question

evt avatar image
evt asked

ESS assistant option not appearing on the remote console

I am having issues setting up a new victron multiplus II, 5kW connected with the venusGx, to be controlled from our own controller.

We have manged to setup and operate five identical devises up until now using the VEconfig and the victron connect applications, all working as expected with no issues whatsoever.

The first thing we do is to connect to venusGX via the mk3 to usb dongle and setup the ESS assistant simply by loading the same .var file we created for the first devise. After sending the assistant to the device and disconnecting from the venusGX if we connect using the victron connect software we can change the settings on the inverter so to fit our application. One of the setting to change is: settings/ ESS /mode -> External Control.

In one of our installations after everything is done in the same way, the ESS tab it just says no assistant found, so we cannot choose the option external control. It looks like the transfer of the assistant is not completed, with though being prompted that this may have been the case in any step of the process. ,

The only difference from every other commissioning, is that the PC used now is new and when installing the VEconfig software we are forced to update the app. If we don't we cannot load/create or send an assistant.

Do you have any idea what could be the issue? if we don't disable the external control the inverter immediately starts injecting power and does not respond to any of our commands, while we can communicate with it, reading values through modbus.

Multiplus-IIESSPhoenix InverterVenus GX - VGX
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1 Answer
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Daniël Boekel (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

Hi @evt

What firmware are the Multi's on?

3 comments
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pulith avatar image pulith commented ·
I also have the same issue firmware is 508.
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nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ pulith commented ·
The assistant only appears if it has been loaded, as per instructions in the ESS guide, on the inverter via a config created with veconfigure (victron connect does not support assistants) and pushed via a mk3 interface or VRM remote configure.

Occasionally, if this has been done, the Cerbo might need a restart to pick up the change.

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harry4516 avatar image harry4516 nickdb ♦♦ commented ·
and then wait...

sometimes it took 5 to 10 minutes before ESS shows up

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