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drlbradley avatar image
drlbradley asked

MPPT with no Bluetooth after power-off

I have an issue with a newly introduce Victron MPPT SmartSolar 100/30 into an established LifePo4 Ve.Bus system.

{MPPT Firmware V1.59, ProductID 0xA056, Serial HQ21039FHW3 - These details have been sourced from my CerboGX}

All of my charge systems (Orion and MPPT) are routed via a Cyrix Li-Charge and as a result, the MPPT shut down the first night and is no longer visible in the Victron Connect App.

The next day, when there is sufficient energy on the panels, the MPPT wakes up, I can see this on my CerboGX (attached).

However the MPPT is NOT shown in the Victron Connect App, nor is it shown in the VE.Smart Networking section of the Connect App for my SmartShunt 500A/50mV. Despite the MPPT being originally setup to join the smart network.

In order to see the device on Victron Connect I have to disconnect the panels (and the cables on the battery terminals) from the device and reconnect them (effectively giving it a reboot I presume). After doing this, the MPPT is visible on the Victron Connect app and I can connect to it.

This behavior is consistent.

I've confirmed that the MPPT retains its settings, and ultimately as I have this connected via VE Direct I wouldnt be bothered about seeing it in Victron Connect except that the app is the only way to manage the firmware on the device.


capture2302.png


MPPT ControllersBluetoothVE.Bus
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Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) avatar image Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) ♦ commented ·

Hi @drlbradley

When the MPPT is not visible in VictronConnect, is there something like a bluetooth interface visible with a black rectangle as icon?

Kind regards,

Thiemo van Engelen


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drlbradley avatar image drlbradley Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) ♦ commented ·
No, and all of my other Victron devices are listed and accessible in the Victron Connect app. I dont think its an app problem, I think its a MPPT-bluetooth-problem
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2 Answers
JohnC avatar image
JohnC answered ·

Hi @drlbradley

If you have a VRM link available to that Cerbo, use wifi and select 'VRM' in VictronConnect. Your devices should all be accessible from there.

Not sure how firmware is handled then by VC, but that's available in VRM anyway.

Might depend on what kit you're using for access, but the mainstream stuff should handle that ok.

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drlbradley avatar image drlbradley commented ·
Thanks! I had forgotten that firmware update is available in VRM.

If losing Bluetooth capability is expected behaviour after a power-off I wouldn't have purchased the "Smart" version of the MPPT!

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JohnC avatar image JohnC ♦ drlbradley commented ·
@drlbradley

I can't say this for sure, but bluetooth probably plays second-fiddle to VE.Direct, which is normally a one-at-a-time protocol. And bt may well be pushed off on purpose in certain circumstances.

I've never actually used my bt, don't need to. Maybe good as a failover if the GX or internet died.

Victron usually give wire priority, like ethernet will be used before wifi on the GX. And I suspect bt would be treated the same, deliberately or not.

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drlbradley avatar image
drlbradley answered ·

Good morning,

An update on the post above.

This morning the MPPT was not visible in the Local section of the Connect app.

I followed your instructions. It did take some time for the spinning cloud icon to resolve to the settings icon, however I was able to toggle Bluetooth off then on.

Upon checking the Local /Bluetooth section of the Connect app I could see the MPPT.

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Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) avatar image Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) ♦ commented ·

Hi @drlbradley

Thank you for trying this. This probably helps us a lot in finding the root cause, although we're still not there yet. The fact that it can be re-enabled this way might even mean that it can be solved via a software update.

Kind regards,

Thiemo van Engelen

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drlbradley avatar image drlbradley Thiemo van Engelen (Victron Energy staff) ♦ commented ·

You're welcome - thank you for your continued help and support.

vriendelijke groeten

/David

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