Network and communication requirements

Before you setup your facility, decide what network solution is best suited for the installation.

  1. Ethernet connection from a router or switch
  2. Wi-Fi Connection to a router
  3. Use of the built in 4G modem*

* Note! The chargers do not communicate with each other via the cellular connection. This is by design, as DEFA chargers should always operate with full load balancing functionality even when the internet connection or the chosen CSMS is down.

The option is available but the charger will then have load balancing via cloud. Make sure your chosen CSMS supports this functionality.

For options 1 and 2 the router must fulfill certain requirements:

Network requirements for single charger without DEFA Balancer

  • The network must support IPv4.
  • The network must give the chargers an IP address via DHCP. Static IP addresses is not supported.
  • For Wi-Fi, the access point can be using either the 2.4 GHz or the 5 GHz band.
  • If a firewall is installed, it must allow outgoing connections to *.defa.com on ports 443 and 51820.

Network requirements for DEFA Balancer

  • The network must support IPv4 multicast between the DEFA Balancer and the charger(s).

Network requirements for multiple chargers and or balancer(s) in a facility

  • The network must support IPv4 multicast between the chargers.

Communication between other DEFA Power or DEFA Balancer

DEFA Power communicates with each other via the customer’s network. Chargers can either be connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Multiple chargers can use any combination of the two as long as the devices end up in the same subnet. The chargers must be able to detect each other via TCP multicast, which will typically be true if the Wi-Fi and the Ethernet connections end up in the same router.

Options for Network connections:

1

ETHERNET – ETHERNET


2

ETHERNET – WIFI


3

WIFI – WIFI


4

WIFI – ETHERNET


5

WIFI – EXTENDER


6

WITH MESH-NETWORK


7

WITHOUT NETWORK CONNECTIONS


8

NO LOCAL NETWORK, BUT CONNECTED TO 4G INTERNET


NOTE: If there is no internet connection, advanced functions and software updates will not be available. If
DEFA Balancer does not share a network with DEFA Power, load balancing is not supported. It is not possible to link DEFA Balancer and DEFA Power using two separate internet connections. Data charges may apply if a 4G connection is used.

Published: August 24th, 2023