Custom VICTRON
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Customising the already impressive smart brain of the Victron ecosystem, this time installing the custom guimods on the Cerbo Gx to add a lot of new features to the user interface such as displaying Ruuvitag temperature and tank sensors on the Touch 70 screen. I used use the generator start, stop relay on the VRM & Venus OS as a solo dump load for free hot heater via Charge from Solar mppt changers, multiplus inverters. Plus a few more advanced features as well
GitHub link
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I do also show and talk about the VRM & Venus OS running on the raspberry pi which I have been using it over a year now.
#guimods #victroncerbo #misspeonouncedadventures
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Is there anything you would do extra to a Cerbo GX?
The “Dump Load” downs necessarily have to be for Hot water. It could be anything, turning on an air-conditioning unit automatically, automatically charging, a power bank or another battery back?
What would you do?
Great video. How about controlling a computer 12v fan and heat mat via something like an ST100 for keeping a 12v or 240v fridge happy? Also, do you have a wiring diagram for the water heater setup?
@@rhythmuk1 you could use a relay to control a fan to keep a electric cupboard cool, I know “Luke’s vanlife” does that with his Cerbo, I guess the same could work for a heat mat. As for wiring I think independent older solar dump load video might be helpful there
@@MispronouncedAdventures I really should have asked how you connected the Cerbo to the W3230, did you tap into the positive wire? I know how to wire both the W3230 and ST100. I think the ST100 is the better solution for the fridge, but the Cerbo is better for the water heater because of the ability to start/stop from SOC.
@@rhythmuk1 the Cerbo relay output is wired to the power wire for the W3230 and the relay IN side of the W3230. So the Cerbo is powering the whole W3230 on and off, the W3230 hold its temp setting when off.
The W3230 relay is then wired as a signal to the large relay to power on the 300w heater
@@MispronouncedAdventures Got it! 😁 Thanks for the pointer.
Thanks for mentioning my Channel. and the video on the Guimods install and setup.
Thank you for making a informative and helpful video on the guimods install
Thank you so much for posting. I had the GUI simple screen and hated the layout, didn't know you could change it until watching your video. I'm getting old!
Hopefully you found it a helpful video
I watch that guys video recently as I did just the same thing to my pi installing the GUImods. Super helpful archive on infomation. Great vid as usual Alex
His video is great video and very detailed, so I thought it correct to bring it up in mine.
Nice I love your information I definitely will use my Venus os relay to trigger hot water dump :)
Glad you enjoyed. It’s a useful use for Cerbo Relays.
Thanks again, just watched more of the same video and I've learnt more from this that any other video I've watched
Glad to hear, hopefully you can get it sorted yourself
great mod this, will definitely be doing it. The bluetooth dongle is also a good idea (aside for the range it adds) as the Cerbo will stop working with Ruuvi tags when the Cerbos core temp hits 53 degrees - so a good use of that spare USB slot for sure. Thanks for the vid Alex, great update.
It’s a great upgrade to do to it.
I hadn’t seen the information on the Cerbo temp going above 53c part you mentioned. Where can I find more information about that is it in the manual?
@@MispronouncedAdventures it is yeah. This is not a plug, but I have a 50 second video I’ve been meaning to upload lol. Will get it shipped. But the details are on the cerbo manual now - they updated it. It hasn’t always been this way.
Excellent tutorial. I'll install guimods this weekend. My element is switched by the solaris voltage sensor, but I like your way better.
Glad you found it helpful.
More or less, I was also using a voltage trigger originally which does work however it is rudimentary. Access to state of charge eliminates so many factors which cause a problem of just voltage along as a trigger
Whow! What a useful content. Many thanks and regards from Switzerland. Silvano
Glad you have find it’s useful :)
Hi Chap, great descriptions of what you were trying to achieve. Re the Cerbo GX not allowing you to use the relay in a more logical manner, you are correct. However if you want to drive logic within the Cerbo GX in a more advance way, consider activating the Node Red layer within it. Advantages of Node Red over the standard OS, is the workflow logic is basically limitless. So as long as any module you want to get data from or drive is interactable (Victron have to make them available). You can do anything including interact with wider non local data (think have a load react to dates, weather and light conditions, from web available content). The Disadvantages you need to consider if you go down the Node Red path, are: its a bit of a rabbit hole, and you can very quickly over complicate a system by thinking too broadly and create badly developed and overly heavy workflows. Getting the Cerbo GX to do far more than Victron intended, can quickly exhaust the on board CPU and RAM resources, the result is a slow non-responsive system. To activate the Node Red Layer you need to install the Large Cerbo GX firmware, at which point Victron consider you to be an advanced user and stop any OS support (although there is great support in the Victron and Node Red Communities to fill this gap, also if you have issue you need Victron for, simply revert to the standard small OS and they'll come back into the conversation). I hope that helps, take care D
great video very ib=nteresting but way beyond my old age skill level. thanks for sharing👍👍👍
Glad you enjoyed the video
👍
Like my old science teach said “ all done with smoke and mirrors “ 😂
Very interesting, I'm going to install GUImods on my Cerbo tomorrow, wish me luck :)
I generally found it all very easy. Good luck for tomorrow.
Regarding Bluetooth coverage.
Bluetooth comes in three classes. Short range (1m), normal (10m), and long range (100m)
I hava a long range adapter, and it works wonderful. The minus is that the antenna is a bit long, but not a problem on stationary equipment...
Thank you for the replay, Bluetooth adapter are definitely helpful for this unit. As it range can be limited in a van with all the interference for those Tags
As per Bluetooth standard:
Long range (Class 1): 100mW
Normal range (Class 2) : 2.5mW
Short range (Class 3): 1mW
Great video as usual, :) don`t know if you have LPG in the van, but the other day I`ve just installed an ultrasound sensor on the gas bottle and it works great with cerbo gx. Its a great mini computer for the van conversions, cheers again. :)
Thank you, no LPG for me I’m diesel for heating and electric for cooking. Glad to hear you’ve got an LPG tank sensor for Cerbo GX. I see there are one or two options. I definitely think the VRM is a great way to bring together all the separate bits of equipment.
What is the LPG sensor that you are using that communicates with the cerbo gx?
@@chachi5975 yes it does and is super accurate.
Gutes Video 👍🤗👍Danke
Thank you
good vid
Thank you
Useful
Cheers
Hi Alex!
Fantastic video!
Didn't you have a water level sensor?
This video is about a year old; you could have MOD the YETI since then.
But if we are right, we saw it in one of the videos from 2024 when Katie was visiting.
I added the water level sensors just before this trip ( 2024 Jan )
Did you mention it or show it in any video?
If not, which water level sensor did you go with?
@@NordicPass I didn’t show the install, but they came with the bobil van kit I recently did. The resistance based and kind of this generic ones two wire connection to the Cerbo, very simple.
Fantastic video! I’ve been trying for 2 years to get a solar dump via Cerbo GX sorted and no one - until you - have come up with such a neat solution! Honestly, it’s brilliant using the generator ‘function’ and the reverse logic to operate the SOC and so obvious once you stop and think about it!
Quick question please, at 11:12 in your video we get a glimps of what looks like an adapter Victron connector block with screws to secure the wires instead of using the push fit/bootlace feral. Where did you get the screwed version? I’d much rather use it than the push fits which constantly come loose as my bootlaces aren’t long enough. 👍
Glad it was helpful I think with a bit of tweaking or testing again, I can get it to work on the solar dump it’s think the generator is it. Currently when the solar dump is on, it things the gen is off.
As for the screw terminals, it’s the plug which came with my Victron Mppt controller. Those type of connectors are generic, but I can’t remember the name
I've watched a few of your videos but I always get stuck on these controlling devices. This is the first time I've seen this Victron unit. Essentially I want to control everything in my van from one central unit that also allows automation, from both the control unit and WiFi to control it while away from the van. Fan, aircon, heater, security, cameras, temperature control relays, you name it. Is this the system that I'm looking for? Are there any other similar systems you've seen besides Victron?
Is it possible to mirror the display or even not have it and use a tablet? If so I’m putting a cerbo on my list!
I think if you could make an app to display all the Victron kit (but much prettier) water levels , temps etc and also have an overlay or swipe to show the cctv all on one screen your on to a winner!!
I’ve heard about people attempting HDMI splitters and so on, but it doesn’t seem to work very well. You could have a second display by connecting to the item remotely with a tablet and displaying the VRM screen.
Hopefully one day, they will expand the VRM to incorporate things like that, like cctv
Battery's will deteriorate quicker in the 80-100% charge rage.
Indeed. less of an issue if the system is used every day. More so if left at a high SOC for storage / long time
Cool video Alex, i can confirm that the victron sensors are not waterproof, my first one died even after, i tried to make it waterproof. The second one is doing just fine. intresting seeing all the items running of USB, do you have a link to the GPS dongle, plus what else are you running via USB into the Cerbo?
Yeah, I thought a few people had tried and discovered it’s not waterproof. Hopefully with all the layers of sealant and heat shrink this one will be.
USB GPS is listed in my Amazon store ( I think ) link in the description.
I just have my mppt ( VE.direct to USB ) , shunt ( VE.direct to USB ) , Multiplus ( VE.Bus to USB MK3 ) and USB GPS
@@MispronouncedAdventures Guys, there are waterproof resistive temperature probes, some with long thin stainless body (much more suitable for drinking/showering water) or you could use an automotive screw in fluid temp fitting. Having said that, that sensor shouldn't fail in water, might give you iffy readings.
Very true there are waterproof sensors, the reason for using the multiplus GX sensor as it comes with the Multiplus inverter but normally goes unused. So it’s spare
Do you think I could use my Generic inverter 4000W to my GUI Raspberry PI 4 to read my AC loads somehow? I can't see buying anymore expensive Victron components. I just added a victron smart shunt hoping it would read AC load but nada.
Great vlog, can you change the order of the temperature tiles on the screen? Tia
Sort of. there isn’t an exact functionality of changing the order for display. However I believe the order adding the temperatures sensors to the system gave the order
Thank you for this video!
I'm implementing this right now in my system, and it works like a charm.
Changed my GUI layout too, but my online VRM layout on my computer does not display the same as my screen, does anyone know how I can achieve that?
Great video! Can I ask how did you add the heating element to the water tank? (I couldn't find any video in your channel, but maybe I'm bad at searching)
It’s on the “Bobilvans hot water install video” but more or less drilled a hole in the tank and threaded the element in and put a back nut on it
and.....nothing shows up in my DC System GUI even though I have it turned on and have a victron shunt. Would you know why? I am also using a Raspberry PI 4b for my GX.
You have different color blocks for your temperatures. Is that because they are different types of sensors, or were you able to set those colors? If yu set them, how?
Same types of sensors, but in settings you change was things it’s monitoring, fridge, battery and so on, that changes the block colour
I am building out a Victron system in my van. I bought a GX 70 touch screen but I am having a hard time finding a good place for it.... How often do you use it once you have your system set up? Does the Victron iphone app show everything? Does the iphone app show your tank levels when you use a Victron Tank 140 w/ sensors? Thanks
I use the touch 70 daily. I don’t use the app anymore more. Well there are two apps ( sort of ) you have “Victron connect” which is via Bluetooth and local.
And you have VRM this is from the Cerbo. Which can be access on the screen or remotely via a different app or webpage
The Victron tank 140 display on the VRM
@@MispronouncedAdventures What is VRM?...... sorry I haven't hooked anything up yet....
Does the app show everything on the touchscreen including tank levels?
@@rjthomasindyusa VRM = Victron remote monitoring which is what the Cerbo unit shows.
You can have tanks displayed on the touch
Do you have the smartshunt connected via bluetooth or ve direct to USB, or ve direct cable?
BMV-712 and not a Smartshunt in this case but your question is the same. You can’t connect Victron units to the Cerbo GX via Bluetooth ( just the app )
In this case I’m using VE.Direct to USB as I had them left over from when I had a Pi running Venus OS. But a VE.direct to VE.direct cable would also work fine
Hello, thank you for this Video.
Did you know if a GUI modification is available for detailed DC Power?
I run with an Skylla i charger and a Phoenix Smart Inverter.
I want to change my hole display settings to see the the top left AC IN Symbol as my Skylla Charger with all Data's and AC OUT the data's from the Phoenix.
Best regards Robert
I’m not familiar with that particular bit of equipment, but I know there have been some pretty extensive modifications done with the GUI. I am really only playing with the basic stuff. There is a group out there which may be able to better help you.
hi i would like to ask you if i don`t have the AC inverter can i deleteit from the screen?
i want the layout only with DC I have the smart orion the mppt charger and smart shunt
From my understanding with “GuiMods” which allows some editing of the UI. You can turn off unused “tiles” ( AC IN & AC OUT in this case )
@Mispronounced Adventures great video, but I don;t like the way you did the dump load. you should use the NO contact and set the state of charge in the normal way. the fact that you use the NC contact, if the Cerbo fail, the element will turn on
I completely agree, I don’t like the way I’ve done it, but for some reason I could not Get NO to function
As it does suffer from the power loss issue I will re-develop it in the future to rectify it or figure out how to get the other contact to work
@@MispronouncedAdventures I did some research, this could be done with your inverter !!! yes it sound weird but you can program the relay to operate with the SoC. to do so you will need a usb-mk3 adaptor to program your multiplus relay
I have a usb-mk3. Is that when the Multiplus is being used in its “battery monitor” mode?
@@MispronouncedAdventures when you connect the multiplus on the computer with the ve configure, you need to disable the virtual switch, then go to the assistant tab and add an assistant to control the programable relay then after a few question you will be able to set the value of SoC
My Ruuvis are only displaying temp on the main cerbo screen. How are you getting your Ruuvis to display temp and humidity on the main cerbo screen?
Is did it by default. I maybe a setting somewhere or which particular version of the Ruuvis tag do you have?
Why does the victron screen have an inbuilt camera?
It doesn’t, that’s a light sensor to change the screen brightness in reaction to light conditions
Can you please say more about the VE.CAN to NMEA2000?
In my system I have terminators at the Shunt and Cerbo. Can I just plug the VE.CAN micro-C cable instead of any one of the 2 terminators? Thank you!
Is it possible to turn on and off a multiplus Inverter at set SOC,s do you know please Alex? That would be so useful to me :)
Hmmmmm. That is a good question.
It’s not in software, as in you can only turn the multiplus on and off for the Cerbo manually.
I guess in effect you could use the same system I use for the dump. Relay 1 using the start / stop generator and having the small wire bridge on the bottom of the multiplus running through the relay. Normally that bridge is used for a manual switch
@@MispronouncedAdventures many thanks, food for thought :)
super old, but if you move the wire on the relay to the NO spot instead of the NC slot you can use the logic like normal on the generator start/stop function, as you have a inverted Relay instead of logic now. this will allow the run time to be accurate.
That’s what I tried first time round in the video, I switched to the inverse logic as I could get work on NO. as you rightly pointed out, messes up the timer. I couldn’t get it to work in NO, I still dont understand way, there is no reason for it not to work on NC
@MispronouncedAdventures huh. Interesting, I must have missed that 🤷♂️ but yea it should definitely work. Super weird. Could add your own controller but that's a lot of effort.
@alandoyle95 yeah doesn’t really make sense why it didn’t work on NO, unless there was a hardware issue in the wiring or an issue with the actual pin
Have you connected your diesel heater to it? Looking to link the diesel heater when i get round to purchasing the Victron stuff. Any thoughts from a user?
I don’t know any ways of integrating a heater in the Venus OS at the moment. I have a separate MQTT for using my diesel heater remotely
I don’t know any ways of integrating a heater in the Venus OS at the moment. I have a separate MQTT for using my diesel heater remotely
👐👍
Cheers
Do you not have ve direct cables running to the cerbo??
No, as I had ve.direct to USB cables as before I used a Cerbo, I used Venus Os on a raspberry pi. So I have all those Ve.direct cables to a USB. Into a USB hub and then a single USB on the Cerbo from the hub
Could a Truma combo heater be triggered to heat water in dump mode ?
I’ve not planned with the Truma combo but if there is a manual switch to turn on and off the hot water heater when I don’t see why not
Hi buddy do you also use the cerbo to power a heat pad using temp
I don’t, but I’m sure you could as there is a temperature option
@@MispronouncedAdventures I’ve just sorted my Cerbo to turn ON a cooling fan in the engine room of my barge if the temp goes >40’C and OFF again at 30’C. Same principle for a heating mat. Have a read of the Cerbo manual in the relay section. There’s a great bit which explains how to use both relays to activate a second heat pad in case the first isn’t coping with the temp.
Will any of your mods work on cerbo-s??
I have not tested it on the Cerbo-S ( I don’t know the S model very well. ) but as long as it’s run Venus OS & to have a USB or as cars slot to load the guimods. Then I don’t see why not
hello can we go back I have os 3.13 and put 2.90 it's possible because I can't!!!
OS can be rolled back. The Victron website mentions a number of ways of doing it via a USB or SD card. you can put a clean on install on
thank you for your quick response, yes we can set the factory settings but not go back, I haven't seen it!!!@@MispronouncedAdventures
Do you have a 240v or 12v water heater element?
I use a 300w 12v Dc element, I’m sure it’s not too much of area work if you wanted to use a more powerful AC one
@@MispronouncedAdventures We have an AC water heater element on our boat already. I am looking into creating an assistant on the Multiplus to enable the secondary AC outlet that the water heater is connected to when SOC > 95%. Do you know the brand of your 12v element? Did it come with the tank?
The 12v electric I have is generic, I’ve got it from Bimble solar. As for the tank I added the element myself.
@@freakent I had exactly the same issue and have done a “work around” by putting my 2Kw immersion heater on a 13amp plug (2Kw=8amp so it’s safe!) and plugging it into the mains via an intelligent Wi-Fi plug. If the sun comes out I can check battery SOC via the VRM on my phone and if alls good I use the plugs App to turn the immersion ON but set the ‘Count Down’ feature on the plugs App to ensure I don’t forget to turn it off! I’m going to have a go at doing Alex’s solar dump now though. We live on a Dutch barge so I’ll adapt it to isolate the dump feature if we are ‘navigating’ as our engine heats the HW for free as we go.
@@aljotock I worked out how to create an Assistant on our Multiplus that switches on the relay on our secondary AC output (the one with the water heater on it) when voltage is above a certain level and switch off when it goes below. So at the moment we can just switch the water on and heat it via the inverter for 30 - 40 mins. Next step is to use a relay controlled by the GX device and switch the water off and on automatically based on SOC.
I absolutely love Tech but your systems are way way to complex.
Simple is the only way to go .
When components fail your going to have nothing. No power no hot water dead batteries 😅
Nice system though 👌
I really hope you have redundancy
Maybe to be too complex for you?. Building it myself I know how it all works. The system it still built up individual components like any other system, Victron kit is unlikely to fail and if it does if can be serviced/replaced by Victron dealers in any country you see in. Plenty of back up systems. I don’t spent my winters in the Arctic without back ups
yay... oh failed on the water proofing lol,,,, but nobody cares :) love it
How have I failed on waterproofing? Layers of sealants and heat shrink seem to be working so far
What gps did you get?
Cheap USB GPS. Any which says if worked with a raspberry pi of Linux originally
FYI GUI (Graphical User Interface) is pronounced the same as gooey
Both are correct in Acronyms and initialisms forms. I used to design UI’s as part of my degree. UI ( user interface ), you would always pronounce it as a initialism and not as a Acronym. Also makes sense to me if you add a G, it would still remain a initialism for me. But both are correct
Both "G-U-I" and "Gooey" are common pronunciations for GUI.
When I had my vivas for my PG degree, I pronounced it as "gooey", as fellow students liked to pronounce it that way. Meanwhile, I always pronounced it as "G-U-I" at work. (Just my habit, as I read the litters out for the other names in software dev, like U-X-U-I, C-L-I, A-P-I, S-D-K, I-D-E, A-P-K etc., So I tend to keep the consistency.)
Doesn't really matter which one you go for imho, as long as it makes sense to the others.
The hot Water is NOT for free, because u paid for the solarsystem.....
Splitting hairs point you are trying to make. being “free” doesn’t have to refer to it financially, and it doesn’t in this case . It’s “free” as there has been no fuel or energy expended by the system heat it.
Also my solar panels were free from my old neighbour.
Is it free financially as well? My solar systems was solely and primarily bought to charge the batteries via solar and nothing else. Making a dump load is a just a byproduct of having a solar panels and never my intended purpose.