I have an installation in progress, and was planning on using the Ekrano to control the (pre-existing) Multiplus 2Kva/120v charger/inverter. On a closer read of the manual, it appears that even if the Multiplus is connected via the VE.Bus, the Ekrano doesn’t/won’t provide any controls (On/Off/Charge Only). I’m also unclear on what status (if any) it reports.
So is it advisable to fit a Digital Multicontrol 200 in addition to the Ekrano? In my installation the panel on which the Ekrano is mounted will be directly in front of the Multiplus, and access to the latter will require getting behind that panel, which I would prefer to avoid.
FWIW, there’s also a VE.CAN Lynx Shunt and a Smart Battery Protect in the system.
The Ekrano will provide those controls (on/off/charger) Via the UI, or even remotely.
You also CANNOT use the digital multicontrol on the same VE-Bus as the Ekrano as only one ‘master’ is allowed on the bus at a time. direct access to the Ekrano is not required, you can also fit a touch screen to that, which will give you a local interface if you don’t want to use the remote one.
Thank you for that, but in Section 4.1 of the Ekrano manual, it states:
"Note that for Multis, Quattros and EasySolars, it is not possible to use the Remote On/Off (header on the VE.Bus control PCB) in combination with a EGX. There should be a wire between the left and middle terminal, as it is when shipped from the factory. In case a wired switch that disables the system is required, use the Safety Switch Assistant instead.
This limitation does not apply to the next generation of VE.Bus inverter/chargers: when using a MultiPlus-II, Quattro-II or EasySolar-II, the Remote on/off terminal header can be used in combination with Ekrano GX."
I have a Multiplus Compact, not a Multiplus-II or more advanced model. Is your advice still true, and if so, how do I interpret the manual language?
The physical remote on/off connector on the inverters is different to the remote on/off that the Venus GUI (graphic user interface) provides.
The physical remote on/off is a 2 wire header that is located in the connection area of the multi’s (this is an internal 3 wire connector for the compacts), this removes power from the Control board - which disables any control over the VE-bus.
This is the “software” remote on off provided by the Venus OS, which allow full remote control - either on a connected touch screen, on a device connected to the Local network or by a remote browser via VRM.
