With the end of windows 10 support, and Microsoft forcing user files and data into the cloud, it seems likely that more people will be switching to Unix platforms.
VRM has a link into VE-Connect for remote configuring and updating of system devices. Currently this link does not recognise the App image that is the VE Connect install for unix.
It would be nice to see some of the windows support for this program switched to the Unix implementation, including perhaps having a .deb package to install this from. The VE connect program can’t even configure the Multiplus over a local network.
The alternative to this might be to start an open source project to develop a VE-configure and system configure suite for unix.
That’s actually one reason I steer people way from ‘the blue’- you need to buy extra kit to do basic setups (stuff that should be readily available (like changing the generator limit on offgrid systems) isn’t… and the reliance of the internet is also an issue- with many offgrid systems not having internet readily available…- and worse, its windows based programs for programing the inverters- I don’t even own a windows computer, let alone a laptop… and with the win11 nonsense, the chances of that changing are zero…
At least with most other brands you have the option of doing settings manually through the inverter front panel- a basic functionality that is completely absent on the blue…. coupled with its reliance on windows, makes it quite a bit of a pain to deal with…
(I got one I need to program atm- no internet on site, not even mobile reception, its overloading the generator (multiplus 5kva on a 3kw genny-its what they got there) and I got no windows laptop to program it on site…. at this point it looks like I’m going to have to dismount the inverter and take it into town to a mates house to program the stupid thing… ‘thanks heaps Victron’ (thats sarcasm btw…)
I haven’t found a reliable Linux based way to do anything with them (the windows stuff doesn’t work under Wine in Ubuntu) and I’m not buying a new win based laptop (that ship has sailed with me with win 11- no way…)
This is the THIRD Victron I have been called into- and not one has been easy (or even possible)– I’m just going to join the other offgrid guy around here and say ‘sorry- call Victron not interested’ and walk away…
Where we are, there are multiple sites that have no phone service, let alone internet. We have to use the mobile tower for internet, it’s ok when it works, BUT I also have to be able to work without the internet - so cloud based computing is out. I have a windows laptop to serve the one or two bits of software that I don’t currently have Unix equivalents for.
I don’t mind having the dongle and laptop to program the inverters and MPPT’s - it stops (some) customers from being able to mess up the settings.
But when it ties you to specific (and not even that popular round here) kit to do setups- well I’m fed up with it- either make setting up more readily available- or make it possible to do from the inverter front panel (especially things like the genny overload issue- this is the secoond Victron that does the ‘stalls out the genny’ thing- it SHOULDN’T need all this just to change the charging limit!!! (we never did ‘fix’ the first one- gave up and just fitted an external charger and ignored the inbuilt on on the multiplus!!!)
(as it is- unless I can find some way of using linux (laptop) or android (tablet)- my only option is going to be dismount the inverter, drive 100km back to a mates place and borrow his windows tower to reprogram the genny charge limit, then drive 100km back and remount it- and those 5kva multipluses aren’t light….)
Hell I had to drive nearly half an hour just to get a phone signal just to see if there was a way around this BS online……
I think that the current unix VE connect will work with a MK3 adapter to program the gen limits and charger current on a multiplus, so you should be able to do that from Unix. It just won’t do this remotely using the Mk3 in the local Cerbo - if there is one.
We have 300 inhabited islands spread over a lot of sea area, where I am, we have no roads, so if you want to go anywhere, you go by boat or walk. Only the 4 largest islands have any sort of grid power, and on the smallest 2 of those 4, it’s very restricted in coverage. It’s now cheaper to put an off grid solar system on every house in a village, than it is to run the grid to the village, let alone wire up the village to make a microgrid.
I use Victron because of the ‘open’ nature of the programming and control interfaces, particularly the ability of the MPPT’s to control the output current. I don’t know any other manufacturer that does this - either the open source or the dynamic control. The latter is necessary for properly balancing lithium batteries.
One cannot do this over android either, so why is the android download option there??
Not sure why, but the Victron Connect appimage doesn’t work under Ubuntu 18 (Bionic Beaver) which is what I am running on my laptop… other appimages work fine, I’m using the kdenlive appimage atm to listen to music right now in fact, but the Victron one does nothing at all- like its not even there…
(downloaded it several times in case it was a faulty download, but it simply doesnt work at all under Bionic Beaver…)
