MQTT on the Cerbo - is there any documentation, how to connect/setup (with Node-Red)?

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1

Hello.

In a (for now) local setup (not connected to Victron VRM), I can enable MQTT access on the GX device, but I am lacking information.

I also activated Node-red, and I have another device which communicates by MQTT which I need to get into Node-Red.

My question first is:
If I activate MQTT access on the Cerbo, what exactly does it do? Will it just broadcast so that Node-Red can find information, or will it also receive (like a server) from my other device and somehow make it all available for Node-Red.

Is there any documentation which I did not manage to find?

I did install MQTT explorer, but am not even sure what username/Password must be used, or if I even can access the Cerbo as a MQTT server?

Would be appreciated if someone can give me some insight, or point me in the right direction.

2

Hello Basti

You say you “activated Node-red” - is that on the GX or on some other device? Assuming its on some other device, like an RPi running Debian etc, then you can import this into Node-RED (change extension to json) - https://communityarchive.victronenergy.com/storage/attachments/mqtt-example-copy.txt

Just taking a look at what is going on with how that example works will take you very far. Parameters can be accessed like N//solarcharger/275/Yield/Power for reading, and like W//settings/0/Settings/SystemSetup/MaxChargeCurrent → set DVCC Imax using the W.

3

Thats odd. things got removed from my reply. Its not N// or W// - you insert your systemid between the //.

4

Hello. I sure did it on the Cerbo GX :slight_smile: - but does it make a difference?

5

If you are running Node-RED on the Cerbo, then you don’t really need MQTT unless you intend interfacing the Victron data with some other smart home platform etc. However, it sounds like you would prefer to run Node-RED on another device and access the Cerbo via MQTT. If you’re looking for advice or collaboration on one of these scenarios, you ought to pick one first.

6

Its a broker.

While provision is given for this kind of access. It is not officially supported so there is not official documentation.

You basically have to go back to school to learn how to do it.

What you are trykng to use to interface with it will determine how you proceed.