What software is available for Victron SmartSolar ?

[BjornM]

What are my options if I want to go beyond what the Victron Connect app shows about my SmartSolar MPPT controller? For example I want to check the heatsink temperature, possible deratings, etc.

Is there some software like that from Victron or a third party? Or perhaps a simple app that can read modbus registers through Bluetooth? For PC or Android.

 

[OffGridForGood]

Solar Assistant ?
@sunshine_eggo is the resident Victron expert, maybe he knows other options?

 

[sunshine_eggo]

No idea.

 

[ricardocello]

In general, having a GX device such as a Cerbo GX enables you to use ModbusTCP to read/write everything in a complete system.

However, I'm assuming you want to talk directly to the SmartSolar MPPT via the VE.Direct interface.
I don't know if someone has done this or not, but it is definitely a DIY project.

You'll have to understand its electrical interface first.
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/VE.Direct-Protocol-3.33.pdf
Then, read this: https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/BlueSolar-HEX-protocol.pdf

For example, on page 12, we see this:



This is obviously a lot of work to get it working.
I don't believe Victron has published their Bluetooth protocols yet, and no guarantee that they will.

 

[ricardocello]

I don't know if someone has done this or not, but it is definitely a DIY project.

Just checked GitHub, there are quite a few VE.Direct projects that people have posted to talk to the SmartSolar MPPT.
None of them appear to be polished applications, mostly data loggers.
Googled "victron ve.direct github"

 

[BjornM]

Just checked GitHub, there are quite a few VE.Direct projects that people have posted to talk to the SmartSolar MPPT.
None of them appear to be polished applications, mostly data loggers.
Googled "victron ve.direct github"

There is one project on GitHub that uses Bluetooth:

GitHub - keshavdv/victron-ble: A Python API to parse Victron Instant Readout BLE advertisements

A Python API to parse Victron Instant Readout BLE advertisements - GitHub - keshavdv/victron-ble: A Python API to parse Victron Instant Readout BLE advertisements

github.com

But it seems limited to a few parameters only. I had hopes to access the whole range of modbus registers. I guess I have to connect via VE.Direct. Seems like too much work to be worth it.