A customer asks me to monitor one of his battery banks. There are 12 batteries connected in series and parallel, their operating voltage is 24 VDC, the idea is to place a SmartShunt every two batteries so we would measure 6 battery pairs, but the Cerbo gx only has 3 VE.DIRECT connections, so I would like to know if you can connect two Cerbos gx in series or parallel, or if there is a better way to measure these 6 battery pairs
You can use ve direct to usb cables.
And a good quality powered usb hub if even more is needed
PS add battery balancers as well
How are you intending on wiring them?
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@Dignosyvalientes
Did you consider buying a asupported BMS like Daly to measure the batteries?
Might be a solution, depending on your batteries.
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I understand, but when I connect a GX Touch 50, a USB port is occupied. Can I attach a USB multiplier? I think I need a USB port if I only use a Cerbo Gx
I plan to install two battery balancers, with each balancer connecting 6 batteries. I think I saw a diagram on how to connect 6 batteries.
Hi Björn, I am from Chile and this option is not available here. Even when I ask for Victron solutions, many suppliers don’t know anything about these solutions. I will also have a look for Daly brand that you mentioned and I would like to know if you can recommend any Daly brand products.
sorry, I mixed the BMSs up.
A modular premium BMS is Batrium.
I have no experience, but the German Victron consultant and YouTuber “Meine Energiewende”uses this for his own offgrid house.
Another good source for information about BMS is Andy’s “Offgrid Garage” on YT.
Hope this helps…
BR Björn
There is more than one usb port. One is power only
https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Cerbo_GX/en/installation.html#UUID-0e69c6c5-f21f-4fcd-55a5-3fdb7be6a41b
For a battery balancer like the active Neey balancer you do not need an USB port.
Whereas a battery management system (BMS) usually communicates via CAN bus with the GX device.
Some BMS have a balance build in others not.
What are the devices roles?
BMS:
protect the battery by telling the GX the SOC, as well if charging and discharging is allowed as well as the limits (amps, volts). If needed disconnect batteries (protect).
Balancer: balance cell voltage in a (serial) battery (string), so that all cells can be charged to desired max voltage. Active balancer shift capacity. Passive balancer creat heat.
Though for serious battery management you need both functions.
Basic questions:
- what kind of batteries are we talking about?
- how are they interconnected exactly?
In case you need more VE.Direct ports on a Cerbo there is https://www.duppa.net/shop/isolated-4-port-usb-to-ttl-uart-ftdi, which works nicely.
It has a premium price, that is for sure.
But I haven’t heard anything really bad about it, except the sentence one line above.