I have a Ekrano GX placed centrally in a boat. The boat has most of its electrical Victron units in the aft of the vessel (5+ meters away). I have 5 units with VE Direct (a couple MPPT, Charger, Shunt). The Ekrano GX supports 3 VE direct cables. For the rest of the VE Direct connections you have to use a USB hub and a VE-direct to USB adapter, sold in 1,8m length.
Should I use a long 5m USB cable to my electrical compartment in aft, place a hub there and then a couple of adapters, or is there a smarter way? Are the VE Direct cables available as a extension so you can do the USB-conversion close to the Ekrano instead?
I chose what I think is the “smarter way”. For me at least, you choose your own.
I put everything together, all short cables. Then both wifi and ethernet links to a remote Windows laptop. Could have used a smaller Pad or a glass bridge (Raymarine, etc). VRM on the same lappy, VEConfigure, etc software, and get to talk here too. Mine’s about 5m too, and just within bluetooth phone range of a separate Smartshunt.
Sometimes I even swing the ethernet cable over to access VE.Bus with a MK3 adaptor.
All the works in one place and controls in the other. Minimal cables is my priority, I hate them.
I have this problem, and it is one of the reasons that the Ekrano GX is a poor choice on boats (generally good for RV) and boats of any size.
I purchased 2 x Startech industrial USB hubs that take external power, and 2 x startech 20m USB active extension cables, and ran these to the back of the boat (one in each engine compartment) to connect the MPPT and Orion XS devices.
I feel your pain and have written to victron with my feedback on the disaster that is ve.direct.