 Hybrid LV, Growatt SPH LV) or you must reassemble modules into a 90–500 V pack — practical only for whole-pack reuse.
Yes. H3 Smart has higher continuous current (30 A vs 26 A on H3), a lower minimum battery voltage floor (60 V vs 90 V on some SKUs), LFP-optimised charge curve firmware and larger PV MPPT window. It is FoxESS's newer generation; H3 remains in production alongside.
FoxCloud reports pack SOC, voltage, current, temperature, cycle count and alarm bitmap — everything the Pylontech HV protocol carries. Cell-level voltages and per-module temperatures remain on the BMS-EV controller's local web UI.
No. FoxESS accepts one cluster on the BAT port. To parallel two packs, either run two H-series inverters or physically parallel the packs at DC (advanced — inter-pack balancing at the BMS level required).
H3 Pro is available in two DC-front-end variants: standard (180–500 V) and Pro-800 (180–800 V). Confirm the SKU before ordering — the higher-voltage variant is the only FoxESS product compatible with Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT packs.
Yes. Per FoxESS installation manual, a DC breaker or fuse-disconnector rated for the battery Vmax (500 V or 800 V DC) and the maximum current (25/26/30/50 A depending on model) is mandatory between the battery and the inverter. Use HV DC-rated components — an AC breaker will not extinguish a DC arc.
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| H1/H3 battery voltage range | 80–500 V DC | FoxESS Hybrid Inverter product page |
| H3 Pro (800V variant) range | 180–800 V DC | FoxESS H3 Pro datasheet |
| Communication | Pylontech HV Force H2 dialect, CAN 500 kbit/s | FoxESS BMS communication protocol |