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cord avatar image
cord asked

Is a VE Direct Bluetooth dongle needed for every device?

If I have two devices with a VE port, do I then need two dongles or can they be interconnected?

VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart Dongle
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Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image
Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) answered ·

Hi @Cord,

The VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle is only required on devices which do not have built-in Bluetooth.

For example BlueSolar MPPTs (no built in bluetooth) vs SmartSolar MPPTs (has built in bluetooth).

You can't interconnect them.

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cord avatar image
cord answered ·

Ok so then multiple dongles would be required? Because only one Bluetooth device can be connected at one time, does this force you to disconnect and then reconnect to the next device?

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Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) avatar image Stefanie (Victron Energy Staff) ♦♦ commented ·

Multiple dongles are only required if all devices are to be displayed simultaneously in VictronConnect.

Otherwise, a single dongle is also sufficient, which then always has to be plugged from one device to the other.

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seb71 avatar image
seb71 answered ·

Before purchasing even a single VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle, you should state what are those devices and what you intend to do with them.

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cord avatar image cord commented ·
Device A is a MPPT 75/15 controller. Device B is a Phoenix 12/800 inverter.
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cord avatar image
cord answered ·

The system is a small one with a 75/15 MPPT and a 12/800 inverter.

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hjohnson avatar image
hjohnson answered ·

If you haven't bought them already, the SmartSolar 75/15 is $30 more than the one that needs the dongle. IMHO better to just get it built in.

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