ThunderBank

The ThunderBank is a mobile lithium battery energy storage system housed in a truck box. It stores energy from multiple charge sources (3‑phase shore, single-phase trickle, truck alternator, rooftop solar, and ThunderBolt export) and delivers up to 90 kVA of 208 V 3‑phase AC power to the fleet. The ThunderBank can carry a production and dramatically reduce or eliminate Basecamp Generator (BG) runtime by harnessing excess solar from ThunderBolt Solar Trailers and rapid recharging.

For Cabling and Operation, Follow Industry Safety Guidelines.

Quick facts

A walk-around reference. Memorize these locations before show start — the EAP and the laminated cards depend on you being able to find each item without searching.

The control panel sits in the unlocked grey Polycase at the rear-right corner of the truck box. It has three things you need to know: the Main Control Screen, the orange dial, and the 3-position switch. Almost every operational decision flows through this panel.

The control panel itself isn't waterproof, but the grey Polycase that houses it is. Keep the Polycase closed in the rain; only open it when you need to interact with the panel.

The 3-position switch

The switch sits at three clock positions: 10 o'clock = Off, 12 o'clock = Charge, 2 o'clock = On.

Waterfall panel annunciator lights

Three lights on the waterfall panel — one per AC Output leg (L1, L2, L3) — show whether each leg is energized. Use them as the ground-truth check for panel state.

• All three lit — panel hot on all three legs
• One (or two) out — likely a tripped or blown breaker on the missing leg(s); reset or replace
• None lit — panel is de-energized

The orange dial

The orange dial does three related jobs, each shown as one of the three fields on the dial face. Push the dial to wake the display, then tap a field to bring up its setter, change the value, and tap SET to confirm (or CANCEL to back out without changing it).

• 3‑phase AC input current limit (3P) — sets how much current the bank will draw per leg from the 3‑phase shore connection. Range is 30 A to 275 A per leg. The bank may require a minimum of 55 A under some conditions.
• Trickle charger current limit (1P) — sets the per-leg AC input limit for the trickle chargers, 10 A to 50 A. Adjusting it changes both trickle legs at the same time; you can still plug in one leg or both as needed.
• Inverter Output Voltage — trims the inverter output voltage. Useful for long AC output cable runs where voltage drops along the cable; increasing it lifts the inverter output so the voltage at the far end of the cable run is in the desired range. Reads line-to-neutral (~120 V) and controls all three hot legs simultaneously.

Main Control Screen

The screen shows live SOC, power flow, and alarms, including individual leg amps, volts, and watts on the 3‑phase AC input. The screen retains a 24-hour history; for any longer date range, use the VRM app or VRM portal. In VRM, the Dashboard covers basic information and the Advanced tab provides in-depth analysis.

Four tabs across the top — Main, Loads, Details, Alarms — switch between views. The active tab turns green. The two indicators in the upper-right (WARN and ERROR) light up when the system raises an alarm; tap Alarms to see what tripped.

The blue dot in the lower-left corner of the screen resets the display if there are any glitches or malfunctions. Resetting the screen does not affect power input or output in any way — only the display restarts.

Remote monitoring — VRM app and portal

Every ThunderBank reports live to Victron Remote Management (VRM). You can monitor the same data the on-board control screen shows, plus full historical logs, from anywhere with an internet connection.

Reading the dashboard

After signing in, tap your unit (for example, B493) to open its dashboard. The view mirrors the on-board control screen: state of charge, shore draw, PV input, AC loads, and per-leg power on the 3‑phase side.

Realtime = live data. Anything else means the feed is stale →

Tap the blue icon bottom-left to switch to another unit you have access to →

← Per‑leg watts and frequency for L1 / L2 / L3

← Tap anywhere on the screen to bring up the bottom menu bar

← Advanced is the most useful tab — covered below

Scroll down the dashboard for sensors and quick history

The dashboard view is longer than the screen. Scroll down and you’ll find on-board sensor readings and a quick historical chart — useful for at-a-glance answers without opening the Advanced tab.

The Advanced tab — where the real data lives

The dashboard only shows the current moment. The Advanced tab is where you can go back in time and see exactly what each leg, each MPPT, and the battery were doing across any date range you choose.

• Pick a date range at the top — last 24 hours, last week, custom range, etc.
• Scroll through the available widgets — AC Input (per-leg amps, volts, watts), Battery (SOC, voltage, current, temperature), Solar (per-MPPT yield), AC Loads, and more.
• Each chart is zoom- and pan-capable. Tap a point to see the exact value and timestamp.
• This is the right place to answer questions like “was one leg pulling harder than the others last night?” or “how much solar did we actually get on day 3?”

Site selection

• Coordinate parking location nearby the external power source (Basecamp Generator or grid power) to minimize cable runs. This is the first thing to plan.
• Leave enough room for access and egress around the truck box (personnel door, rear-left ABC extinguisher, and FD vehicle access)
• Confirm AHJ requirements per the EAP pre-show check list (Section B in the EAP)
• Inspect that the ABC fire extinguisher tag is current and the cylinder is in place

This section covers how to use the ThunderBank to operate the loads of your basecamp and the unique interaction with ThunderBolt trailers to form a microgrid. The ThunderBolts will increase the runtime of the ThunderBank by exporting excess solar power to charge the bank or offset loads.

For Cabling and Operation, Follow Industry Safety Guidelines.

ThunderBank — Turning ON

1. 3-position switch to On
2. Verify AC Output live and stay within limits (24 kW/leg)

Load shedding — managing the fleet when walking away

Before leaving the bank to run unattended overnight, over a weekend, or during any extended idle:

1. Leave the ThunderBank On.
2. Keep ThunderBolts in ThunderBank/Export — excess power helps the ThunderBank run longer.
3. For units that are still needed, load-shed nonessentials — especially air conditioners on customer loads.
4. Turn off or unplug non-ThunderBolt units that aren't needed.

Idle ThunderBolts: If a ThunderBolt isn't planning to be used, leave it in ThunderBank/Export and shed its loads — it can still provide power to the ThunderBank or other units.

No-solar conditions: If solar will be 0 (overnight, indoors, snow-covered panels), ThunderBolts can be turned off too — there likely won't be enough power to export.

Air conditioners: In many scenarios A/C is the single largest load on customer trailers. Turning A/C units off at the breaker or at the interior unit greatly reduces their draw while preserving the ThunderBolt's ability to export. If A/C needs to stay on, choose a more moderate thermostat setting — warmer in hot weather, cooler in cold weather. If the A/C or heat cannot reach the setpoint, it will run continuously and waste power. For example, on asphalt in 100°F heat a trailer may only cool to 75°F; a thermostat set to 70°F will keep the compressor running non-stop.

ThunderBank — Turning OFF (Moving Locations or Long Term Storage)

1. Stop exporting ThunderBolts first — set to Normal Ops/No Export, interior master OFF, or unplug
2. Turn the ThunderBank 3-position switch to Off

Single Cable System

Basecamp cabling and setup can be done the same way it's always been done. ThunderBolts and solar trailers can be placed anywhere in the basecamp cabling package.

The intent is for your ThunderBolt trailers to be operated in ThunderBank/Export when cabled to the ThunderBank. In this condition, the ThunderBolts will send excess solar energy to the ThunderBank on the same cable they may receive power from. This is done automatically and without any interruption in power. The diagram below shows a sample setup and what the ThunderBank might see.

Connecting ThunderBolts

ThunderBolts have two switches: an interior master inside the trailer and a 2-position external switch located by the ThunderBolt Charge Plug.

If connected to a ThunderBank, leave ThunderBolts in ThunderBank / Export — they export power automatically when above Min Battery SOC. When cabling ThunderBolts directly to grid or generator power, they must be in Normal Ops / No Export. ThunderBolts pause exporting while the ThunderBank has another 3‑phase charge source, and resume automatically.

Detailed behavior:

• ThunderBolts take a few minutes of automatic safety checks before they begin exporting at their normal rate
• Exporting appears as a negative AC Input number on the ThunderBolt's dashboard (e.g. −1049 W). On the ThunderBank, the same power shows as PV Inverter in VRM and ESS Charging on the Control Screen.
• If a ThunderBolt should be exporting but isn't, unplug that ThunderBolt and plug it back in to restart its safety checks. If it still does not export after that, call Lightnin to diagnose.
• If a ThunderBolt is exporting and shouldn't be, move the ThunderBolt switch to Normal Ops / No Export or unplug it.
• Power exported to the ThunderBank may be consumed by other loads before it reaches the bank — in that case the energy goes to work but does not register as charge.
• Safe to disconnect a ThunderBolt while it is exporting — ThunderBolts carry anti-islanding technology that drops their output when the connection is broken.

Shore −1049 W
negative = exporting →

ThunderBolt battery
idle at 100% →

← Local AC load
268 W

← Solar producing
1508 W

This section describes how to charge the ThunderBank with 3‑phase or single-phase power, and includes charge rate tables for planning fill time.

Switch positions — what charges in each

Charging behavior depends on the 3-position switch. 3‑phase charging is only available in the On or Charge positions; single-phase (trickle) charging works in any switch position, including Off. The cards below summarize what each position does while charging.

Charge position — when to use it

Use the Charge position for:

• Overnight charging — nothing plugged into AC Outputs
• Safely cabling/uncabling camlocks without turning the unit fully Off — only when no 3‑phase source is connected (panel is dead). Look at the annunciator lights to confirm no voltage present.

Don't use the Charge position for:

• Prolonged operation with AC loads — in Charge-Only, if the load exceeds the orange-dial charge rate, the unit stops supplying loads. Use On for extended load operation so the battery can cover shortfalls.

In the On position, all loads run and charging occurs at the rate selected on the orange dial. If the charge rate is less than your load, the battery will still discharge to meet the load — choose a dial setting above your running load if you want net charging while the unit is On.

Connecting 3‑phase shore power

1. Connect 208 V 3‑phase shore power at the AC Input panel (front-right, "Input Only"). 3‑phase camlocks are mounted vertically. Match colors: Green / White / Red / Blue / Black. Cables can be connected in any switch position, but charging will only work in On or Charge.
2. Move the 3-position switch to On (charging while running AC output loads) or Charge (charging with no AC output loads — most efficient).
3. Verify on the exterior display or VRM that AC Input current is rising.
4. Confirm the orange dial is at the auto-reset baseline (60 A for 3‑phase) and ramp up incrementally — 30–50 A per step — to your target rate (up to 275 A/leg). Use the Charge Time calculator in the Lightnin Portal to plan how long the fill will take.
5. At 95% SOC, charging is complete. Turn off any generator to avoid wasting fuel, and unplug the 3‑phase charge source so ThunderBolts begin exporting again. Do not leave the unit plugged into a 3‑phase charge source after charging completes — 3‑phase shore presence disables ThunderBolt export, so you would lose the solar contribution from the fleet. Once disconnected, ThunderBolts resume exporting automatically. The Charge Time calculator gives the estimated fill time — or quick math: (100 × kW) ÷ 270 = Charge % per hour.

Quick reference — charge rate vs. fill time with and without load

The table below shows fill time (industry-standard 20% → 100% SOC = 216 kWh) at each dial position, for four different load scenarios.

Net battery charging = AC input − AC output load

The maximum power the batteries can charge with is 60.5 kW.

The 168 A/leg row is where the bank starts capping battery charging at 60.5 kW (its DC ceiling). At 200 and 275 A/leg the surplus AC capacity stays available to absorb concurrent loads — which is why those rows show the same fill time as long as the load fits in the surplus. At lower dial settings combined with significant loads, the bank breaks even or actively discharges; plan the dial around your expected load. For other start/end SOC ranges or load profiles, use the Charge Time and Runtime calculators in the Lightnin Portal.

Always check — if not Realtime, data is stale; use the control-panel screen for live data →

Drawing from shore
41.29 kW
~120 A/leg →

Battery accepting
36.16 kW @ 66% →

← Small AC load
1.3 kW

← Rooftop solar
223 W

Connecting single-phase trickle chargers

Trickle chargers charge the bank regardless of the 3-position switch position, including Off. Each trickle charger needs its own single-phase hot leg; ground and neutral are always required on every trickle connection.

• One hot leg — plug into Red. One trickle charger active, ~3.4 kW into the bank
• Two hot legs — plug into Red and Blue. Both trickle chargers active, ~6.7 kW combined
• Single-phase camlocks are mounted horizontally on the AC Input panel, directly below the 3‑phase set
• Trickle input current is controlled with the orange dial, set between 10 – 50 A. The dial changes both legs at the same time

Using a Basecamp Generator (BG) to charge

• A BG is a valid 3‑phase source — deliver 208 V 3‑phase at your chosen input limit
• Use the Charge Time calculator in the Lightnin Portal (Tools → Power → ThunderBank Charge Time) to estimate how long the fill will take at your selected amps
• Plan to shut the BG off when the bank reaches your target SOC, or when the bank auto-ignores the input at 95%. Idling a BG past 95% wastes fuel
• If you are unsure when to shut it off, the calculator will give you the fill time at your chosen input amps

Running 3‑phase and trickle chargers at the same time

The 3‑phase shore and single-phase trickle chargers can run simultaneously. The trickle charger's power source can be the same as the 3‑phase source or completely different. Some examples:

• One Basecamp Generator feeding both the 3‑phase input and the trickle charger(s)
• A Basecamp Generator running the 3‑phase input while a separate grid panel runs the trickle charger(s)

This flexibility lets you put together a charging setup based on what power is available at the site.

Which charge path does what

Cabling and charge rate

• Cable sizing is the operator's responsibility — consider length and the charge rate selected on the orange dial. Operators should pick cable that matches the chosen input limit and distance.
• The orange dial's voltage adjust is for the AC output side (not input). On long AC output cable runs the voltage drops across the cable; turning the dial up raises the inverter output so the voltage at the far end of the run is in the desired range.

Drawing from shore
68.76 kW
~190 A/leg →

Net into batteries
4.15 kW @ 90% →

← PV Inverter
0 W (ThunderBolts idle)

← Fleet AC load
65.58 kW

← Rooftop solar
2.03 kW

Level 2 EV charging

• The Grizzl-E Ultimate 80 A Level 2 charger is stored in a black jockey box on the front-right of the truck box. Customer deploys it to charge an EV from the bank's AC output
• The EV itself determines the charging rate in most cases — the ThunderBank is set to a maximum of 80 A unless the customer requests otherwise
• EV charging is only enabled when the 3-position switch is in On

For Cabling and Operation, Follow Industry Safety Guidelines.

Monitoring

• Exterior display — the unlocked grey Polycase at the rear-right corner. Live SOC, power flow, alarms, and per-leg amps/volts/watts. Best place for quick on-site checks
• Lightnin Portal — web-based monitoring and remote controls for both the ThunderBank and the ThunderBolt fleet. Shows the latest snapshot of readings (refreshed on demand, not continuously streaming), plus historical data, alarm history, sustainability metrics, and the Tools-tab calculators (Power, Charge Time, Runtime). For continuously updating values, use the on-board screen or VRM
• VRM — Victron's underlying telemetry portal. Useful for low-level diagnostics Lightnin tech may walk you through over the phone

Air conditioning

• The interior is air-conditioned to 80°F or less
• The air conditioning is wired to the MultiPlus and is always on regardless of the 3-position switch — it stays running even in Off or Charge. The only thing that takes the air conditioning down is the EMERGENCY STOP. The air conditioning can still use the battery in the Off position; this is rarely a concern given the bank's size, but plan accordingly for weeks-long idle periods or units sitting at low SOC
• Compartment temperature sensors are reliable to ±5°F. If a sensor stops reporting to VRM, its battery has failed — call Lightnin to coordinate replacement
• 100–109°F compartment temps usually mean the air conditioning is failing or struggling, not a thermal event. Call Lightnin to diagnose
• Panel temps normally run 5–20°F warmer than the interior compartment, especially under heavy charging or discharging. The 120°F panel alarm is set at a temperature that is not yet an emergency — it's an early prompt for the operator to watch the unit closely and follow the response ladder in the EAP so the proper adjustments can be made before a real emergency develops. The auto EMERGENCY STOP only triggers at 119°F interior compartment or 140°F on either panel, as a precaution to avoid a fire or damage to the equipment.

Temperature response — quick reference. Compact summary of the interior compartment and panel-sensor thresholds. Full ladders with per-step actions live in the EAP.

Solar contribution

Rooftop solar runs continuously in daylight. Additional solar panels can be connected to the external PV breakers located near the fire extinguisher. You must have the breakers in the OFF position before connecting or disconnecting cables to solar panels. Solar offsets load and charges the bank; you do not need to do anything to "use" it — it just contributes automatically.

The main solar contribution comes from the fleet of ThunderBolt Solar Trailers feeding the ThunderBank, which together form a microgrid. Long run times are only possible when there is additional energy flowing into the ThunderBank — from the ThunderBolts or from a solar farm on the external PV breakers.

No grid power
(off-shore) →

Battery discharging
only 6.4 kW @ 71% →

← ThunderBolts feeding in
5,262 W
via PV Inverter

← Fleet AC load
10.52 kW

Connecting additional solar panels

Up to three additional PV strings can be connected through the external PV breakers (shielded box at the rear-left corner, near the ABC extinguisher).

• Lightnin can supply panels that can be used in strings of 4 – 10 panels per breaker
• If the customer is supplying their own panels, confirm with Lightnin that the string's short-circuit current rating is within spec before connecting
• Breakers must be OFF before connecting or disconnecting panels
• Once panels are connected, flip the corresponding external PV breaker to ON. Confirm on the exterior display that solar contribution rises

Truck alternator

• The alternator charges the bank while the truck engine is running. The switch is in the cab, left of the steering wheel
• Leave the switch in the ON position by default — the alternator only contributes when the engine is running, so there's no penalty for leaving it on the rest of the time
• If the switch's indicator light is illuminated, the alternator has faulted. Move the switch to OFF and notify Lightnin

1. Set ThunderBolts to Normal Ops / No Export, interior master OFF, or unplug them.
2. Move the ThunderBank 3-position switch to Off.
3. Disconnect everything from the unit:
   • AC output camlocks at the rear wall ("waterfall" panel)
   • ThunderBolt feeds
   • 3‑phase shore at the AC Input panel
   • Single-phase trickle chargers
   • Additional solar; confirm the three external PV breakers are OFF
4. Stow all camlocks; secure cable bundles for transport.
5. Stow the Level 2 EV charger in the black jockey box on the front-right.

Overcurrent while turning the ThunderBank Off

The most common cause of an overcurrent alarm is turning the ThunderBank Off while ThunderBolts are still in Export — this is not recommended, because repeated alarms cause unnecessary wear and risk damage to the equipment.

Best practice: set ThunderBolts to Normal Ops / No Export, interior master OFF, or unplug first, then move the ThunderBank switch.

If the alarm does fire, a reset cycle is the recommended resolution:

1. Confirm ThunderBolt export has stopped (set to Normal Ops/No Export, interior master OFF, or unplug).
2. Cycle the 3-position switch Off → On → Off, then move it to your desired state.

Overcurrent or inverter fault at any other time

Do not reset — call Lightnin. A blind reset can mask a real problem. Investigate first: read the alarm description on the Alarms tab (4th blue tab at the top of the screen), check shore cable seating, polarity, and color order, then call Lightnin if the cause isn't obvious.

Common real causes Victron may be reacting to:

• Too high a load on one or multiple legs
• Bad voltage from a bad cable or a reversed cable
• Loose camlock connection
• Shore source voltage drifting out of acceptable range

Victron's fault logic: disconnect → wait ~30 seconds → retry 3–5 times → then either disconnect from the fault source for 30 minutes or ignore the AC inputs entirely.

ThunderBolt is exporting and shouldn't be

Move the ThunderBolt switch to Normal Ops / No Export or unplug it.

Note: ThunderBolts in Normal Ops / No Export may routinely draw a small amount of watts and briefly (less than a second) show readings of −50 W to 0 W. This is part of a "handshake" between the trailer and the power source and won't cause any harm. The setpoint is below what utility companies define as backfeed.

Screen glitches on the control panel

If the control-panel screen freezes, shows artifacts, or otherwise misbehaves, there is a small blue dot in the lower-left corner of the display. Press it to reset the screen. Resetting the screen does not affect the inverters or the bank — it only restarts the display.

If the blue dot is not visible, there are two thumb screws on the control panel. Unscrew them to allow the control panel door to swing open. Unplug the cable that goes into the back of the screen, and plug it back in.

Any glitches to the screen don't affect operation of the ThunderBank — this is a reference screen only. Loads and charging will continue to function. VRM is the primary overview tool.

Orange dial glitches

If the orange dial shows dashes in all of its fields, it has likely lost its wifi connection. To re-establish its connection, open the control panel by loosening the thumb screws in the upper left and lower left of the plate. When it swings open, remove the green power plug (with two wires) going into the back of the orange dial. Wait a few seconds, then plug it back in. This will restart the orange dial and get it to search for the wifi network. It should resume functionality shortly.

Air conditioning struggling (compartment 100–109°F)

Not a fire indicator. Likely a refrigerant or compressor issue. Call Lightnin to coordinate service.

Control screen is throttling or showing partial data

Confirm EMERGENCY STOP hasn't been pressed. Use VRM as the primary reference guide.

Sensor not reporting in VRM

The temperature sensors have user-replaceable batteries. If a sensor drops off VRM, its battery has died. Call Lightnin to coordinate replacement.

When to call Lightnin vs. just continue

• Overcurrent from turning the ThunderBank Off while ThunderBolts were exporting → reset cycle is OK (see Troubleshooting). If it persists after one cycle, call Lightnin
• Any other overcurrent or inverter fault → don't reset — call Lightnin. A blind reset can mask a real problem
• Any thermal indicator (120°F panel alert, vapor, odor) → follow the EAP, not this manual
• Any alternator fault indicator → leave OFF and notify Lightnin
• ThunderBolt that still is not exporting after an unplug-and-replug attempt → call Lightnin

6-month bolt re-torque

Lightnin handles the 6-month bolt re-torque internally. Loose connections are the most common preventable cause of electrical fires; the re-torque catches them before they become a problem. If the inspection comes due during a rental, call Lightnin to schedule a good time for a tech to come out and perform the maintenance.

ABC fire extinguisher inspection

• Inspect the tag date before every show. If the tag is past due, notify Lightnin
• Confirm the cylinder is in its bracket on the bumper at the rear-left of the truck
• Confirm the gauge needle is in the green band

Battery Depth of Discharge

• The batteries have a 90% Depth of Discharge.
• Do not plan a load profile that takes the bank below 11% — running deeper degrades cell life over time
• At 10% SOC the bank performs an automatic shutdown. Once shut down, the bank can still accept a charge in the On or Charge switch position. Inverting (AC output) only resumes once SOC reaches 12% or higher
• Use the Runtime calculator to plan how long a given load can run before reaching the cutoff

Pre-show checklist (quick version)

• ABC extinguisher tag current, cylinder in bracket
• EAP and laminated cards present and current
• 6-month inspection up to date (Lightnin tracks)
• Point person identified to handle emergency planning per EAP Section B

A. Specs sheet

B. Portal tools

• Power Calculator — convert amps ↔ kW for 3‑phase or single-phase circuits. Lightnin Portal → Tools → Power → Power Calculator.
• Charge Time — estimate fill time for a given amp/kW input. Lightnin Portal → Tools → Power → ThunderBank Charge Time.
• Runtime — estimate how long the bank will run a given load (with optional solar offset or trailer-count solar contribution). Lightnin Portal → Tools → Power → ThunderBank Runtime.

C. Cross-reference

• ThunderBank Emergency Action Plan — what to do when something goes wrong
• Production Crew Emergency Card — laminated quick-ref for crew, kept near the unit
• Fire Department Quick Reference Card — laminated quick-ref handed to first responders

ThunderBank Operation Manual · Revision 1 · Effective 2026-06-13 · Lightnin Production Rentals