VE.Bus Smart Dongle and VE.Smart Networking

Q&A and troubleshooting
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1

Hello
Sorry if this has been asked before.
I’m doing synchronized charging on my 30-foot sailboat by connecting an Orion XS and a SmartSolar to the VE.Smart network and using data acquired by the SmartShunt. I want to add a MultiPlus 2000VA to this synchronized charging setup, but will a GX device become absolutely necessary?
The VE.Bus Smart Dongle only allows me to control the MultiPlus from the VE.Smart network, right? It can’t acquire data from the SmartShunt, can it?

2

Yes, a VE.Bus Smart Dongle will allow the inverter to be networked with the other components that are on the network. They will all share data at that point. A GX device would allow you more features and you could use DVCC for more charging efficiency if you wanted to upgrade in that direction. But I am pretty sure you would need a Cerbo to connect all the devices. A Multiplus GX will not be able to do this. Perhaps with the size and relative simplicity of your system the just networking will be more than sufficient. For perspective, before Victron there was no simple way to network components like you are doing.

3

Thanks for your reply.

My system is not a large-scale system, and I’d like to avoid an elaborate setup. So I’m not considering a GX device. However, I was thinking it would be nice if I could do synchronized charging with shore power and other charging devices while docked. Since the voltage readings from the SmartShunt and dongle sometimes differ, I was wondering if there’s any way to address that.

4

I’d have to get a separate inverter, but maybe getting multiple Smart IP43 units could be an option. Those are VE.Smart compatible.

But it does feel a bit like putting the cart before the horse, doesn’t it?

5

You can install a smart battery sense at the battery and add it to the network. That will share the most accurate battery info with the other components.

6

Thanks. But according to the VE.Smart NW manual, it seems the Orion XS still doesn’t support synchronized charging.

Maybe I’ll introduce a GX device. In that case, I will stop using the DC-DC and install a WS500 to charge directly. Would DVCC be possible even with a drop-in battery?

7

I am pretty sure there’s no way to use DVCC without a battery that has Victron comms.

8

Some features of dvcc work even with batteries that have no comms.

The cerbo manual describes the effects of battery choices on how it works.