From the left: Current sensor, Ethernet, USB, CAN, Disable Charge/Discharge, temperature sensors, relay, balancer inputs, switch/LED (possibley remote). See Documentation. The inputs are partly clamp connectors (Phoenix) for more flexibility. The balancer inputs and cables are Automotive certified cables from ERNI.
No, each inverter can work with the BMS. Additional, electrically isolated outputs (Disable Charge / Discharge) can be used to control inverters without an interface.
When the BMS is switched off, the board is de-energized. Only the balancers are connected directly to the corresponding ICs and consume about 50 mW. In active operation without balancing activities, the power consumption is about 1.8W.
AutarcTech offers a cascadable 4S / 12V Active Balance BMS based on the same components as Joulie-16. This BMS is called Joulie-4c (cascadable). A separate manual describes the functions and the use. See Documentation.