question

stefanj avatar image
stefanj asked

EM540 not working with CerboGX v3.10

Hi,
as mentioned in the Question "Why isn't the energy meter EM540 displayed under Energy Meters in the CerboGX" i've the same Problem but with CerboGX running firmware version v3.10 and original Victron USB Interface Cable (ASS030572050 RS485 to USB Interface 5m) recognized as:
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT232 Serial (UART) IC
in the CerboGX. It's working well with USC7 so the wiring with the EM540 is ok.

EM540 is connected and showing up under Settings -> Energy Meters -> BX01200340011 but not in dbus-spy or with any grid measurement data.

So the solution in the original question will not work in my case. So what to do to get the EM540 working with my CerboGX?

cerbo gx
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9 Answers
matt1309 avatar image
matt1309 answered ·

Hi @StefanJ


Have you set the meter role and position in the settings?

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stefanj avatar image
stefanj answered ·

Yes, in Settings -> Energy Meters -> BX01200340011
Role is set to Grid Meter and
Phase Type is Multi Phase

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matt1309 avatar image
matt1309 answered ·

Just to check you're using a victron RS485 to USB adapter (some with different chipsets have issues)

It's odd it's not in dbus-spy but is in settings, I would've thought the same driver adding to settings would also be adding to dbus. So it does it shows up as a device on GX device?

Does it appear on VRM page under devices? Does it show any data in VRM if you go to advanced then create custom widget and select grid meter and see if there's any data being pulled through on that device?


My only other idea is to check it's not showing up as a disconnected device in settings? If it is then it might just be a loose connection, ie the meter connected so its in settings (as a disconnected device) and then disconnected hence no live data/nothing in dbus-spy?



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stefanj avatar image
stefanj answered ·

Cable is delivered in victron packaging and the usb connector has a label with USB-RS485-WE

It shows not as Device in GX or in VRM and i'm not able to create custom widget based on data from the EM540. It's also not in the list of disconnected devices. I've really tried everything but it will not getting any Data. It's just visible in the Settings -> Energy Meters Tab.

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matt1309 avatar image matt1309 commented ·
That is odd that it's not a device no GX device. I'm surprised it shows up at all in settings if it's not showing as a device.
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stefanj avatar image
stefanj answered ·

Since cable and em540 are working with UCS7 Software i would quess it's related to VenusOS on th CerboGX (factory settings, not modded). Maybe some of the software will not start or lock/block or interference with the usb port?

1531 root 1608 S supervise dbus-cgwacs.ttyUSB0

1827 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/dbus-cgwacs.ttyUSB0

2049 root 1608 S supervise dbus-fzsonick-48tl.ttyUSB0

2064 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/dbus-fzsonick-48tl.ttyUSB0

2211 root 1608 S supervise dbus-imt-si-rs485tc.ttyUSB0

2228 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/dbus-imt-si-rs485tc.ttyUSB0

2296 root 1608 S supervise dbus-modbus-client.serial.ttyUSB0

2298 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/dbus-modbus-client.ttyUSB0

2404 root 1608 S supervise gps-dbus.ttyUSB0

2412 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/gps-dbus.ttyUSB0

2509 root 1608 S supervise vedirect-interface.ttyUSB0

2522 root 1752 S multilog t s25000 n4 /var/log/vedirect.ttyUSB0

22272 root 3044 S {start-cgwacs.sh} /bin/bash /opt/victronenergy/dbus-cgwacs/start-cgwacs.sh ttyUSB0 PRODUCT=FT232R_USB_UART

22274 root 8396 S /opt/victronenergy/dbus-cgwacs/dbus-cgwacs /dev/ttyUSB0

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stefanj avatar image
stefanj answered ·

bildschirmfoto-2023-10-02-um-123751.pngbildschirmfoto-2023-10-02-um-123807.pngbildschirmfoto-2023-10-02-um-123818.png2023-10-02-123719.jpgSo, i've tried a second test setup, brand new original cable as above, cerbo gs and this time an em24.
EM24 is recognized in settings as energy meter, configured as grid, this time as single phase (it's just a test setup) but also not shown up in devices or vrm or elsewhere. Also not showing in dbus-spy.
What did i wrong?


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stefanj answered ·

Ok, strange behavior, after i use the em24 buttons the communication to the cerbo gx starts and measurements appears in the cerbo gx and vrm... also the device is listed in the device tap.

So it looks like the communication has to be started from the grid meter. At the EM540 i'm not yet able to press some buttons since i'm not at the place where the device is. Is it maybe possible to initiate the communication from the cerbo gx to the EM540?

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stefanj answered ·

Ok, problem is that the EM540 is not starting the communication or the venus os is not triggering it, but the device was discovered after connecting it.

@40000000651ab705301b161c *** starting dbus-cgwacs ***

@40000000651ab70531fffaec INFO dbus-cgwacs v2.0.19 started

@40000000651ab7053203b7f4 INFO Built with Qt 4.8.7 running on 4.8.7

@40000000651ab7053203cb7c INFO Built on Sep 11 2023 at 17:01:05

@40000000651ab7053203d34c INFO Connecting to "/dev/ttyUSB0"

@40000000651ab70532c42d7c INFO Wait for local settings on DBus...

@40000000651ab705330ac7b4 INFO Local settings found

Any ideas?

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stefanj answered ·

Problem solved. It's when you configured the EM540 to Serial Baud Rates other than default 9600 then the service in the Venos OS isn't able to communicate. Fix is setting args to
args="/dev/$tty --baud 115200"
in /opt/victronenergy/dbus-cgwacs/start-cgwacs.sh


@40000000651b01032756fdd4 *** starting dbus-cgwacs ***

@40000000651b0103293b5dd4 INFO dbus-cgwacs v2.0.19 started

@40000000651b0103293dced4 INFO Built with Qt 4.8.7 running on 4.8.7

@40000000651b0103293dde74 INFO Built on Sep 11 2023 at 17:01:05

@40000000651b0103293de644 INFO Connecting to "/dev/ttyUSB0"

@40000000651b010329cecfec INFO Wait for local settings on DBus...

@40000000651b01032a1f12cc INFO Local settings found

@40000000651b01032c947bb4 INFO Device ID: 1760

@40000000651b010422900b9c INFO Device found: "KX0640251001A" @ "/dev/ttyUSB0"

@40000000651b010609f19204 INFO Registering service "com.victronenergy.grid.cgwacs_ttyUSB0_mb1"

@40000000651b01060ba1803c [VeQItemDbusPublisher] Registered service "com.victronenergy.grid.cgwacs_ttyUSB0_mb1"

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