Cerbo Software Enhancements - To allow additional sensors

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Wes Humpage asked Oct 7, '20

Cerbo Software Enhancements - To allow additional sensors

Hi,

I have a cerbo GX connected to a smaller test system which is working well. I have a couple if small issues relating to the cerbo firmware /. software limits

1) When setting up a tank level with the first analogue. I have setup a custom sensor (Im actually using a 5 PSI pressure sensor, it works well). I have set the resistance when empty to 56Ohms and I have set the resistance when full to 264Ohms. But I need it to go to 320Ohms for the sensor to go full scale.

Are you able to update the higher limit value to 340 Ohms? or 350 Ohms?

Then I can set the sensor up perfectly

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/0-5psi-Linear-0-5-4-5V-Gas-Fuel-Air-Liquid-Pressure-Sensor-Transducer-Sender-/232281554358

I could use a 10PSI transducer and it will work but the analogue value will bounce around a bit (5 PSI units are perfect for a 3m water tank)

2)

With the inputs are you able to add a custom alarm?

or are you able to add "Water Tank Low"

or "Header Tank Low"

Just a few little requests for my application, I have been really impressed with this Cerbo unit. Great job guys

cerbo gx firmware update software

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Answer 1 · 2020-10-07T14:43:34Z

mvader (Victron Energy) answered · Oct 07, 2020 at 02:43 PM

Hey, this is a sensor that outputs voltage, that really won't work with the analog inputs on the Cerbo GX. Even though it might seem to work since you get some reading, it really does not work.

We're coming with an accessory before the end of this year (hopefully) called the GX Tank 140, which takes 0-10V (and configurable min/max level), as well as 4 to 20mA.

that will be the solution to take an input such as that sender.

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Wes Humpage commented · Oct 11, 2020 at 02:57 AM

How far away will the initial units be?

I would like to get one ASAP

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mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ Wes Humpage commented · Oct 11, 2020 at 09:02 AM

Thanks for your interest! But I dont have any more details yet - sorry.

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Wes Humpage mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ commented · Oct 27, 2020 at 02:35 AM

Hey @mvader (Victron Energy), we get all of our stuff through DPA solar in Australia. When you have the first batch, id be keen to be a beta tester.

Thanks

Wes

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Wes Humpage commented · Jan 02, 2021 at 08:18 AM

Hey @mvader (Victron Energy),

I have setup and tested these sensors on 3 installations (6 tank levels) and from all of the testing I have done it all works really well. I think it would be still handy when manually setting the sensor resistance range in the cerbo software to push out the upper resistance value from 264 i think is the upper limit. Move it up to around 360, it would allow for these sensors to be installed and comissioned a bit easier (less mucking around with resistors)

The GX tank 140 would be handy, but I need it working now.

#1

#2

#3

It does display the levels a bit randomly on the VRM, it would be nice to be able to turn off the tanmk levels that are unused

Thanks in advance, happy new year...

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Answer 2 · 2020-10-07T20:26:35Z

Wes Humpage answered · Oct 07, 2020 at 08:26 PM

That will be great, I cant wait.

Ive popped in a 0 - 30 PSI pressure transducer (0.5v to 5v). It actually seems to read out the full range, it should get me by till then.

If you need a tester jut let me know

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Answer 3 · 2020-10-07T20:28:48Z

Wes Humpage answered · Oct 07, 2020 at 08:28 PM

What about the input, being able to add a generic input alarm with a custom name?

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Answer 4 · 2020-10-09T00:02:09Z

Mark answered · Oct 09, 2020 at 12:02 AM

As a work around - maybe consider adding a suitable ~1kΩ resistor in parallel with the sender - it should bring a 320Ω resistance down to ~242Ω.

It will barely change the other end of the scale, 56Ω will result in ~53Ω .

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Wes Humpage commented · Jan 02, 2021 at 08:11 AM

I did this and was able to get it all working, I have done i ton 3 installations now (6 tank levels), it all works well.

Depending on the sensor inpedance, I had to either add or have no resistors at all.

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Mark ♦♦ Wes Humpage commented · Jan 11, 2021 at 12:02 PM

Nice to hear that it works well with the resistor 'work around' suggestion.

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Answer 5 · 2020-12-23T02:33:55Z

Wes Humpage answered · Dec 23, 2020 at 02:33 AM

Hey @mvader (Victron Energy), I just wanted to touch base to see how far away the GX tank 140 is away?

Im pretty keen to get it sorted and installed

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mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ commented · Jan 11, 2021 at 07:20 PM

Its much much slower than I ever anticipated — but but but: production samples have approved and currently we’re finishing off the work on Venus OS as well as the production test equipment: several months still for it actually to make it into a warehouse

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timo-san mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ commented · Aug 20, 2022 at 12:33 PM

Old thread but a question about tank 140 device. Can the settings be altered so, that instead of showing cubics or liters, it would show pressure (psi or bar or kpa)? Or is there any other way to connect a water pressure transmitter 0-10VDC to cerbo GX device? Installation where I want to monitor and controll water pump when water pressure goes too low.

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johanndo timo-san commented · Aug 20, 2022 at 02:28 PM

Water pressure sensors (Hydrostatic sensors) are usually 4mA-20mA current loop sensors and they are directly supportedby the tank 140 extension.

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timo-san johanndo commented · Aug 21, 2022 at 08:10 AM

How about the visuals? I know both 0-10vdc and (0)4-20mA transmitters are compatible but at gui side it still shows liters not pressure?

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johanndo timo-san commented · Aug 21, 2022 at 04:02 PM

yes, full and emply and liters, imperial or US galons or m³ to choose from, pressure is not a option. But as far as I understand, you want to turn on a pump when the water pressure is lower than a preset value - that directly corresponds to a volume of water, so use liters as the set point. The default is m³.

There are different types of sensors, resistive (Ohm),, Voltage (V), Current (mA), Ultrasonic (Time in ms), Pressure (psi, bar), distance (meter), conductivity (mA), capacitive sensors (nF /pF) etc. But for fluid tanks they all represent a volume measurement.

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