Is there ANY benefit at all to using VE smart networking where you also have a Cerbo GX installed with VE direct cables (on a basic install without DVCC)? I saw a guy online claiming that they do ‘different’ things and that they can be used together. However I read in the manual that the VE smart network is intended for use only where there is no Cerbo GX, and also someone else on the forums suggesting that they shouldn’t be used together as they can conflict, but nothing official from Victron on this that I can find.
Could there be an advantage with charging, e.g. where one has multiple chargers/mppt’s and the cerbo is simply monitoring? i.e. cerbo is monitoring/logging with VE direct but VE smart is used to share charging voltages to optimise charging efficiency or am I way off here?
I thought as much. To change the subject slightly (albeit looking for the same outcome), is it possible/recommended to use DVCC with a basic lithium battery (internal BMS) that does not communicate with the cerbo, for purposes of optimising charging or other features, e.g. multiple MPPT’s. or is it best to stick with the internal charging algorithm of the MPPTs?
Sure, dvcc does not need a managed battery. Coordinating chargers and shared sensor data is rarely bad idea.
There’s a great section on the different scenarios in the gx manual - dvcc.
Thanks for clarifying. I did read that section but it’s a bit vague with regards to a lithium battery with non-integrated/internal BMS. It covers scenarios with e.g. lead acid pretty well.
it depends of the kind of battery. if it is a lead battery and DVCC is not on, the MPP doesn´t know the battery current. I tried out with DVCC on , svs on and scs on. I have 6 Mpps. The MPPs then get the same voltage and Current. They decide for itself to change the carge phase. But it is not exactly synchron. Then i switched DVCC off and made a Ve. smart networking. Now are all MPPs perfect synchron. In a other installation with Gel Batteries i testet the Ve.smart networking by pressing “manuel equilization” in one of the MPPs: all MPPs were in equalization. The same with “stop”.I suggest to use Ve.smart networking if there is no BMS communicating to venus.
What is needed is a shunt for accurate SOC and as a shared voltage/current sensor. This will provide the level of detail needed for an unmanaged battery.
This is not good advice and conflicts with best practice. A shunt is the perfect reference, without one the system will resort to estimation and will lack an accurate shared reference.