Victron DC distribution is built around the Lynx system: modular busbars that bolt together side by side to form a fused positive and negative backbone between your battery and everything else. Each module does one job, such as distributing fused circuits, measuring current or managing a lithium battery. Pick the modules you need, then bolt them into one chain rated up to 1000A.
Victron DC Distribution: The Lynx Modules
| Module | What it does |
|---|---|
| Lynx Distributor | 4 fused connections (MEGA fuses) with fuse monitoring; M8 or M10 |
| Lynx Power In | Positive and negative busbar with 4 battery or DC connections; M8 or M10 |
| Lynx Class-T Power In | Takes 2 Class-T fuses, with 2 battery or DC connections; M10 |
| Lynx Shunt VE.Can | Battery monitor with space for a main system fuse, reporting over VE.Can |
| Lynx Smart BMS / Smart BMS NG | Battery management, contactor and battery monitor for Victron lithium batteries |
Sources: Victron Lynx Distributor M8 and M10 manual; Lynx Smart BMS NG manual.
Lynx Distributor Key Specs
| Spec | Lynx Distributor |
|---|---|
| Current rating | 1000A DC continuous |
| Voltage range | 9–60V DC (12, 24 or 48V) |
| Fuses | 4 x MEGA: 36V-rated fuses for 12/24V, 58V-rated fuses for 48V |
| Busbar joints | M8 or M10; fuse and cable studs are always M8 |
| Joint torque | 14Nm (M8), 33Nm (current M10) |
| Size / weight | 290 x 170 x 80mm, 2.2kg, IP22 |
Source: Victron Lynx Distributor manual.
The Rules Victron Gives
- Pick M8 or M10 and stick with it. The two versions don’t bolt directly together. The 1000A Lynx Smart BMS NG is M10 only.
- Don’t exceed the weakest module. The combined fuse ratings shouldn’t be more than the current rating of the lowest-rated Lynx module in the chain.
- Fill every fuse slot. Use dummy fuses where a slot is unused, so the fuse LED doesn’t show a false alarm.
- Power the LEDs. The Distributor’s LEDs get power over RJ10 from a Lynx Smart BMS or Lynx Shunt VE.Can. With a Lynx Smart BMS, up to four Distributors report fuse status. A Lynx Shunt VE.Can doesn’t support that.
Do You Need Lynx?
| Your system | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| One MPPT, one small inverter, a few DC loads | A simple busbar and fuse block is enough |
| Inverter-charger of about 2kW or more, several chargers | Lynx makes the heavy side cleaner and safer |
| Victron Lithium NG bank | Lynx Smart BMS NG plus Lynx Distributor |
| Large lithium bank where you want Class-T fusing | Lynx Class-T Power In |
Sizing a Circuit (Estimate)
A 3,000W inverter on 12V draws about 250A (3,000 ÷ 12, before losses). Size that cable and fuse from the inverter manual, not the Lynx rating. This is an estimate. Victron’s book Wiring Unlimited covers the full calculation.
You can download the Lynx Distributor manual and datasheet from Victron Energy’s website.
Example Layout: A Large Van
A van with a 12V 400Ah lithium bank, a MultiPlus-II 12/3000, two MPPTs and an Orion XS:
- Lynx Power In: collects the battery cables, with each battery fused at its terminal.
- Lynx Shunt VE.Can: holds the main system fuse and measures battery current.
- Lynx Distributor: four MEGA-fused outputs for the inverter, both MPPTs and the Orion XS.
- A separate DC fuse box: fed from a small busbar for lights, the fridge and pumps.
The heavy inverter current stays inside the Lynx busbars, and the light circuits stay on a simple fuse box (example layout).
Example Layout: A Victron Lithium NG Home Bank
A 48V off-grid cabin with several Lithium NG batteries:
- Lynx Smart BMS NG: manages the NG batteries, with a contactor and a built-in battery monitor. It’s M10 only for the 1000A model, so the whole chain is M10.
- Lynx Distributor (M10): fused outputs for two MultiPlus-II units and MPPTs.
- Second Lynx Distributor: more outputs for DC loads and future chargers.
With a Lynx Smart BMS, up to four Distributors report fuse status, so a blown fuse appears on the GX device.
Example Layout: A Boat With Class-T Fusing
A boat with two lithium strings:
- Lynx Class-T Power In: two Class-T fuses, one per string, plus a DC ground connection.
- Lynx Shunt VE.Can: battery monitoring and a main fuse.
- Lynx Distributor: inverter/charger, alternator charger and MPPT outputs.
Working Out the Fuse Budget
The total of all fuses shouldn’t exceed the lowest-rated module in the chain. For a 1000A chain, a budget might look like this:
| Circuit | Example fuse |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| MultiPlus-II 12/3000 | 400A |
| Second inverter | 300A |
| MPPT 1 and MPPT 2 | 60A each |
| Orion XS | 70A |
| DC fuse box feed | 100A |
| Total | 990A |
Example values only. Each fuse must protect its own cable and suit its device manual.
Planning the Physical Space
- Each Lynx Distributor is 290 × 170 × 80mm and 2.2kg. Add up the sizes of every module in the chain from their datasheets before choosing a wall, since they mount in one straight line.
- Leave room above and below for cable bends, since battery and inverter cables are thick.
- Choose a dry spot, since the modules are IP22.
- Plan where the RJ10 cables run between modules for LED power and fuse reporting.
Installation Order
- Mount the modules in their final order.
- Bolt the joints at the manual torque: 14Nm for M8, 33Nm for current M10.
- Fit MEGA fuses and dummy fuses in unused slots.
- Connect RJ10 cables from the Lynx Smart BMS or Lynx Shunt VE.Can.
- Connect the device cables, then the battery cables last.
- Fit all covers before switching on.
When to Keep It Simple
A van with one battery, one MPPT and a 1,000W inverter rarely needs Lynx. A Victron busbar with a few MIDI or MEGA fuses does the same job in less space. Move to Lynx once you add a larger inverter/charger, several charge sources or a managed lithium bank.
FAQ
Are fuses included?
No. Buy MEGA fuses rated for your system voltage and circuit current.
Can I use a SmartShunt with Lynx?
Yes, on the negative side, but the Distributor’s LEDs then need separate power.
Is Lynx overkill for a van?
For a small van, often yes. It pays off once you have a large inverter and several charge sources.
Can I add modules later?
Yes. The modular design lets you bolt on another Distributor or swap a Power In for a Smart BMS, as long as you stay with the same busbar size.
Do Lynx modules need power?
The Distributor’s LEDs need power over RJ10 from a Lynx Smart BMS or Lynx Shunt VE.Can. The busbars themselves carry current without it.
Sources: Victron Lynx Distributor M8 and M10 manual, Lynx Smart BMS NG manual and product pages (victronenergy.com, accessed Oct 2026); Fenix Off Grid Solutions.
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