Victron Question

[WorldwideDave]

I added a new shunt between the inverter today, connected to ve.direct bus at the Cerbo GX, told it in config that it was a dc device/inverter, rebooted the GX

In order to do this, the victron cerbo gx only has 3 VE.direct ports.
I already had 2 shunts (battery and non-victron MPPT) connected to the cerbo GX, as well as a victron MPPT 100/20.
All are connected to VE.networking.

not related, but also added a MPPT 250/70 today the VE.Can. Excited. Think it is also on the VE.networking, too. Configured battery to match the 100/20's settings.

Over in VRM portal, things look a bit out of whack. Rebooted Cerbo GX. Waited 30 minutes. Still a bit strange to me.

I don't see the MPPT 100/20 anymore, and I don't see the new inverter shunt. I would expect to still see the MPPT 100/20 under PV charger, but I do not. I would also expect to see under DC power a box for the inverter's shunt, but I do not. Screen shot:



Similarly, in the victron connect app, I no longer see the MPPT 100/20:



I also see some math issues.

The DC load, a pool pump, indicates it is using 1156 watts. I believe this is fairly accurate.
On top of my inverter (Giandel) it has a screen. It shows that 1260 watts are in use. Makes since - some overhead.

Over on VRM portal it shows 1230 watts or so in use. It fluctuates. I know that at idle on the DC side I consume about 55 watts, so I would expect to see on the new inverter shunt I added about 1300 or more watts.

What I believe is happening is that the MPPT, which I can see fine when in bluetooth range, is adding its 100 watts or so it is generating right now and subtracting that from the DC power I'm seeing in the VRM portal.

I should note that in the remote console, I do not see the PV charger MPPT 100/20 either. Only devices it shows:



I do see the inverter shunt however in remote console:



Am I doing anything wrong? Guess I assumed the stuff connected on VE.Networking would talk to Cerbo GX and not require the ve direct, because they all seem to talk to eachother in ve.networking just fine. My bad?

Thanks everyone. The goal is to see all 3 MPPTs under solar generation numbers, and the inverter under the DC load area.

 

[Brucey]

Do you have ve.smart bt networking enabled? If so turn that off, as you have physical connections via ve.direct and ve.can. Cerbo can't use ve.smart or bt like that.

 

[Brucey]

So the resolution is to get/make some usb to ve.direct cables to allow you to have enough physical ports, now that you've filled up the ve.direct ports. You can also use usb expander to get more usb ports. Be aware depending on the cerbo model the usb port closest to the hdmi port is power only and doesn't support comms.

 

[WorldwideDave]

I don't have

Do you have ve.smart bt networking enabled? If so turn that off, as you have physical connections via ve.direct and ve.can. Cerbo can't use ve.smart or bt like that.

I have ve.smart networking turned on for the shunt and MPPTs I believe. That's bad?
Are you asking me if I have it enabled for the cerbo gx? I don't on that.

 

[WorldwideDave]

So the resolution is to get/make some usb to ve.direct cables to allow you to have enough physical ports, now that you've filled up the ve.direct ports. You can also use usb expander to get more usb ports. Be aware depending on the cerbo model the usb port closest to the hdmi port is power only and doesn't support comms.

This device (link to amazon USA)? https://a.co/d/7JTBPgd

 

[Brucey]

This device (link to amazon USA)? https://a.co/d/7JTBPgd

Yes

 

[Brucey]

I don't have

I have ve.smart networking turned on for the shunt and MPPTs I believe. That's bad?
Are you asking me if I have it enabled for the cerbo gx? I don't on that.

I'm saying when you have a cerbo it doesn't understand ve.smart or any victron smart connectivity. Its strictly hardwired ve.direct and ve.can and ve.bus for the inverters. It does support bt sensors like ruuvi etc but not victron bt.

In your case yes turn off/delete the ve.smart networks.

 

[outboard1196]

This device (link to amazon USA)? https://a.co/d/7JTBPgd

If you have a cerbo you don't want the USB cable. Use the ve direct cable like this
Victron Energy VE.Direct Cable, 5.90 ft https://a.co/d/2uwkA8S

 

[WorldwideDave]

If you have a cerbo you don't want the USB cable. Use the ve direct cable like this Cable

link did not work, and I have 4 devices that use VE.direct (MPPT, 3 shunts) and cerbo only has 3 VE.direct ports.
Is there something you want me to buy, or should I go with @Brucey recommendation for the USB one?

 

[WorldwideDave]

I'm saying when you have a cerbo it doesn't understand ve.smart or any victron smart connectivity. Its strictly hardwired ve.direct and ve.can and ve.bus for the inverters. It does support bt sensors like ruuvi etc but not victron bt.

In your case yes turn off/delete the ve.smart networks.

Bought thanks.
Will also turn off, which you have to do while next to devices. I will also delete the network I created.

 

[outboard1196]

link did not work, and I have 4 devices that use VE.direct (MPPT, 3 shunts) and cerbo only has 3 VE.direct ports.
Is there something you want me to buy, or should I go with @Brucey recommendation for the USB one?

Fixed the link

 

[Brucey]

If you have a cerbo you don't want the USB cable. Use the ve direct cable like this
Victron Energy VE.Direct Cable, 5.90 ft https://a.co/d/2uwkA8S

He's run out of ve.direct ports, USB is the only solution for expansion.

 

[outboard1196]

He's run out of ve.direct ports, USB is the only solution for expansion.

Ah OK, I misunderstood.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Bought thanks.
Will also turn off, which you have to do while next to devices. I will also delete the network I created.

Cancel order. It won't enable you to connect to the USB port. There is a VE.Direct to USB cable for about $40.

I prefer:

Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

and 4X of these:

VE.Direct JST cable – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

Whatever lengths you desire.

You'll spend a little more than the VE.Direct to USB cable, but you'll gain 4 VE.Direct ports to a single US port.

 

[740GLE]

Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

If you plan to add more Ve direct, (not sure how you could need more), this maybe cheaper and only takes one USB port and provides 4 more ve.direct.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

If you plan to add more Ve direct, (not sure how you could need more), this maybe cheaper and only takes one USB port and provides 4 more ve.direct.

Do you have me blocked?

 

[740GLE]

Hahah I hadn’t refreshed the page to notice your post. lol.

Btw he did link to the VE.direct to usb interface cable that should work. Looks like they are on sale at $28 a pop, so it it’s cheaper than the duppa unless he needs two more ve.direct coms.

 

[Brucey]

Cancel order. It won't enable you to connect to the USB port. There is a VE.Direct to USB cable for about $40.

I prefer:

Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

View attachment 274721

and 4X of these:

VE.Direct JST cable – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

Whatever lengths you desire.

You'll spend a little more than the VE.Direct to USB cable, but you'll gain 4 VE.Direct ports to a single US port.

Thanks just ordered one and four 2m cables. Lot cheaper than $28 per USB to ve direct cable assuming you need multiples.

 

[Brucey]

Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa

www.duppa.net

If you plan to add more Ve direct, (not sure how you could need more), this maybe cheaper and only takes one USB port and provides 4 more ve.direct.

Three shunts already, I hear they call that "a good start" at Victron HQ

 

[740GLE]

You already have the Velcro to secure the hub to the wall too!

I have one of those duppas connected to my rapi, only two ports are being used right now, but my pi uses 3-4w (connected to the load output of the 100/15 SCC to track consumption) so it’s a super efficient way to bring more ve ports.

 

[Brucey]

I figure if I can find my 100/20 I'll need 6 ports:

A) Smartshunt 500 primary ve direct

B) Distributor 1
Rosie 300A DC system
150/35 45A ve.direct
450/100 150A ve.can
Hawkes Bay 90 150A ve.direct to smartshunt 500 #2

C) Distributor 2
150/35 45A ve.direct
48/1200 45 ve.direct
D2m charge 45A
100/20 45A ve.direct

6 ve direct
1 ve can

 

[740GLE]

Now that we all have these, who’s going to make up a bunch of cases (victron blue for sure)

Case for Duppa.net isolated 4port USB to TTL UART FTDI Adapter by fl_dutch

A case for a 4 port isolated USB to TTL UART FTDI available at duppa.net. Can also be used as an adapter for Victron VE.direct used with e.g. Victron SmartSolar or SmartShunt.First case design, works for me, but could of course be much better.If the holes for the boards led don't match exactly...

www.thingiverse.com

 

[outboard1196]

Now that we all have these, who’s going to make up a bunch of cases (victron blue for sure)

Case for Duppa.net isolated 4port USB to TTL UART FTDI Adapter by fl_dutch

A case for a 4 port isolated USB to TTL UART FTDI available at duppa.net. Can also be used as an adapter for Victron VE.direct used with e.g. Victron SmartSolar or SmartShunt.First case design, works for me, but could of course be much better.If the holes for the boards led don't match exactly...

www.thingiverse.com

Where do I get victron blue filament? Asking for a friend

 

[Brucey]

Where do I get victron blue filament? Asking for a friend

It's not possible to get an exact match to RAL 5012, filament is a smidge darker, friend of mine printed these for me:

 

[sunshine_eggo]

That's more of a Tardis blue...