I’ve got a multiplus II plugged into cerbo gx mk2 with a touch50 connected. The multiplus ‘switch’ is in the on location.
If I plug in AC input (shore power, 120v 15 amp) the multiplus wakes up and everything works; including on/off from touch 50 panel. Then if I unplug shore power the multiplus stays on and the control panel will let me turn it off. But once it’s ‘off’ it won’t turn back on again. The ctrl panel lets me switch it to ‘on’ but the unit never actually comes on; until I plug in shore power again. very very odd.
Update: To anyone looking for a solution: I removed Pin 7 from the VE Bus cable and that allowed the system to work properly. Not my favorite solution; but a solution.
When a Cerbo, or some other GX device or DMC, is connected to the VE.Bus, then the physical switch is ignored.
Did you use both the Cerbo and the Mk3 at the same time? The Mk3 can emulate a DigitalMulticontrol, which would disable the Cerbo ability to remotely turn on/off the Multiplus. Not the exact same situation here, but could be related. To return to full functionality once the DMC was disconnected, you needed to rediscover the VE.Bus device on the Cerbo.
From watching the video, i suspect that the MP at first goes into standby for a few seconds, then fully powers down. Thats why you can enable it again for a short period. You can prevent it from fully powering down by removing Pin 7 of the VE.Bus cable, the MP will then listen to the physical switch again, but to me thats always been a patch for something that is an underlying issue somewhere. It will also use more power from the battery when permanently in standby compared to fully powered down.
AFAIK theres no final solution to this
If you are able, you can try to measure whether PIns 6 and 7 get pulled to GND once the Cerbo wants to switch on the MP. Pin 6 is standby, if its freefloating the MP will fully power down, if its pulled to GND it will stay in standby. Pin 7 is remote control connected, if its freefloating then theres no remote control, if its pulled to GND then there is.
The expected sequence is Pin 7 is always pulled to GND, as long as the Cerbo is connected and switched on, once you press “On” on the screen, Pin 6 should get pulled to GND, then the MP will change into standby, then the On command will be sent over the data lines from the Cerbo to the MP, once the MP has powered on, Pin 6 can be freefloating again.
Maybe your Cerbo has an issue with pulling Pin 6 to GND, or your cable has a fault on that specific conductor, or the MP itself
Thanks! It definitely seems to be that same issue as the other you posted. Looks like a few folks have run into it. I’m reluctant to cut pin 7 as I do need the ability to shutdown the MP to conserve energy; this is in a van conversion and power is limited.
Hoping to find out if others have found solutions with new Mk2 devices or perhaps reverting back to original cerbo gx devices until this is resolved.
I’m not sure if it’s a batch or just a stray reoccurring error. The tech mentioned that they’d seen it before a while ago and that’s how they knew what the issue most likely was.
If at all possible I would definitely try just swapping a cerbo in to try. I didn’t even buy the cerbo from the place that did this work for me, but they were confident enough in the warranty to take my old unit and give me the working replacement. No issues at all since the swap.
guystewart
(Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager))
6
I am a bit late to the party here and you have already come to the correct conclusion.
In summary,
In all cases like you describe removing PIN 6/7 as per Q20 is the fastest on site work around solution.
There was a hardware revision made to the Cerbo GX from HQ2529 onwards, and for Ekrano GX HQ2539 onwards, that prevents this issue from happening.
If the customer/installer is not satisfied with the Pin 6/7 workaround, and wants to submit for RMA, it’s important that the GX they get is manufactured after those serial numbers above.
This isn’t a widespread issue, and only a tiny number of units show this behaviour, but it’s sufficient that we have seen it several times on the community, and we got enough info that engineers were able to identify and fix the root cause in hardware.
It is one of those frustrating cases for installers where they can install 20 systems the same and then one of them behaves like this new out of the box for no obvious reason.
Hopefully shortly (if not already) only GX of the new hardware revision is what gets supplied and we won’t see this again.
Edit - I see that your GX is already after this revision, I would be curious to know if you can get another Cerbo GX to see if it’s resolved by replacement or if there is another cause unrelated to the hardware revision I described above.
Hi Guy. I removed Pin 6/7 and the system worked. The van has already left with the client so I don’t have or a need a replacement for this unit, thanks.
I’ll keep an eye on future units I receive to insure they are new enough to include the hardware fix.
best
John
guystewart
(Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager))
8
If you or the customer wishes to replace the GX in the future under RMA, let me know and I’d like to get the part back.
If everyone is happy with the status quo, apologies for the inconvenience and nothing further required.
