question

lavd avatar image
lavd asked

Help Cerbo-s GX without inverter to monitor batteries and shunts

I use below devices with VE.Smart networking to monitor in/outs and 3 batteries.

- BMV-712 smart

- SmartShunt 500A

- MPPT 150/85

- Smart Battery Sense

I got myself Cerbo-s GX with idea to display status of devices (batteries, mppt)

Victron Connect doesn't connect to Cerbo-s GX via Bluetooth for some reason.

And i found no way to connect these sensors I have to the screen.

Is there a device to see VE.Smart sensors on Cerbo GX?

Or I need to connect them with wires only? Or I need Ecrano GX?


cerbo gxVE.Smart Network
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4 Answers
lavd avatar image
lavd answered ·

Please mark me, but to date 5/22/2024 looks like the only way to display NON-WIRED sensors data is opensource solutions for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) like these:

https://github.com/keshavdv/victron-ble

https://github.com/Fabian-Schmidt/esphome-victron_ble

https://github.com/hoberman/Victron_BLE_Scanner_Display


And some discussions https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/issues/1087

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snoobler avatar image
snoobler answered ·
3 comments
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lavd avatar image lavd commented ·

yeah, for me Bluetooth is not connecting to the screen that shows info

but that is not a real problem

How do I show battery charge and current draw

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snoobler avatar image snoobler lavd commented ·

It won't. You need to access it through the wifi per that video. Please watch and follow directions.

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lavd avatar image lavd snoobler commented ·

I understand that. I use the screen attached to it. Question is about sensors.

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ykdave avatar image
ykdave answered ·

Can you maybe try to clarify your system setup? From what I am kind of deciphering here is you have no physical connection between the cerbo and your other devices?


As far as I’m aware, as written in the cerbo literature and with personal experience, the Bluetooth on the cerbo is intended solely for setup purposes. The Bluetooth will not connect other devices to the cerbo, they require a physical connection (ve.bus/ve.can/ve direct)


But, with any of the individual Bluetooth enabled devices, they should show up individually in the victron connect app (ie. the smart shunt should show up in the victron connect app and show you voltage and current draw)

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lavd avatar image lavd commented ·

Devices do show on victron connection app, I want them shown on the screen of cerbo.

Nothing is connected with wires

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pwfarnell avatar image
pwfarnell answered ·

Connect your devices to the Cerbo using VE direct cables. You do not need the Smart Battery sense, that is for Bluetooth connection to your other devices when you do not have a Cerbo. You should not run a Smart Bluetooth network and VE Direct wired net at the same time.

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lavd avatar image lavd commented ·

devices are 20-30 ft apart on a catamaran

no easy way to run long cables there

all i want is to see voltage and draw from shunts on the screen

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lavd avatar image lavd commented ·

there is this in cerbo manual:

4.3.1. DC load monitor mode
If you wish to use a SmartShunt or BMV-712 to monitor individual DC circuits, rather than as a whole-of-system battery monitor,
you can change the Monitor mode setting from Battery Monitor to DC Energy Meter in VictronConnect.
If DC meter is selected, you can then select the following types (also in VictronConnect):
Solar charger, Wind charger, Shaft generator, Alternator, Fuel cell, Water generator, DC-DC charger, AC charger, Generic source,
Generic load, Electric drive, Fridge, Water pump, Bilge pump, DC system, Inverter, Water heater
Once connected to the Cerbo-S GX, the type and the amps and power of the DC load is shown in the user interfaces and
available on the VRM Portal.
When configured as type “DC System”, the Cerbo-S GX does more than just recording and visualisation:
1. The power shown in the DC system box is the sum of power reported by all SmartShunts configured as such. Allowing
multiple meters is done to accommodate for example a catamaran, so you can measure the DC Systems on Port hull and on
Starboard hull.
2. The DC system current is being compensated for when setting DVCC charge current limits to Multis, Quattros and Solar
Chargers. For example when a load of 50A is being measured, and CCL by the battery is 25A, the limit given to the Multis &
Solar Chargers is 75A. An improvement for systems with significant DC loads such as Yachts, Coaches and RVs.

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pwfarnell avatar image pwfarnell lavd commented ·

I am not sure why you have put this extract of the manual here as it is nothing to do with connection, only specific use of the shunts.

The issue remains, the Cerbo does not act as a Bluetooth hub, it is a wired hub using VE Direct cabling for shunts and most MPPTs. Unless you wire the devices the Cerbo will not read them. VE direct cables can be used up to 10m (33ft) in length. The Cerbo manual is quite specific on this point. See the connection diagram and later on an extract from Section 7, accessing the device.

screenshot-20240522-122404-kindlephoto-135663951.png


screenshot-20240522-122538-kindlephoto-135757946.png

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lavd avatar image lavd pwfarnell commented ·

Thank you for the info.

Please mark me, but to date 5/22/2024 looks like the only way to display NON-WIRED sensors data is opensource solutions for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) like these:

https://github.com/keshavdv/victron-ble

https://github.com/Fabian-Schmidt/esphome-victron_ble

https://github.com/hoberman/Victron_BLE_Scanner_Display

And some discussions https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/issues/1087

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