New to Victron. MultiPlus 2000VA works OK with the MK3, but when I connect it to my CCGX using VE.Bus it continuously shuts down and restarts every 30 seconds or so. The CCGX display indicates current flow from the battery to the MultiPlus for a few seconds and then shows no current flow followed by an inverter shutdown. MultiPlus then restarts, goes into inverter mode and the cycle starts all over again. If I disconnect the unit from the CCGX it works fine. I have installed the latest FW on both the MultiPlus and the CCGX and the configurations seem to be correct.
When a MultiPlus is connected to a GX device (CCGX), the GX device expects the MultiPlus to run in ESS mode or another compatible configuration. If ESS Assistant is not installed, the CCGX can send conflicting commands, causing a continuous restart loop.
Open VE.Configure:
Add the ESS Assistant (even if you are off-grid) OR add a No-Feedback Assistant (if you do not want ESS control). Re-upload the configuration and restart both devices.
This is incorrect, you do not need any assistants for a GX (any) to work, nor ESS. They work fine on vanilla systems.
Something else is the cause.
The latest supported firmware for the CCGX is 3.55, do not install anything later as it has been known to cause issues in some cases.
@darylrsmith Just to be sure, you connected the multi to the CCGX having disconnected the MK3 altogether?
Good point. Common mistake.
I’m running 3.55 on the CCGX. The MP works fine and communicates using the MK3. The graphics show the power flow correctly using Victron Connect using the MK3. When I disconnect the MK3 and connect to the CCGX, the graphics display on the CCGX shows current flow from the battery to the MP inverter for a few seconds and then stops. This is then followed by the inverter shutting down and restarting. It’s like the CCGX is causing the MP to reset when it thinks there is no current flow from the battery. The battery BMS indicates continuous current flow, but the CCGX does not. Seems like a communication issue between the CCGX and MP or something in my configuration is not correct. My background is industrial automation so I think I have a grasp of the system, I just need to figure out what the communication issue is. Not familiar with the VME protocol. I see you can run the Venus OS on a Raspberry Pi. Can you access the source code to debug?
You can run it on a Pi.
There should be no reason to debug, this stuff just works, unless something is broken or misconfigured.
What firmware is the multi and is it a multi or MP2?
What age is the CCGX?
I just purchased both the CCGX and Multiplus 2000VA (12/2000/80-50); Rev 2764, so (I hope) they are new builds. Not the MP2.
MP FW: 556 CCGX FW: 3.55
The CCGX has been end of lifed, it won’t run new software nor large image. An ekrano, albeit more expensive, would be a better investment.
End-of-lifed? That’s not good news. I purchased this because it seemed to be an economical way to add monitoring/control of my MP and a Victron SmartShunt. Evidently I did not do enough research. All indications are that this would/should work. I’m working with tech support to try some different things to try to resolve this. If I can’t get it to work I will have to rethink this.
I’m still not sure that the issue is with the CCGX or the MP. If I upgrade to the Ekrano and the problem is the MP, I’ll be out an additional $400+. Hopefully tech support can figure this out before it’s too late to return either unit.
So in the Victron troubleshooting guide:
18.2.23. Q23: Multi restarts all the time (after every 10sec)
Please check the remote switch connection on the Multi control PCB. There should be a wire bridge between the left and middle terminal. The CCGX switches a line which enables the power of the Multi control board. After 10 seconds this line is released and the Multi should take over from there. When the remote switch connection is not wired, the Multi is unable to take over it’s own supply. The CCGX will retry, the Multi will boot and after 10 seconds stop, and so on.
OK, so I have verified that the jumper is connected, but the problem, as described above, still exists. This makes me think it could be a problem with the MP. Tech support has been silent today.
What MultiPlus model do you have exactly (product number)?
This isn’t tech support. It’s a community forum, where people volunteer their time. Support is provided by your supplier or their distributor, cases logged via the support link in our guidelines.
The model is: PMP122200102 (MP Compact in the newer enclosure)
I am working with tech support through the distributor. They are currently reaching out to Victron for assistance.
Well, tech support through the distributor of the MP (out of Texas) told me they were contacting Victron directly and waiting for them to respond to this issue. I have not heard anything since last Saturday. In the mean time, I received a followup email from the Seattle Victron dealer I purchased the CCGX from. I let them know I was having issues and their support tech has been all over this. We finally decided that I would RMA my current CCGX and get a replacement to try. If that works, it would point to a faulty CCGX. If it still has the same problem with a new CCGX, we’ll take another path. I am very pleased with the support I’ve gotten from the Seattle Victron dealer Blue Marine. I’m not sure why Victron is not getting back to the Texas support tech regarding my support request through the MP distributor.
After the holiday weekend, I did hear back from Victron Support out of Texas. Victron suggested a few things like trying different Cat5e cables and different VE.Bus ports. I tried several off-the-shelf cables (after checking them with a network cable tester) along with all the possible combinations of VE.Bus ports on both the CCGX and MP. Their final conclusion was to RMA the CCGX. When I contacted them about the RMA process for the CCGX, Victron actually (very generously) instructed the distributor to replaced the (outdated - their words) CCGX with an Ekrano at no charge. I should receive the Ekrano by the end of the week or early next week. Then we will see if the problem was the CCGX or if I have a defective MP. Kudos to the support reps that stayed on top of this until a resolution presented itself.
Sigh… received the new Ekrano today. Very carefully connected it to power and the MP. The problem is still there. MP runs for 10 or so seconds in Inverter Mode and shuts down and reboots… continuously. Looks like the problem is with the MP, not the CCGX or Ekrano. We’ll see how Victron wants to handle this.
Well, the issue turned out to be with the MP. A replacement unit under warranty fixed the cycling issue. Thank you to Victron tech support for working through this.