Multiplus Temp Sensor
- Thread starter offroad
- Start date
If you already paid extra for the BMV-712 temperature sensor then there's no need to use the one that comes with the MultiPlus. This is because, for some reason, the MultiPlus does not have a way to setup the charger to shutdown if it detects that the battery temperature is too low, such as for LiFePO₄ batteries. Regular adjustments to charging based on temperature does not apply to LiFePO₄.
I used the temperature sensor with my MultiPlus because I setup my BMV-712 to do midpoint voltage monitoring. My MultiPlus provides the temperature over the VE.Smart networking which allows my SmartSolar SCC to stop charging from solar if the temperature gets too low.
For the curious, the following has some discussion about the lack of being able to setup a MultiPlus to stop charging based on temperature:
community.victronenergy.com
I used the temperature sensor with my MultiPlus because I setup my BMV-712 to do midpoint voltage monitoring. My MultiPlus provides the temperature over the VE.Smart networking which allows my SmartSolar SCC to stop charging from solar if the temperature gets too low.
For the curious, the following has some discussion about the lack of being able to setup a MultiPlus to stop charging based on temperature:
MultiPlus: Disable Charger based on battery temperature - Victron Community
community.victronenergy.com
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
Nope. There's no reason to use the Multiplus temp sensor with your setup.
I plugged mine into my Cerbo and ran it outside under my rig to tell me the outside temp on my Touch 50. I'm going to get another one as well to tell me the temp of the compartment my inverter is in to use Relay 1 on my Cerbo to trigger the powered air vents. Lots of uses for temp sensors.
Thanks for all responses.
Can I run a cable from the VE.Direct port on the 712 to a Victron SCC, or does getting temp info to the SCC require a Cerbo GX?
Off topic, will a Multiplus wake up the BMS on my SOK if I forget to use my pre-charge button, or it otherwise disconnects from batteries?
Can I run a cable from the VE.Direct port on the 712 to a Victron SCC, or does getting temp info to the SCC require a Cerbo GX?
Off topic, will a Multiplus wake up the BMS on my SOK if I forget to use my pre-charge button, or it otherwise disconnects from batteries?
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
Assuming your SCC has a VE Direct port, yes you can.
Assuming you have a SmartSolar SCC, set it up to use VE.Smart networking. Do the same with the BMV-712. The temperature data from the BMV-712 will be sent to the SCC. No VE.Direct cable needed. No GX needed.
With VE.Smart networking I never would have thought of connecting the two devices together with a VE.Direct cable. Does that actually work?
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
Well you got me there. Yes it would work but you wouldn't be able to see anything without something "smart" in the loop. ? A dongle maybe?
I have a 712 smart shunt, a smart SCC, a Multiplus dongle and a smart sense temp probe. They're all linked and I can see everything I could on a Cerbo with my phone, tablet and laptop using Victron Connect.
They are all Bluetooth. You can see them all using VictronConnect. But that's separate from the devices seeing each other which is what the OP wants. And that is done by setting up each device to use the same VE.Smart network or by wiring them all to a GX. Using VE.Smart networking is a lot cheaper and simpler.
What is a smart sense temp probe?
I've got the 712/shunt and Multiplus bluetooth dongle, but the temp probe I have bolts to the battery + and then two wires/ferrules go to the 712, nothing smart about it.
Smart Battery Sense (you don't need one):
Smart Battery Sense - Victron Energy
Improve the charging-efficiency and prolong the life of your batteries with the Smart Battery Sense. Find a dealer near you.
Once you setup VE.Smart networking for all three (BMV-712, SCC, MultiPlus) then it will be smart since all three will talk to each other. You can also see all of the devices using VictronConnect (which is where you setup the VE.Smart network for each).
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
I don't see where the OP stated they were all bluetooth. All of these devices are made with and without bluetooth. That said, you can network all bluetooth devices with Victron Connect.
The OP has a BMV-712. That's Bluetooth. The OP just stated in post #11 that they have the Bluetooth dongle for the MultiPlus. The only assumption I've made is that the SCC is a SmartSolar and not a BlueSolar. Granted, that's an important assumption.
@offroad Do you have a SmartSolar (Bluetooth) or BlueSolar (non-Bluetooth) SCC?
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
I thought they made a non smart version of the BMV-712...oops!
Solar will come later, but it would be a Smart SCC if I end up going Victron.
I'm also looking at Rich Solar and Epever, but I do like the interface on Victron Connect
Paul_R
Solar Enthusiast
You could always paint 'em blue but they'd still be a cheap imitation...??
Given the BMV-712 and the MultiPlus, getting a Victron SCC makes the most sense. Everything can talk to each other and it just works. It's the very rare case where someone regrets getting a Victron SCC, especially when you already have other Victron gear. You would only need one app to see and control everything. And if the mood strikes in the future, you can connect it all together with either a Cerbo GX (expensive) or Raspberry Pi (cheap) and get a nice display and touch interface for it all. And that also has the benefit of letting you access your system from anywhere in the world via VRM. My setup uses the Raspberry Pi approach and it is great. Adds maybe $150-$200 total.
I agree, trying to figure out which SCC size I'll need given the panel setup I'll be using.
Will start with 2x 200 watt panels and possibly expand to a total of 4x panels and 800 watts. (flat mounted)
Looking at these: https://richsolar.com/products/200-watt-solar-panel which have a Voc of 24.3v but would certainly consider others.
400/12v is 33.3a but will they actually generate enough to waste power on a Smart Solar 100 | 30?
800/12v is 66.6a but will that waste power or overload a Smart Solar 100 | 50?
Also, 4 x 24.3v is 97.2v and at low temps is that a problem for a 100v input rated SCC?
Should I be using 12v for calculations as the SCC will be charging at 13.6-14.4v?
Thanks for any advice!
I'm guessing this was added in the latest firmware, and has anyone tried it?
Edit: This does appear to work
Created VE-Network on the 712-BMV, then added the Multiplus to the network.
Used a load to bring the battery bank down a bit, then set low temp cutoff above ambient with the MK3-USB and upon restoring shore power the Multiplus went into Pass-Through.
Currently have the temp set at 32.9F as it wouldn't accept 33F, I believe SOK BMS stops charging at 32F
Edit: This does appear to work
Created VE-Network on the 712-BMV, then added the Multiplus to the network.
Used a load to bring the battery bank down a bit, then set low temp cutoff above ambient with the MK3-USB and upon restoring shore power the Multiplus went into Pass-Through.
Currently have the temp set at 32.9F as it wouldn't accept 33F, I believe SOK BMS stops charging at 32F
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