VENUS E Mini quick start
The MARSTEK Venus E Mini (model MST-BIE2-1500) is a smaller AC-coupled home battery in the VENUS family. This quick start follows the VENUS E Mini user manual (English section). No product photo of the Mini is available in this knowledge base yet.
The manual says: "Only qualified professionals or properly trained personnel are allowed to install, operate, or maintain this equipment," and "Maintenance must be performed by authorized personnel only." Power must be off before installation, and you need utility approval before grid-tied operation. Steps 1–4 below are for qualified installers.
The VENUS E Mini manual in Drive lists 230 V / 50 Hz grid ratings and a European (EU-standard) BACKUP socket. The Philippine grid is 220 V / 60 Hz. No Philippine-edition Mini manual is in Drive. Confirm that PH-market units are rated for the local grid (check the unit's rating label) before selling or installing.
At a glance (from the manual)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | MST-BIE2-1500 (2 = 2 kVAh, 1500 = 1500 W maximum output power) |
| Battery | 2009.6 Wh (314 Ah × 2S), LiFePO4, 90% DoD, more than 6000 cycles (25 °C) |
| On-grid output | 800 VA / 1.5 kVA, 230 V / 50 Hz |
| BACKUP (off-grid) | 1.5 kVA rated, 1.8 kVA peak (60 s), 230 V / 50 Hz |
| Battery-AC max. efficiency | >88% |
| Dimensions | 386 × 450 × 105 mm |
| Ingress protection | IP65, natural cooling, max. altitude 2000 m |
| Ambient temperature | −20 °C to +60 °C (storage −30 °C to +85 °C) |
| Communication | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Ports | Grid ("MST-grid port"), BACKUP (European socket) |
For the full spec list, see the VENUS E Mini product page.
Before installing
Check the box before opening it
Look for holes, cracks or other damage on the packaging, and check the model number. If the box is damaged or the model is wrong, don't unpack it. Contact the dealer.
Unpack and inspect
Check the unit for dents, scratches or other surface defects. Compare the contents with the packing list. The manual lists AC cable × 1 and wall-side mounting bracket × 1. Report damaged or missing items to the dealer or to [email protected] (as printed in the manual).
Pick the site
- Install the unit upright only. Do not tilt it, lay it flat or turn it upside down.
- Best surfaces: solid brick-concrete, concrete walls, concrete floors.
- Drywall or wood is only allowed if it is flame-retardant and strong enough to carry the unit's weight.
- Leave clear space around the unit for heat dissipation and safety isolation. No other equipment nearby (except VENUS-compatible devices and approved awnings), and no flammable or explosive materials.
- Choose a dry, well-ventilated spot away from liquids.
Prepare the tools
The manual recommends: screwdrivers, a wrench, diagonal pliers, insulating gloves and a measuring tape.
Installation (qualified installer)
(Optional) Fit the unit-side mounting bracket
Line up the screw holes on the unit-side bracket with the mounting points on both sides of the Mini. Fasten it with the screws provided.
(Optional) Wall-mount
Screw the wall-side bracket to the wall, then hook the two brackets together. The unit is now firmly wall-mounted.
Open the cover
Open the cover before wiring.
Wire Grid and BACKUP
- Grid: plug the cylinder-shaped end of the AC cable into the Mini. Plug the other end into a household power socket (city grid).
- BACKUP: plug the home-load wiring into the BACKUP socket.
"DO NOT connect both the Grid and BACKUP sockets of the MARSTEK Venus E Mini device to the city power network. Doing so will cause a circuit break or possible device damage." The manual warns that wrong wiring can cause short circuits, failures from current backflow, and fire risk. Also put a circuit breaker on each branch line. A central protective device is not required.
The manual's accessory list shows only a wall-side bracket, but Step 1 (optional) uses a unit-side bracket. Check what is actually in the box. If a part you need is missing, contact the supplier.
Using it
Buttons, ports and LEDs
- On/Off button: press to turn on / off.
- Grid: connects the system to the household grid.
- BACKUP: AC socket (EU standard) that powers loads during electricity outages.
| Indicator | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | Off / Steady on | Power off / Power on |
| Battery | Light bar left → right | Charging |
| Battery | Light bar right → left | Discharging |
| Warn | Off | Operating normally |
| Warn | Red light on | Device fault (see troubleshooting) |
| Others (Grid, BACKUP, CT, WiFi, BT) | Off / Steady on | Function off / on |
Working modes
Configured in the MARSTEK app:
- Self-Consumption: requires a CT. Discharges when the CT sees an active load. Charges when the CT sees solar exporting to the grid.
- AI Optimization: AI builds cost-effective charging strategies from consumption, solar generation and real-time electricity prices.
- Manual: runs user-defined charge/discharge strategies.
The Mini manual's introduction lists four modes ("AI Optimization, self-consumption, manual, and UPS modes"), but section 1.6 only describes three. The manual does not explain UPS mode. Do not describe how it behaves until MARSTEK documentation covers it.
Compensation (Self-Consumption + CT + Load): single-phase powers only the load on the live wire. Three-phase total compensation spreads power across phases A/B/C for near-zero export. The manual strongly advises three-phase compensation for homes with several devices.
Meters: fully compatible with MARSTEK CT002 and CT003. Also compatible with Shelly Pro 3EM, Shelly EM Gen3, Shelly Pro EM-50 (Shelly), ECOTRACKER IR (Everhome) and PI Meter (Homewizard). Each of these third-party meters supports only one device per phase.
System layouts: the Mini works with any existing solar system (plug-in solution, with CT002 or a supported meter). It can also pair with the MARSTEK SmartBox (single-phase/three-phase) for whole-home backup. The manual gives no SmartBox wiring details.
App
The Mini manual (section 3.1) says to scan the QR code to download the app, and prints this download link: https://eu.hamedata.com/ems/apk/marstek/index.html. It shows Google Play and Apple App Store badges. Section 3.2 has a QR code for the APP Operation Guide.
Maintenance
- Inspect at least once a year. Make sure all components are intact and the heat-dissipation parts are not blocked.
- Clean with a vacuum cleaner or dedicated brush. Do not use filamentous or corrosive rags.
- Unplug the unit from the socket before any maintenance or repair, unless otherwise specified.
- Do not dismantle. Only authorised personnel may repair it.
- The AC output harness must not be replaced. If it is damaged, the whole device must be scrapped.
- If the device has a problem, stop using it until the problem is solved.
Related pages
- VENUS E Mini product page
- VENUS E Mini troubleshooting and error codes
- VENUS E app and working modes (VENUS E 3.0, same mode concepts)