Using Mobile or Tablet as Victron Control/Display

wildebus

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Victron have been working on a new GUI (Graphical User Interface) on their GX System (e.g the Cerbo GX) and with the latest firmware version, they have made it possible to use an Android Tablet or Mobile in the same way as the Touch50 or Touch70 screens in what is called a "Kiosk" mode.
It has always been possible to connect via a browser and have a display on the left and virtual buttons on the right with the old GUI, or a 'window in a window' via VRM for the new GUI, but this new option is much cleaner in use and appearance to both.
It also allows someone who does not want to pay the rather high price for a Victron Touch Display to get the same kind of benefits using a much lower cost device - and also if they want, use a device with a larger screen.
Another benefit is this 'kiosk' device, as it connects via wi-fi, can be located anywhere you want and no restricted to where an HDMI cable can be run.

I set this up yesterday and I think it has some great potential. Previously where I have installed a Cerbo GX, I have recommended getting a Victron Touch, but now I think I would certainly make people aware of the alternative - either to save money, give more location options, larger screen possibilities, or all three reasons!

Right now here is a photo of my 'Kiosk' Display

Mobile Phone by David, on Flickr
Mounted using a couple of 3M Command Strips. Ideally I would fit to go with the two controllers above the door (A Sargent Control Panel and a Lights + Truma Heaters Controls), but there is just not enough space.

It is an old retired Android Mobile Phone with a screen size slightly larger than the Victron Touch50. Next are a couple of photos showing some of the information screens ...

Phone running Kiosk by David, on Flickr

Phone Running Kiosk by David, on Flickr

And some screenshots showing what other things can be seen on my own system ...

Levels - Tanks by David, on Flickr


Levels - Environment by David, on Flickr


I think this new GUI is much more contemporary than the old style which Victron have used for I don't know how many years and a great improvement.

In my own setup, I am using as mentioned a retired Mobile. That phone was replaced by a new one as it has some problem with the touch screen not responding reliably which became extremely frustrating. In its new role, the screen still doesn't respond to taps all the time, but it is much more of a display unit and I know if I tap the power button to turn the screen off and on, the touch comes back, so it is I think usable enough. And as otherwise it would be sitting in a drawer, it was a free installation :)

What is very handy in my setup is I have secured the gel case that the phone came with to the wall so I can also easily release the phone from the case and it becomes a truely portable control & display unit I can put down anywhere in the Motorhome, which is a great bonus.

This is the information about this new feature and how to set it up - https://community.victronenergy.com...ablet-as-dedicated-gx-wi-fi-display-beta/8575
Couple of comments that are not mentioned in the article and also what I found when trying out various things setting this up ....
  • It tells you to connect to the Wi-Fi network the Cerbo GX is connected to e.g. "At this stage, the tablet is already connected to the Wi-Fi network used during installation. You can either choose to connect to a different Wi-Fi network or directly connect to the GX’s built-in access point."
    I found I HAD to connect to the GXs access point directly for the setup. No other option would work
    Before I found this was required, I was stuck in a "Error Loading Web" screen (due to non-Cerbo Wifi connection). Rather frustrating as no apparent way round that until I found the reason

  • It says "Make sure that the Android device has been fully reset to its factory settings." I followed this process on the phone I am using; but I also added the Victron Kiosk App and installed it on another Android phone without any resetting and I found I could start the phone normally and then run that app to put the phone into Kiosk Mode. It is true that while that App is running, you can't use the phone for anything else, but you can come out of the App and you have your regular Phone back.

  • I am using a Cerbo GX, but I understand this also works on other Devices running Venus OS, so probably the Venus GX and also the Raspberry Pi - as long as you update the Venus OS device to the 3.50 firmware (just released a few days ago).
    This would be a great addition to a RPi based Victron setup (y)

  • I tried another older retired Mobile and I could not install the app at all. This phone was running Android 6 and I saw a comment about a minimum version of Android is needed and probably at least Android 6. I am guessing 6 is actually NOT new enough? I'll be trying again once the battery has power back in it (This phone was retired due to a intermittantly faulty charge port :rolleyes: ).

  • Be aware that trying this could well make your phone unusuable if something goes amiss - know how to do a hardware factory reset before you start on the journey! You are on your own in this process.
    Victron state: Disclaimer: This software is in the beta stage and is not intended for end users.
 
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Victron have been working on a new GUI (Graphical User Interface) on their GX System (e.g the Cerbo GX) and with the latest firmware version, they have made it possible to use an Android Tablet or Mobile in the same way as the Touch50 or Touch70 screens in what is called a "Kiosk" mode.
It has always been possible to connect via a browser and have a display on the left and virtual buttons on the right with the old GUI, or a 'window in a window' via VRM for the new GUI, but this new option is much cleaner in use and appearance to both.
It also allows someone who does not want to pay the rather high price for a Victron Touch Display to get the same kind of benefits using a much lower cost device - and also if they want, use a device with a larger screen.
Another benefit is this 'kiosk' device, as it connects via wi-fi, can be located anywhere you want and no restricted to where an HDMI cable can be run.

I set this up yesterday and I think it has some great potential. Previously where I have installed a Cerbo GX, I have recommended getting a Victron Touch, but now I think I would certainly make people aware of the alternative - either to save money, give more location options, larger screen possibilities, or all three reasons!

Right now here is a photo of my 'Kiosk' Display

Mobile Phone by David, on Flickr
Mounted using a couple of 3M Command Strips. Ideally I would fit to go with the two controllers above the door (A Sargent Control Panel and a Lights + Truma Heaters Controls), but there is just not enough space.

It is an old retired Android Mobile Phone with a screen size slightly larger than the Victron Touch50. Next are a couple of photos showing some of the information screens ...

Phone running Kiosk by David, on Flickr

Phone Running Kiosk by David, on Flickr

And some screenshots showing what other things can be seen on my own system ...

Levels - Tanks by David, on Flickr


Levels - Environment by David, on Flickr


I think this new GUI is much more contemporary than the old style which Victron have used for I don't know how many years and a great improvement.

In my own setup, I am using as mentioned a retired Mobile. That phone was replaced by a new one as it has some problem with the touch screen not responding reliably which became extremely frustrating. In its new role, the screen still doesn't respond to taps all the time, but it is much more of a display unit and I know if I tap the power button to turn the screen off and on, the touch comes back, so it is I think usable enough. And as otherwise it would be sitting in a drawer, it was a free installation :)

What is very handy in my setup is I have secured the gel case that the phone came with to the wall so I can also easily release the phone from the case and it becomes a truely portable control & display unit I can put down anywhere in the Motorhome, which is a great bonus.

This is the information about this new feature and how to set it up - https://community.victronenergy.com...ablet-as-dedicated-gx-wi-fi-display-beta/8575
Couple of comments that are not mentioned in the article and also what I found when trying out various things setting this up ....
  • It tells you to connect to the Wi-Fi network the Cerbo GX is connected to e.g. "At this stage, the tablet is already connected to the Wi-Fi network used during installation. You can either choose to connect to a different Wi-Fi network or directly connect to the GX’s built-in access point."
    I found I HAD to connect to the GXs access point directly for the setup. No other option would work
    Before I found this was required, I was stuck in a "Error Loading Web" screen (due to non-Cerbo Wifi connection). Rather frustrating as no apparent way round that until I found the reason

  • It says "Make sure that the Android device has been fully reset to its factory settings." I followed this process on the phone I am using; but I also added the Victron Kiosk App and installed it on another Android phone without any resetting and I found I could start the phone normally and then run that app to put the phone into Kiosk Mode. It is true that while that App is running, you can't use the phone for anything else, but you can come out of the App and you have your regular Phone back.

  • I am using a Cerbo GX, but I understand this also works on other Devices running Venus OS, so probably the Venus GX and also the Raspberry Pi - as long as you update the Venus OS device to the 3.50 firmware (just released a few days ago).
    This would be a great addition to a RPi based Victron setup (y)

  • I tried another older retired Mobile and I could not install the app at all. This phone was running Android 6 and I saw a comment about a minimum version of Android is needed and probably at least Android 6. I am guessing 6 is actually NOT new enough? I'll be trying again once the battery has power back in it (This phone was retired due to a intermittantly faulty charge port :rolleyes: ).

  • Be aware that trying this could well make your phone unusuable if something goes amiss - know how to do a hardware factory reset before you start on the journey! You are on your own in this process.
    Victron state: Disclaimer: This software is in the beta stage and is not intended for end users.
David, you say that the communication is via WiFi, will the various components talk to each other via the router WITHOUT an internet or data connection?
 
David, you say that the communication is via WiFi, will the various components talk to each other via the router WITHOUT an internet or data connection?
Ah, You picked up on a point I meant to add on my original post. Thanks for that reminder....

  • The WiFi Connection needed between the Venus OS Device (e.g. Cerbo GX) is built into the Venus Device, so in fact you don't need any additional Internet connection or Router - just the Phone/Tablet and the Venus Device itself.
 
Drilled some holes yesterday in the motorhome to integrate the display a bit more ....
This was the 'before' with the phone just stuck on the side to see if this option is worth going for before making anything permanent.

Mobile Phone by David, on Flickr

Added extra fittings and tried to position them in a way that looks fairly original

Autotrail Control Section by David, on Flickr
Moved the Truma controls and the light switch to a new vertical group on the left; put 3 CBE blanks into the original horizontal set and secured the new Victron Display there with Velcro; and added a USB outlet and switch pair on a new vertically mounted right hand set. (This is a double rather than a triple purely as I don't have any triples left so will change to matching group sometime (I positioned the pair to accommodate the addition)).
I will probably redo the power lead so it is behind the panel rather than visible like you see here.
 
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You are more obcest with voltage watching than i am with linux. 😂
Nice neat layout.(y)
Not voltage watching, but system control and monitoring. What is showing on the display in the photo are temperatures of battery, charger, room and freezer. Can also change to check water and LPG tank levels and control inverter and charger action as well as indeed checking battery banks :)

And I *think* (but not 100% on this) that the Victron Venus OS has a Linux core, so that will make you happy :D
 
Looks neat. Next is to solder power feed to the back of the phone ;) Or wireless charging?
 
Looks neat. Next is to solder power feed to the back of the phone ;) Or wireless charging?
doesn't support wireless charging. I have a 90 degree power adapter that I will get round to fitting and will keep the lead out of sight :)
 
Looks neat. Next is to solder power feed to the back of the phone ;) Or wireless charging?
Made a hole in the RHS CBE blank for a USB Cable ... Fitted a 12V-USB converter (Link) for the USB power to that cable so hidden away.

CBE Base - Victron Phone by David, on Flickr

Using a USB Right-Angle adapter (link to Amazon) allows it to go through the hole and the cable disappears.

CBE Base - Victron Phone by David, on Flickr
So Cable gone, which is neater, but the phone is a bit too far offset. What I really need to do is make a hole in the cover right over at the edge, but that is also where a mounting screw is, so a little tricky. Probably will do that at some time :) . Maybe there will be a 3D printed mount I could use for this rather than semi-bodging the CBE mount? At the moment I have not changed anything in terms of the hole that was already there so an easy revertion, which is good.
 
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👍 Nice without the cable. We never stop playing do we???? I've got stuff I want to do, just can't be bothered lol
 
Made the final (final?? haha) change to the mounting....
The phone looked a bit silly set so far over to the side, so I needed to fix that but still avoid making a hole that would be exposed. Bit tricky, but I adapted both the frame and the cover as well to have a cable outlet as far over as possible

CBE Mod Triple
by David, on Flickr

And can then attached the phone to the CBE fitting with the angled connector into the hole and the phone only slightly offset but still within the cover area

Autotrail Contol Board
by David, on Flickr

Happy with how this now sits and looks so going to declare it job done :)
Oh, and as far as the actual usage of the phone as a dedicated Victon display goes, it is pretty good. Not as 100% as the wired display would be in terms of connectivity, but a win in terms of ability to choose where to mount (and of course, if you don't want a mounted display but a portable one, that is perfect); and an absolute win in terms of costs, especially if you are reusing an old phone or tablet, and very much still even if you would need to buy a new one for the job.
 

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