I have a SmartSolar charge controller which is located 100-120 feet from my house. I would like to monitor this from the app on my phone however it is beyond the range of Bluetooth.
My current workaround is to parse the serial output from the VE.Direct port using a microcontroller and transmitting the data over an HC-12<>HC-12 link. I then use a Raspberry Pi & Node-RED to inject it into a database and Grafana to display it. This is as messy as it sounds!
Ideally, I’d like a transparent “bridge” where both sides have a Bluetooth transceiver which appears to the phone to be the controller and appears to the controller to be the phone. I have looked at “Bluetooth over IP” as a starting point but that seems like a no-go.
Alternatively, does anyone have other suggestions please?
Bluetooth over IP is something more people ask about, for different applications. Due to the different protocols, hardware, and App’s, this seems to be very difficult, or even impossible.
For remote monitoring and/or controlling Victron hardware, it’s common to use the Cerbo GX with a GSM router attached. It’s not the most cheap option, but as far as I know, the only regulair way to go.
If it’s possible to install a network cable, or Wifi connection between the internet router in your home and the Cerbo GX, then you can save on the costs for a GSM connection.
Some people run the Victron software on a cheaper Raspberry Pi, instead of using a Cerbo GX, maybe this is also an option to investigate further.
As you have a RPi why not run Venus OS on it instead of a Cerbo and connect to VRM portal.
This is how mine is run connected to a 4g MiFi and monitored on my phone from anywhere.
Data use is minimal and is easily covered by a 3gb SIM.