Article: Victron Lynx Product Line Overview: Busbars, Distributors, and Shunts
Victron Lynx Product Line Overview: Busbars, Distributors, and Shunts
The Victron Lynx system is a modular high-current DC busbar and distribution framework — the clean, engineered alternative to fabricating your own copper busbar connections in a large battery installation. Wesley walks through every module in the lineup, how they physically connect, and the installer tips that answer the most common questions in the video above.
Before You Buy: Two Hardware Standards
Every Lynx module comes in two hardware variants, and mixing them is not possible. Before ordering anything, decide which standard your installation will use:
Terminal bolt size: M8 or M10. M8 and M10 posts cannot be physically bolted together. Your entire Lynx assembly — every module in the line — must match on bolt size.
Amperage rating: 500A or 1000A continuous. This is determined by the maximum current that will pass through the main copper busbar. Size to your system’s peak load, not average load.
The Four Core Modules
Lynx Power In / Lynx Class T Power In
The Power In module connects multiple external batteries or battery strings to the main DC busbar network. Two versions:
Standard Power In — A positive/negative un-fused joining busbar. Simple and direct, for systems where fusing is handled elsewhere.
Class T Power In — Built for high-discharge lithium systems. Houses integrated spaces for two high-AIC Class T fuses (sold separately) plus a system chassis ground point. If you’re running multiple strings of lithium batteries with high peak discharge capability, this is the module that handles the connection safely.
Lynx Distributor
The distribution backbone of most Lynx builds. The Distributor provides four dedicated connection points for heavy-duty Mega fuses, with a front-facing LED panel that monitors each fuse circuit. If a fuse blows, the corresponding LED lights red — immediate visual identification without pulling anything apart.
Common troubleshooting question: Why are the LEDs dark? Standalone Lynx Distributors don’t power their LED circuit boards by themselves. By default, the LED board requires control power supplied through the data ribbon from an attached Lynx BMS or Lynx Shunt. The product manual includes a wiring bypass procedure to power the LEDs independently in standalone configurations.
Lynx Shunt VE.Can
A 1,000A intelligent system shunt with a built-in battery monitor. The Shunt VE.Can tracks overall state of charge for the entire battery bank and broadcasts data over VE.Can via RJ45 cable to a Cerbo GX. It also includes a slot for the main system safety fuse.
Budget tip: A standalone Victron SmartShunt can be bolted directly onto the flat end of a Lynx Distributor’s negative M10 busbar tail — a standard installer shortcut that achieves similar monitoring at a lower component cost.
Lynx Smart BMS NG (Next Generation)
A dedicated battery management system built to coordinate with Victron’s Lithium NG battery series (12V, 24V, and 48V variations). Available in 500A and 1000A chassis sizes. The Lynx Smart BMS NG completely replaces the legacy Lynx Smart BMS, which was designed for the older Lithium Smart battery generation. Multiple units can be wired in parallel for large commercial or high-redundancy applications.
Physical Assembly
The plastic side barriers slide off each module, exposing the internal copper busbars. When two modules are placed side by side, their copper busbars overlap and bolt directly together into a single unified block — no external wiring between modules, no custom fabrication. Data communication to the Cerbo GX uses a standard RJ45 UTP cable into the VE.Can ports.
Managing Multiple Distributors
If you link two or more Lynx Distributors together, remove the plastic covers and adjust the internal DIP switches to assign each Distributor a unique identity number. Without unique IDs, the GX device can’t distinguish between them on the monitoring screen.
Quick-Reference: Which Module Does What
| Module | Function | Fusing | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power In | Battery-to-busbar connection | None | None |
| Class T Power In | Multi-string lithium battery connection | Class T fuses (×2) | None |
| Distributor | High-current load distribution | Mega fuses (×4) | LED fuse status |
| Shunt VE.Can | System shunt + main fuse | 1 main fuse slot | VE.Can SoC to GX |
| Smart BMS NG | Lithium NG BMS + protection | Integrated | VE.Can to GX |
Browse the full Victron accessories and battery monitoring collections at Blue Marine. For more on the Lithium NG batteries the Smart BMS NG is designed for, see our Lithium NG vs Lithium Smart guide. Need help designing a Lynx-based distribution system? Schedule a free consultation with our ABYC-certified team.
Related reading:
Victron Lithium NG vs. Lithium Smart: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Understanding Victron DVCC: What It Is and Why It Matters
Victron SmartShunt Setup & Overview: Bluetooth Battery Monitoring
