After successfully installing Red-Node on Venus in my Cerbo, I also installed the software on my MacBook Pro so that I could test my flows before copying them onto my Venus installation.
However, the Mac Installation is not clear as it seems to run from a server and it will not install any Victron Pallets returning the following event log:
It seems like the eWelink link is incorrect as well as the server is disconnecting so I’ll try from VRM
Easiest way to test is a debug node and an inject node on the Cerbo itself.
Thanks,
since I’m totally new to both Victron and Node Red, I didn’t want to take chances of accidentally modifying some of my successfully tested and in-use assistants and settings, that is why I was going to build my flows outside Venus.
Also I’ve had Node Red disappearing from the menu while attempting to install pallets so I am being very careful not to upset it.
i had to re- install the new V 3.45 from scratch and now all seems to work.
I will use the Venus install if I have to but that leaves the failure to load pallets on the Mac installed unexplained.
Every time I test on the Venus installed pallets the software seem to disappear, kind of uninstalling itself.
Here is the message returned
Cerbo showed Venus Os Large features but nothing happens.
It seems that every time I test one of the imported pallets something goes wrong messing up the installation.
It wont re install because it thinks it is already there so I have to install the normal version (NOT THE LARGE) first and then the Large features one again.
This is the second time today.
AFTER MORE TESTING:
Here’s what I think it’s happening.
After installing the eWeLink pallets, everything is good until I fill the eWeLink credentials in the appropriate node’s box.
It so happens that the email is the same as the Victron VRM login but only the password is different.
As soon as the node connects to eWeLink the VRM loses its connection and the Node-Red installation gets corrupted so I think there is a clash there even though I cannot understand how one should interfere with the other.
Any ideas or similar experiences out there?
Yes when learning node red it is a bit of a steep curve.
Sometimes the palettes are huge and take uo too kuch soace on the cerbo.
I gave up on the ewe link and tasmotised everything. Found mqtt control easier.
Sometimes a router can block access to the node red side.
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I was going to use something like that but Cerbo GX does not seem to have any digital out connections, only the two relays. How did you deal with this limitation?
Use mqtt. If the smart device is on the same WiFi as cerbo it can send commands directly to the device. (It obviously requires the device can receive the command.)
Sure but venus has no optiond for sending messges out via ethernet or wifi or does it ? Perhaps the Modbus TCP/UDP?
Also from the new GUI 3.5x version i don’t seem to be able to locate the “remote GPIO” function, it is not under the IO section.
With that I could also setup a secondary path for ether data signals or direct external relays
Yes it does. It sens messages over wifi to smart switches. It has a built in mqtt broker. That is how all my smart switches are integrated (and i do have quite a few now).
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Perhaps the Modbus TCP/UDP?
173/5,000
Unlike LX, I only use Node-Red to arrange things that have to do with the MultiPlus II.
Smart switches and other things are controlled with Modbus TCP and Home Assistant.
That sounds like a reasonable solution however it does not explain why eWeLink nodes are confusing Node Ret to the point of having to re-install it.
So far I’ve been using the Multiplus assistant to do all the tricks for me but, like yourself, having looked at Node Red more closely, i think that I shall use it too for that purpose as long as it demonstrate solid enough not to disturb the overall functions of the GX system.
On this subject, are there instructions in the Cerbo manual or elsewhere in the Victron area about configuring the broker to collect the data from Cerbo and use its broker so it can trigger an external device?
I have just found this: GX Modbus-TCP Manual [Victron Energy]
No, there isn’t.
This is the unsupported part of the whole process.
Even using rasmota there is just a whole lot of self learning and the forum.
It seems like the whole interface has been rearranged from the only description I was pointed to in the forum with these setting pages
I’m running V. 3.54 with the new GUI and all I get is this page with no related sub-menus
So can I assume it will also relay the message through the Cerbo’s ethernet cable?
Yes
Yeah there is constant changes. So if you don’t want to deal with the changes don’t update anything after your set is done.
If you are modding it is easier in GuI v1 interface, not everything is available through Gui2.
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I understand, BTW, Guystewart said that we could swap between Gui1 and Gui2 without a fresh installation, my question is do we lose the Node_Red installation or any of the settings by swapping?