Networking Multiple SmartSolar MPPT

Good Afternoon All,

I have three Victron SmartSolar MPPT controllers wired to three separate solar arrays, and am a touch confused about the networking status. All three MPPT devices are connected to the same VE.Smart network (bluetooth). All three MPPT devices are connected to CerboGX via VE.Direct. When querying VRM, in the ‘networked operation’ menu, all three chargers state ‘Yes’ to networked. Two of the chargers (100/50 and 100/30) show a network status as ‘Standalone’, with mode setting of ‘External Control’. My largest charger, 150/70 shows a network status as ‘Slave’ with mode setting of ‘External Control’. I do not have a BMS, and all chargers appropriately report ‘No’ for ‘BMS Controlled’.

My intention is to have all three chargers follow the same voltage/current restrictions set by CerboGX DVCC, but I’m not understanding why two of the chargers are in ‘Standalone’ network status. Seems to me that one of the chargers should be “Master”, and the two others “Slave”. Any guidance is much appreciated as always!

Is there a BMV-712 or SmartShunt installed? It would be necessary for the DVCC shared voltage, current, and temperature sense to be enabled.

Ve.Smart networking communicates via Bluetooth and doesn’t use DVCC. It does require a BMV-712 or SmartShunt to provide remote voltage, current and temperature sense.

Since all devices are connected to the Cerbo via Ve.direct or Ve.direct / USB cables, using Ve.direct is preferred, Ve.Smart should be disabled.

1 Like

as @RaySun wrote

VE.Smart Networking World:
Smart Battery Sense or Smart Shunt, BMV via Bluetooth

or

GX World:
Cerbo with Smart Shunt or BMV, via Ve.direct with DVCC

You can also mix them; see the VE.Smart Networking manual for details.
GX overrides VE.Smart Networking values…

1 Like

Thank you both:

@RaySun I do have a BMV-712, which CerboGX is using to enforce voltage/current sense through DVCC. All three MPPTs are connected to CerboGX via VE.direct/USB interface.

@DirkW Appreciate this explanation very much.

Based on what both of you are suggesting, I plan to disable Ve.smart networking and use only VE.Direct. Sounds as though in my system, there may be confusion between the two systems enabled simultaneously.

Cheers!

The documents say if VE.direct is enabled then the equivalent VE.smart functions are ignored.

The documents also say if VE.direct is enabled, then VE.smart should be disabled.

I disabled VE.smart because my periferals all use VE.direct and VE.can.

1 Like

As a further add on if both are enabled then there can be some weird behaviours.
If you have a GX then it is already networked, remove the Bluetooth one to avoid unnecessary complications. It is designed for systems without a GX.

1 Like

Thanks everyone for the guidance!

Cheers!