I would never have done this without using Claude Code. I’ve been wanting something like this for a long time but pulled my hair out trying to grok Node-RED … and finally realized I can do it with Claude Code (or any other similar tool). I needed something that didn’t use ESS (forces switch-as-group ON and I need that off in order to support feeding 1 leg of 120 into my 240 split phase system - plus I need to guarantee no backfeed (even 0 amps/disabled isn’t a guarantee)), would fall back to AC pass-thru but NOT charge the battery from shore unless it got critically low, and was based on SoC, not voltages. This is for my RV so my source of shore power varies throughout the year, but I want as much of my power to come from the sun as possible and the built-in mechanisms just don’t cut it.
Summary: A Node-RED flow for Venus OS (Cerbo GX) that automatically manages shore power based on battery state of charge and voltage, while keeping solar charging active at all times.
Description:
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Auto mode: connects shore power when SOC or voltage drops below configurable thresholds, disconnects when SOC recovers
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Shore powers AC loads only — an optional charger-disable relay prevents grid-to-battery charging, so solar remains the primary charge source
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Manual overrides: force shore on or off regardless of SOC
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Independent AC charger control: enable or disable the inverter/charger independently of shore mode
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Dashboard: real-time monitoring with SOC gauge, power readings, threshold sliders, and mode controls
Here are the controls for whether you want shore power and/or the AC charger to be on automatic (dashboard screenshot below):
I see the post about triple-backtick + flows to post the json here but I don’t see flows as a language option .. so … I put it all here so you can see the detailed docs and the python helper script, how to adapt to your system, the cerbo relay requirements, and all that jazz: GitHub - goodwinb99/victron-power-manager: Victron solar-priority power manager with Node-RED flows · GitHub
the flows visual
The dashboard (controls are below that – screenshot of the controls is above)
