Victron Color Controller GX

alwaysared

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The CCGX (Color Control GX) will not replace the BMV-712. That will definately be needed still

The 200/200A Remote Controller has one specific function that the CCGX will not replace (a way to have an auto-current limit that overrides the dial limit), but generally if you remove the Remote Panel, you can via the CCGX Remote Control Panel do the same stuff. If you were to keep the Remote Controller AND get the CCGX you will also find that the Remote Controller will override the CCGX functionality and will actually stop the CCGX control the Multiplus (I'd recommend removing the Remote Controller if you get the CCGX).
As an aside, would you find the display on the CCGX useful or would you be more inclined to use your phone/tablet/computer to check and change stuff? The CCGX is a fair bit more expensive than the screenless Venus GX unit which actually offers a couple of extra features as well. Could be worth considering maybe?
 
The CCGX (Color Control GX) will not replace the BMV-712. That will definately be needed still

The 200/200A Remote Controller has one specific function that the CCGX will not replace (a way to have an auto-current limit that overrides the dial limit), but generally if you remove the Remote Panel, you can via the CCGX Remote Control Panel do the same stuff. If you were to keep the Remote Controller AND get the CCGX you will also find that the Remote Controller will override the CCGX functionality and will actually stop the CCGX control the Multiplus (I'd recommend removing the Remote Controller if you get the CCGX).
As an aside, would you find the display on the CCGX useful or would you be more inclined to use your phone/tablet/computer to check and change stuff? The CCGX is a fair bit more expensive than the screenless Venus GX unit which actually offers a couple of extra features as well. Could be worth considering maybe?
After reading your reply your right it is expensive so I've decided to make do with the the stuff I already have and spend the money on something else, like another lens for my camera 😁 So thanks for your help.

Regards,
Del
 
You could go down the Raspberry Pi route for lower cost? For your setup, a Pi 3 B+, case + PSU, 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongle, VE.BUS Mk3 Dongle would get you nearly the same kind of functionality as a Venus GX for around £200 if you shop around.
The 'genuine' Venus GX with the cables would be around £340, so even with the more expensive USB Dongles needed for the Pi it is still a pretty good saving. (and the Mk3 Dongle is actually needed if you ever wanted to update the firmware on the Multi no matter what other stuff you have anyway, so that might be a required purchase anyway potentially)
 
You could go down the Raspberry Pi route for lower cost? For your setup, a Pi 3 B+, case + PSU, 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongle, VE.BUS Mk3 Dongle would get you nearly the same kind of functionality as a Venus GX for around £200 if you shop around.
The 'genuine' Venus GX with the cables would be around £340, so even with the more expensive USB Dongles needed for the Pi it is still a pretty good saving. (and the Mk3 Dongle is actually needed if you ever wanted to update the firmware on the Multi no matter what other stuff you have anyway, so that might be a required purchase anyway potentially)
Can the multiplus be programmed with the MK3 BT dongle? Or do I still need th USB dongle that I have? In fact can the multiplus be programmed via a Colour GX/Venus GX? Or the Pi setup you have described?

Regards,
Del
 
Can the multiplus be programmed with the MK3 BT dongle? Or do I still need the USB dongle that I have? In fact can the multiplus be programmed via a Colour GX/Venus GX? Or the Pi setup you have described?

Regards,
Del
The Mk3 Dongle is the latest/current wired Dongle for the VE.Bus Devices. Is yours an earlier one? I can't recall the limitation of Dongle before the Mk3 (Mk2 maybe?) but there was something - but could be the earlier one didn't work with later Multipluses? If your dongle works with your Multiplus, I would hope you are good to go and wouldn't need to get the Mk3 (and for a Pi setup for your system, not having to get another dongle and being able to use your own would be a significant saving as that is the most expensive individual component).

To programme (or rather 'configure') the Multiplus from a PC, you need the VE.Configure software, a PC to run it on and a Dongle (I am guessing that is why you have it?).
To programme the Multiplus from a Venus OS Device (CCGX, Venus GX, Raspberry Pi, etc), you just need the VEConfigure sofware and a PC with access to the Venus OS Device.
In the VRM (Victron Remote Management) web browser interface there is a device list option and within that there are two options to update devices.
1587456875477.png
For the VE.Bus device such as a Multiplus, you would click the "Remote VEConfigure" button and that takes you to options to upload and download configurations. It is a bit different to connected direct from the PC in that you don't change options on the fly, but you change settings, then save a file and upload it to the Multiplus. It can be fiddly initially to do until you get used to it as I don't think it really works like it is meant to, but yes it does the job and it works well (once you figure out the foibles).
I added a note above - VEConfigure is for VE.Bus Devices only - you can't configure VE.Direct Devices such as the MPPT & BMV for example using it (the description of what VEConfigure is for could be misleading?)

The next option is Firmware Update. This updates the actual operating firmware on the Devices. This is the opposite situation to VEConfigure - You can update the Firmware for the VE.Direct Devices but you cannot update the VE.Bus Devices. In order to do that, you MUST have the USB Dongle.
To Update the Firmware, you connect the USB Dongle to the PC and run the Victron software for firmware updating (different app to VEConfigure). This is a bit more complicated as you have to find the right firmware first from a BIG selection of options - it is not automatically sensed in the same way that the VE.Direct device firmware is.

I just clicked on the 'Firmware Update' on my setup and got this after it scanned
1587458406754.png
So the BMV is up to date, but the MPPT is not. To update, all you do is literally click the "Update Device" button and it does it via the web (same as when you run VE.Connect on the phone, but you don't have to be by the vehicle (I am sitting on my settee doing this))


That is the long answer. The short answer is - No, I think if you already have a USB Dongle you are sorted, Yes and Yes


One final note ref Dongles ... Victron make a VE.Bus Bluetooth Dongle as well. That allows you to monitor a VE.Bus device such as a Multiplus using the same VE.Connect App that you use for the BMV and MPPT. If somebody wants to be able to just check on all their devices via the one interface but not want a historical view or a "joined up" picture, then that could be a decent option to go for? Those are around £70 ish and incorporate a Battery Temp Sensor as well which is quite neat.

(UPDATE: Sorry, I missed you asking about the Mk3 BT Dongle and read it as USB Dongle. The BT Dongle cannot be used with VEConfigure as far as I am aware so cannot be used to programme the device. it is basically just a monitor plus some basic control over the Multiplus in the same way that you can control the Mutliplus with the 200/200A Remote Controller - On, Off, Charger only, Inverter only & current limit)
 
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You could go down the Raspberry Pi route for lower cost? For your setup, a Pi 3 B+, case + PSU, 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongle, VE.BUS Mk3 Dongle would get you nearly the same kind of functionality as a Venus GX for around £200 if you shop around
(shortened)

I already have the MK3 USB dongle but in your above spec you're saying 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongle so would I need to purchase a second one to use the Pi 3+ as you suggested?

Regards,
Del
 
I already have the MK3 USB dongle but in your above spec you're saying 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongle so would I need to purchase a second one to use the Pi 3+ as you suggested?

Regards,
Del
you will want 2 VE.Direct USB Dongles - one to connect the MPPT to the Pi, and the second one to connect the BMV to the Pi. The Mk3 USB Dongle will connect the Multiplus to the Pi.

If you were using a Venus GX or CCGX, then instead of the 2 x VE.Direct USB Dongles, you would use 2 x VE.Direct - VE.Direct straight cables, and instead of plugging the RJ45 cable from the Multiplus into the MK 3 Dongle, you would plug that direct into the Venus/CCGX.
 
Personally I would buy the Cerbo GX and if you then want a touch screen LCD it has an HDMI and USB for a generic touchscreen (or you can buy their overpriced screen.

Or just control it via Wifi or Bluetooth.
 
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Can anybody set the clock on my video please,
1987, probably.
Since then, video recorders and their successors have set their own clocks, I think.

Seriously, quite a lot of complex stuff has reached the point where it is so easy to use that it de-skills users. Then when something geeky comes along, people are genuinely stumped.
 

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