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Victron Smart Shunt - what next

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DixieMtCR

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Jan 28, 2021
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I purchased and installed a Victron 500a smart shunt nearly a year ago. It works great, if I stand within 10 ft of it. Its bluetooth range leaves a lot to be desired.

My off-grid batteries, and all the electronics... and panels are 100ft + from the hours. I want to be able to view the shunt data inside the house and not have to stand out in the snow to get a bluetooth reading. I know, "Poor Boy! He has to stand out in the snow!"

What else do I need to invest in to get the Victron Smart Shunt signal across WiFi so I can use it in the house. It seems good business for Victron to sell all these different adapters, gateways, displays, cables, and whatever else. It brings in revenue. But, I really don't want to keep buying stuff until I finally (or possibly not) have a victory and be able to use the expensive shunt and all the work to install it.

What is the next component? And, will that provide a solution? I am retired and live on a very small fixed income. I know that solar generated electricity will never pay for itself in a person's lifetime. It is for our use during the many power outages we have where we live. Sometimes we cannot get out to get gasoline for the generator and electricity is needed.

Thanks for any light or help you can shed on the topic here.

1840w of solar panels feeding 8 12v deep cycle RV batteries wired 2s4p, charge controllers, 4000w PSW inverter. Currently, no sun and using more current than I am producing.


Ken
 
Smart shunt BT is in the shunt itself. notoriously poor range. BMV-712 BT is in the display. Tends to have much better or at least more useful range.

100' is a big ask.

GX device or RPi running Venus OS. Can be hard wired or wifi'd allowing for Victron VRM provided you have internet access from anywhere you have access to a browser, or the VRM app on your phone. Can also connect VictronConnect via the GX device from anywhere with an internet connection.

Here's my system. You would see the circled portion, plus the "time to go" value you have based on your set discharge depth:

1674590515777.png
 
Yes, the RPi was someone's advice. I then bought the RPi and an LCD touch screen to set this up. I was ready for success.

I then tried to install Venus OS and it would not load on my RPi.. After investigating the problem, I found that Venus OS is not compatible with my new RPi 400. So, another purchase and no success.

I think that there must be a bluetooth to wifi gateway that would be compatible with the smart shunt 500 and allow the shunt to be monitored across Wi-Fi. To have to stand 10ft from the device to connect to it seems to be a bit archaic. My bluetooth motorcycle helmet intercom headsets communicate via bluetooth in excess of 1/4 mile! Or is it that Victron has their proprietary devices, designed to all talk to each other to provide a solution but only if you buy the entire package.

There has got to be something for less than a $1k to monitor the batteries. I have about that invested in a Pi, monitor, shunt, and wiring.
 
$1k?? You’ve been had. Shunt is $150 on Amazon and a Pi with screen $300.
 
DixieMtCR said:
Yes, the RPi was someone's advice. I then bought the RPi and an LCD touch screen to set this up. I was ready for success.

I then tried to install Venus OS and it would not load on my RPi.. After investigating the problem, I found that Venus OS is not compatible with my new RPi 400. So, another purchase and no success.
Click to expand...

The installation instructions document which RPi are compatible.

DixieMtCR said:
I think that there must be a bluetooth to wifi gateway that would be compatible with the smart shunt 500 and allow the shunt to be monitored across Wi-Fi. To have to stand 10ft from the device to connect to it seems to be a bit archaic. My bluetooth motorcycle helmet intercom headsets communicate via bluetooth in excess of 1/4 mile! Or is it that Victron has their proprietary devices, designed to all talk to each other to provide a solution but only if you buy the entire package.
Click to expand...

BT transmission from a polycarbonate/Styrofoam shell is going to be inherently different from a big chunk of metal that is imbedded in a EM field of its own creation. Comparing the two is the proverbial apples to oranges situation. Expectations of one based on the other is not realistic.

The BMV-712 has improved BT range because it's NOT in the shunt. It's in the display outside of the shunt's EM field.

DixieMtCR said:
There has got to be something for less than a $1k to monitor the batteries. I have about that invested in a Pi, monitor, shunt, and wiring.
Click to expand...

Either you start over, or you finish the exercise. The correct RPi can be had for < $150, and in this market, you can probably recoup some of the cost of your 400.
 
jfpetesn said:
I looked on Amazon $185-$249. Not sure it’s the one you need. Prices are falling.
Click to expand...
I looked last year and they were closer to $400 prob due to the chip shortage. Glad to see some price corrections.
 
brucenolan said:
I have Victron smart shunt in the garage 200 feet away connected via VE.bus to USB:


on old win 7 laptop and visible over chrome remote desktop with smart shunt app on laptop
Click to expand...

Please elaborate. Victron smart shunt is VE.Direct only. Don't see how MK3-USB works in your situation.
 
brucenolan said:
you are correct, wrong link. correct link here:
Click to expand...

Whew... was scratching my noggin' on that one.

This does require a wifi enabled PC with remote desktop attached, which may go beyond the OP's tolerance. I would ask if the laptop could connect to the smartshunt via bluetooth alone w/o the VE.Direct cable. I expect so, but I don't know for sure.

I use a Mini-PC to run my Batrium software and provide chrome remote desktop access. VRM covers me for everything else.

1674613780967.png
 
740GLE said:
I looked last year and they were closer to $400 prob due to the chip shortage. Glad to see some price corrections.
Click to expand...
Hey anyone know the difference between the Cerbo GX and the Cerbo-S GX other than $65? With the price of the Raspberry Pi and the problems with installing Venus OS it is probably just as cost effective to buy the Cerbo-S if it will allow remote inquiry of a Victron smart shunt. Sounds like it will connect and serve up Smart Shunt data.
 
invertersrus.com

Victron Energy Cerbo GX & Cerbo S-GX | Inverters R US

Victron Cerbo GX BPP900450100 & Cerbo S-GX BPP900450120 are the brains of the Victron system, connect with various cables and devices.
invertersrus.com invertersrus.com

The Cerbo S-GX is a somewhat stripped down version of the original, removing some features that many customers were not using which in turn brings down the cost some for the customer. The Cerbo S-GX does not include Resistive tank level inputs, Temperature sense inputs, or a BMS-Can port.

$272.85 from Northern AZ wind and sun

Nice.
 
sunshine_eggo said:
Whew... was scratching my noggin' on that one.

This does require a wifi enabled PC with remote desktop attached, which may go beyond the OP's tolerance. I would ask if the laptop could connect to the smartshunt via bluetooth alone w/o the VE.Direct cable. I expect so, but I don't know for sure.

I use a Mini-PC to run my Batrium software and provide chrome remote desktop access. VRM covers me for everything else.

View attachment 131368
Click to expand...
yeah sorry for incorrect link, I had the old laptop so 0$ and 29$ for ve.direct to usb, wifi covers my garage 200 ft and I'm able to see victron connect app from anywhere along with other interesting stuff in the garage:
1674614275657.png
 
if the OP does not have an old windows machine the mini-PC like you have is also a good route

and victronconnect app will not see shunt via BT, 29 $ for VE.Direct to USB was reasonable to me
 
MMMMmmm... that's some fancy Orion charting. That's my big gripe with Batrium. Their logging isn't very granular. Individual cell data is logged to a snapshot file every 5 minutes, so the only way I can get that data is to parse thousands of text files. Easily done but annoying as shit.

Batrium feeds Min and Max cell voltages, but not the cell IDs. The info is available on MQTT from the CCGX, but it's not fed to VRM. I lack the IT skills to get it into a usable form. I can see it with MQTT Explorer, but Docker and Grafana don't see the cell IDs.
 
sunshine_eggo said:
MMMMmmm... that's some fancy Orion charting. That's my big gripe with Batrium. Their logging isn't very granular. Individual cell data is logged to a snapshot file every 5 minutes, so the only way I can get that data is to parse thousands of text files. Easily done but annoying as shit.

Batrium feeds Min and Max cell voltages, but not the cell IDs. The info is available on MQTT from the CCGX, but it's not fed to VRM. I lack the IT skills to get it into a usable form. I can see it with MQTT Explorer, but Docker and Grafana don't see the cell IDs.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it only shows at most the past 24 hours unless I export data. funny the grass is always greener over the other side (Batrium)
 
sunshine_eggo said:
invertersrus.com

Victron Energy Cerbo GX & Cerbo S-GX | Inverters R US

Victron Cerbo GX BPP900450100 & Cerbo S-GX BPP900450120 are the brains of the Victron system, connect with various cables and devices.
invertersrus.com invertersrus.com

The Cerbo S-GX is a somewhat stripped down version of the original, removing some features that many customers were not using which in turn brings down the cost some for the customer. The Cerbo S-GX does not include Resistive tank level inputs, Temperature sense inputs, or a BMS-Can port.

$272.85 from Northern AZ wind and sun

Nice.
Click to expand...

The Victron Cerbo S-GX is $225 @ Signature Solar
signaturesolar.com

Victron Energy Cerbo-S GX

The Victron Energy Cerbo-S GX is an advanced monitoring and control device designed for energy systems. It integrates monitoring, control, and data logging functionalities, making it ideal for managing solar PV, battery storage, and other energy sources in residential and commercial applications.
signaturesolar.com signaturesolar.com
 
brucenolan said:
if the OP does not have an old windows machine the mini-PC like you have is also a good route

and victronconnect app will not see shunt via BT, 29 $ for VE.Direct to USB was reasonable to me
Click to expand...
Yes I would need the VE direct cable. Assuming I bought the cable will the Cerbo-S interface with the Smart shunt connect to my LAN and allow access through VRM?
 
jfpetesn said:
Yes I would need the VE direct cable. Assuming I bought the cable will the Cerbo-S interface with the Smart shunt connect to my LAN and allow access through VRM?
Click to expand...

I don't know that the cerbo wifi is strong enough to make it the 100', but I expect a good wifi access point located with the cerbo should do it.

My setup is:

CCGX (poor man's Cerbo) ethernet to Wifi AP (use wifi in the shipping container for Mini-PC), 100' direct bury ethernet to DSL modem/router to VRM. I can see my shunt and all my victron hardware from anywhere with phone VRM app, Victron connect connected through VRM/GX or through VRM website.

Assuming you need WiFi, I see it as:

Cerbo ethernet to WiFi AP, Wifi 100' to home WiFi to WAN to VRM to luscious joy.
 
sunshine_eggo said:
I don't know that the cerbo wifi is strong enough to make it the 100', but I expect a good wifi access point located with the cerbo should do it.

My setup is:

CCGX (poor man's Cerbo) ethernet to Wifi AP (use wifi in the shipping container for Mini-PC), 100' direct bury ethernet to DSL modem/router to VRM. I can see my shunt and all my victron hardware from anywhere with phone VRM app, Victron connect connected through VRM/GX or through VRM website.

Assuming you need WiFi, I see it as:

Cerbo ethernet to WiFi AP, Wifi 100' to home WiFi to WAN to VRM to luscious joy.
Click to expand...
I like it a lot so I have hardwire Ethernet at the shunt so that wouldn’t be an issue. Could you point me out the CCGX device you are using? My issue is that my Smart Shunt is located in our basement. If I want to check my shunt I have to go into the kitchen and hold my phone just right to get an adequate Bluetooth signal. What I want to do is attach my Victron smart shunt to my LAN so I can look at it from any location.

I was planning to try the Pi thing but it seems that’s a 50/50 deal to get that up and running so then I was looking at the Cerbo-S which may work but then you came along and have something working well. I don’t need to do any adjustments or really interact with it I just use it for SOC comparisons with my Sol Ark. I really don’t have a lot of distance to cover as my shunt is close to my router and I can pull more Ethernet if this can work. Cheaper is better.

Thank you
 
jfpetesn said:
I like it a lot so I have hardwire Ethernet at the shunt so that wouldn’t be an issue. Could you point me out the CCGX device you are using? My issue is that my Smart Shunt is located in our basement. If I want to check my shunt I have to go into the kitchen and hold my phone just right to get an adequate Bluetooth signal. What I want to do is attach my Victron smart shunt to my LAN so I can look at it from any location.

I was planning to try the Pi thing but it seems that’s a 50/50 deal to get that up and running so then I was looking at the Cerbo-S which may work but then you came along and have something working well. I don’t need to do any adjustments or really interact with it I just use it for SOC comparisons with my Sol Ark. I really don’t have a lot of distance to cover as my shunt is close to my router and I can pull more Ethernet if this can work. Cheaper is better.

Thank you
Click to expand...

You want a Cerbo-S. CCGX is more expensive and less useful. It's what was available in 2019 when I didn't know any better as I was seeking to duplicate a friend's setup.

Connect Cerbo-S to battery.
Connect shunt to Cerbo-S via VE.Direct cable.
Connect Cerbo-S to Ethernet cable (presuming this will connect it to an internet-connected router).
Connect to Cerbo-S via VictronConnect to get the VRM ID.
Sign up for VRM.
Add your Cerbo-S to VRM.
Install VRM app on your phone.

You will be able to access your VRM from anywhere you have Internet access either via your VRM app, Victron Connect trough the GX device (can even change settings), or the VRM website.

You could put an old phone or tablet on the wall with it continuously displaying your shunt data.
 
The Victron GlobalLink 520 is made exactly for remote small VE.Direct installations to upload data to VRM. Basically Cerbo light kind of but basically just plug into VE.Direct shunt and direct to VRM. $250ish inc. Cellular service for fist 5 years.

Actually you don’t even have to plug in a VE.Direct cable. You can use BT Smart networking to get data from smartshunt to globallink and then direct to VRM cloud. You need no other cables or accessories.

GlobalLink 520 - Victron Energy

We believe that having insight into your installation is a key factor in maintaining and operating your off-grid energy solutions.
www.victronenergy.com www.victronenergy.com
 
Last edited:
Hey I really appreciate the suggestions. I think these solutions are probably better ultimately than spending hours trying to get Venus OS onto a Pi when I could spend almost as much for the Pi today.
 
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