Is it worth running Venus on a Pi headless? (and other questions)

[AlpineJoe]

Although I like the Victron iOS app, I don't like that I need to be within 6' of my smartshunt. Summary stats I can pick up 30' ft away, but detailed stats are a no go unless I'm right up next to it. Also the history plots don't always fill correctly when I'm looking at historical data. I'd like to see a year's worth of data too.

For the reasons above, plus wanting to look at my system when I'm away from the house, I'm going to run Venus on a Pi 3B+ and ideally headless. I already an uncommitted Pi 3B+, and I also already have a few isolated USB to serial adapters I made for another project, so expenses are nearly zero. All I need to do is buy some JST PH connectors and I'll be up and running. Except for the software part:

Question for you Venus on Pi users.
- I want to run this headless (pi would be outside with the equipment) and just look at the data over the app, or over it's HTML page anywhere in the house. Is the HTML webpage intuitive and does it work well?
- Besides not having to fire up a browser or the phone app, what benefit is there having a screen at the Pi?
- I see info about adding GUI mods, but also that GUI mods is broken in v3.50. What newest version do you recommend that can still use the GUI mods?
(I don't plan on using Node Red)
- Do I need to push my data to Victron for VRM viewing if I plan on only using the web view?
- Anyone have a favorite dc-dc converter for the Pi? (my system is 24V).

Thank you for your help

 

[SomethingAppropriate]

what benefit is there having a screen at the Pi?

I have never hooked up a display. Never.

Its fine, Tho I think you might need a VE Direct to USB cord. I dont believe the 3b has bluetooth or its hard to setup.

 

[SomethingAppropriate]

- Do I need to push my data to Victron for VRM viewing

Not sure. I dont think so tho.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Although I like the Victron iOS app, I don't like that I need to be within 6' of my smartshunt. Summary stats I can pick up 30' ft away, but detailed stats are a no go unless I'm right up next to it. Also the history plots don't always fill correctly when I'm looking at historical data. I'd like to see a year's worth of data too.

VC Trends stores 46 days at variable granularity when accessed through the BT interface.

VRM stores detailed data for 6 months at up to 1 minute log intervals.

VRM stores 5 years of "dashboard" data - basically the summary loads, pv, grid, generator, kWh, etc.

For the reasons above, plus wanting to look at my system when I'm away from the house, I'm going to run Venus on a Pi 3B+ and ideally headless. I already an uncommitted Pi 3B+, and I also already have a few isolated USB to serial adapters I made for another project, so expenses are nearly zero. All I need to do is buy some JST PH connectors and I'll be up and running. Except for the software part:

Question for you Venus on Pi users.
- I want to run this headless (pi would be outside with the equipment) and just look at the data over the app, or over it's HTML page anywhere in the house. Is the HTML webpage intuitive and does it work well?

I have two. I run headless. Not sure what you mean about "html page". Are you referring to VRM?

- Besides not having to fire up a browser or the phone app, what benefit is there having a screen at the Pi?

Touchscreen allows limited programming and control of GX connected Victron devices.

- I see info about adding GUI mods, but also that GUI mods is broken in v3.50. What newest version do you recommend that can still use the GUI mods?
(I don't plan on using Node Red)

There's a new GUI with 3.52, and it's pretty damn slick. I've used GUI mods on older units, and I wouldn't necessarily do it again.

- Do I need to push my data to Victron for VRM viewing if I plan on only using the web view?

There is no web view. There is only VRM.

If you have a device with VictronConnect installed on the same network, you can connect via remote console, but it's basically like a touch screen at that point. YOu can't view any log data that way.

 

[SomethingAppropriate]

I have two

I thought you would show up!

 

[sunshine_eggo]

I thought you would show up!

I'm like that turd you can never scrape off your shoe.

 

[AlpineJoe]

VC Trends stores 46 days at variable granularity when accessed through the BT interface.

VRM stores detailed data for 6 months at up to 1 minute log intervals.

VRM stores 5 years of "dashboard" data - basically the summary loads, pv, grid, generator, kWh, etc.



I have two. I run headless. Not sure what you mean about "html page". Are you referring to VRM?



Touchscreen allows limited programming and control of GX connected Victron devices.



There's a new GUI with 3.52, and it's pretty damn slick. I've used GUI mods on older units, and I wouldn't necessarily do it again.



There is no web view. There is only VRM.

If you have a device with VictronConnect installed on the same network, you can connect via remote console, but it's basically like a touch screen at that point. YOu can't view any log data that way.

AH! I didn't know one can only view data through VRM - I thought the Pi itself would host a webpage that I could log into if I'm on my lan, or if I vlan into my network.

Thanks for the heads up on v3.52 and the historical durations saved.

I have never hooked up a display. Never.

Its fine, Tho I think you might need a VE Direct to USB cord. I dont believe the 3b has bluetooth or its hard to setup.

I'm going to make my own using the JST PH connectors and the isolated USB-Serial adapters I already made up for another project.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

AH! I didn't know one can only view data through VRM - I thought the Pi itself would host a webpage that I could log into if I'm on my lan, or if I vlan into my network.

If you want to do your own local hosting:

GitHub - victronenergy/venus-grafana: Default Grafana dashboards, for docker solution and Venus OS Large

Default Grafana dashboards, for docker solution and Venus OS Large - victronenergy/venus-grafana

github.com

It's possible. I tried to use it to gather more data that was available via VRM, as I could see it on a MQTT browser, but the GX device wouldn't pass those to Docker/Grafana.

Thanks for the heads up on v3.52 and the historical durations saved.

I'm going to make my own using the JST PH connectors and the isolated USB-Serial adapters I already made up for another project.

#1 cause of connectivity issues is non-Victron cables.

 

[AlpineJoe]

If you want to do your own local hosting:

GitHub - victronenergy/venus-grafana: Default Grafana dashboards, for docker solution and Venus OS Large

Default Grafana dashboards, for docker solution and Venus OS Large - victronenergy/venus-grafana

github.com

It's possible. I tried to use it to gather more data that was available via VRM, as I could see it on a MQTT browser, but the GX device wouldn't pass those to Docker/Grafana.



#1 cause of connectivity issues is non-Victron cables.

I installed 3.52 on a pi 3b+ and can access it via its ip address, so there is an HTML view without needing to use VRM. I'm only running it in demo mode right now until my JST PH connectors arrive. Haven't figured out how to display graphs in demo mode yet.

and after enabling new graphics


Edit: Ah, now I know what you meant about not being able to view the historical data this way.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

I installed 3.52 on a pi 3b+ and can access it via its ip address, so there is an HTML view without needing to use VRM. I'm only running it in demo mode right now until my JST PH connectors arrive. Haven't figured out how to display graphs in demo mode yet.

and after enabling new graphics

Edit: Ah, now I know what you meant about not being able to view the historical data this way.

If you have a device with VictronConnect installed on the same network, you can connect via remote console, but it's basically like a touch screen at that point. YOu can't view any log data that way.

 

[Crowz]

I still think the cerbo gx is a better option for monitoring victron stuff for the most part.

Another option is a $60 orange pi 3 lts headless running solar assistant which works great with the victron smart shunt. I have one on my 48v stuff in the workshop setup that way.

The other victron smart shunts I have are hooked up to cerbo gx's I have in different locations.

Both the solar assistant setup and the victron feed mqtt to home assistant which makes all of the data available.

I use fiber optics to run data cables since all of my runs are 100 feet minimum distance and fiber is cheap and fast and very reliable and lightning proof which is VERY handy on long runs.

I used wifi for a bit but it was slow and unreliable for constant monitoring.

 

[AlpineJoe]

Received my JST PH connectors today! I'm continually amazed how fast Aliexpress shipments arrive. I ordered these plus a bunch of other parts for other projects last Saturday and it all arrived today, 1 week later and free shipping. I can't even get a first class letter across the US in 1 week.

POE board from Amazon arrived today too. Should have this up taking data later today.

 

[SomethingAppropriate]

Received my JST PH connectors today! I'm continually amazed how fast Aliexpress shipments arrive. I ordered these plus a bunch of other parts for other projects last Saturday and it all arrived today, 1 week later and free shipping. I can't even get a first class letter across the US in 1 week.

POE board from Amazon arrived today too. Should have this up taking data later today.

Yes the shipping time is usually in the "this could be addicting" range lol

 

[AlpineJoe]

Up and running! Powering with a wall wart for now as I need to figure out what to do for an outdoor enclosure for the Pi. Also need to figure out how to customize the summary display to delete AC input, and I'd like to see the battery AH tally.

 

[Robbert]

It's possible. I tried to use it to gather more data that was available via VRM, as I could see it on a MQTT browser, but the GX device wouldn't pass those to Docker/Grafana.

The way I retrieve data from VenusOS in Grafana is a workaround and that works super easy.

Installed Node-Red and Node-Red reads the MQTT information from VenusOS.
Another node writes the retrieved information to an Influx database that is used by Grafana.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Up and running! Powering with a wall wart for now as I need to figure out what to do for an outdoor enclosure for the Pi. Also need to figure out how to customize the summary display to delete AC input,

If you find out how, let me know. I personally do not believe they can be removed. The GX is intended to be used on "large" systems where it's managing an inverter/charger, a charge controller and receiving battery data as a minimum, so that's the minimum layout.

I don't have a critical loads tile, so that is likely a setting somewhere.

and I'd like to see the battery AH tally.

Again, I don't believe this is possible on the dashboard. % SoC ultimately tells you everything meaningful with regards to capacity in one number. You can graph Ah consumed on the advanced tab.

I *think* that if your smartshunt/BMV is set to a discharge floor value, it will tell you the "time to go" to your % discharge floor in the battery tile when discharging.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Deleted. I was wrong.

 

[AlpineJoe]

This is pretty cool! Just being able to use the app anywhere in my house and not have to be right next to the smart shunt or charge controllers is wonderful. I've also got the VRM browser advanced page set up the way I want. Going to replace my remaining Epever MPPT charger with another Victron so I can capture that solar production.

Regarding POE for the Pi, I'm going to use a Meanwell DDR-15G-5 converter instead. The POE board I bought needs active cooling (fan) and I'd rather not use a fan, nor run an ethernet cable to my POE switch.