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jokani avatar image
jokani asked

VE.Can to NMEA2000 - What data?

I bought a VE.Can to NMEA2000 cable. thinking it would show me lots of data, now I'm not so sure, and as Cerbo GX is limited to 2 Can connections only, I'm tempted to dispense with it.

I currently have a Multiplus and a REC BMS, connected, what data would these provide over NMEA2000 that I can not see already?

multiplus ve.busNMEA 2000 - N2K
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3 Answers
Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

@Jokani,

this cable primarily use case is to connect your Victron GX device to any NMEA 2000 network to share its data and make it useable for example by an MFD.

The Cerbo GX share almost every available info of its connected devices, like SmartShunt, MPPT, Inverter/Charger and so on. So basically you make this data available for your RV or Boat network and work with it.

Hope this helps.

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andres Hs1 avatar image
andres Hs1 answered ·

Hi @Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff)

on the same topic, I have a 3rd party BMS connected to the CerboGX via VE.CAN, and now I would also like to connect the CerboGX to my SeaTalkNG network. as the CerboGX only has 1 VE.CAN, do you know if I could connect the CerboGX to a network switch, and from the switch to my BMS and a 2nd connection to SeaTalkNG?


Thank you in advance for your help


regards

Andres

4 comments
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Hi @andres Hs1,


VE.Can is physically the same as NMEA 2000 or SeaTalkNG. The Cerbo GX's VE.Can interface has two ports, allowing you to daisy chain the BMS and STNG at the same time. Just make sure the network is properly terminated at both ends.

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David Marks avatar image
David Marks answered ·

This is an old post but I suspect readers will have the same questions as I when it comes to ve.can and ethernet connections to Raymarine seatalk or raynet networks.


If anyone at Victron could correct incorrect or incomplete information in my response, I'd appreciate it.


There are two methods to connect a Raymarine Axiom system to the Cerbo:

1. Ethernet (Cerbo) <> RayNet (Raymarine)

2. VE.CAN (Cerbo) <> NMEA2k <> SeatalkNG (Raymarine)


The data sent via each is different:

Method 1 (ethernet) provides basic Victron power and battery status data to the Raymarine Victron app, but nothing else. It is a very limited connection, with no NMEA data received or sent. You do not have access to data on the N2K or SeaTalkNG network using this method.


Method 2 (VE.CAN): NMEA2K data is sent and received between the Raymarine and Victron Cerbo. This allows SignalK functionality such as reading N2K data (wind instruments, GPS, etc), and writing data to the Raymarine network that can be displayed on the Axiom display.


Based on this, it seems the VE.CAN <> NMEA/Seatalk integration is more powerful and flexible than the ethernet method.



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