question

grizlyadams avatar image
grizlyadams asked

USB to cat5e extenders - anyone used them to extend VE USB cables?

I want to put my Raspberry Pi and touchscreen a long way from the locker the VE kit is installed in - about a 10 metre cable run. There is a single cat5 e cable in there already, so I want to use that, rather than pull any more cables.

I've not used VE stuff before so I'm not entirely sure what I need to connect the kit I have to Raspberry PI.

I have a
Multplus 2
MPPT 150/100 - Tr VE.Can
REC BMS Active BMS (which interfaces with VE kit
DC/DC charger
self built battery (8xEVE 280ah cells in 2p/4s configuration

Multiplus-IIMPPT SmartSolarRaspberry Pi
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

2 Answers
Rob Duthie avatar image
Rob Duthie answered ·

Hi

Yes they work OK, being tested .

Regards

Rob D

NZ

14 comments
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

grizlyadams avatar image grizlyadams commented ·
Sadly, I've just discovered that the REC-BMS uses VE.can and the VE.can to USB cable is £523!!!! (how??)


I can buy the Cerbo GX and Touch 70 for less than that...

Looking around it seems that there are a lot of canbus hats for the Pi and some info about getting the REC-BMS to work with it, but I don't have the time at the moment, so Cerbo and Touch 70 it will be....

0 Likes 0 ·
Rob Souto avatar image Rob Souto grizlyadams commented ·

@grizlyadams I run an REC Active BMS hooked up to a Venus Rpi3b+ with a CAN hat. The CAN-USB cable is ludicrously priced!

I Asked REC for a DB9 - Bare End Cable instead of the usual DB9-RJ45 connector

CANhat for the pi is very easy to setup now using setup helper, just need to follow instrustions and be able to use Putty to SSH to the pi for the VeCan setup.

The hardest part will be tracking down a Rpi that isnt very old or used!

Link to Rpi Venus Image- https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/wiki/raspberrypi-install-venus-image

Link to Setup Helper - https://github.com/kwindrem/SetupHelper

Link To VeCan Setup - https://github.com/kwindrem/VeCanSetup

Link To Hat I Use with Pi's (Wavshare Hat In VeCan Setup Options Via SSH) https://thepihut.com/products/rs485-can-hat-for-raspberry-pi?variant=32180465532990&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjwo_KXBhAaEiwA2RZ8hI6aVq9dwZoxSr0SeMlUUjNvaENWfGA0LxFdO_kAVPrzcpD2IIhOpBoCcM0QAvD_BwE


Hope this saves you some cash

1 Like 1 ·
Rob Souto avatar image Rob Souto Rob Souto commented ·
@grizlyadams Also re your remote screen issue, could have 2x separate Pi's, Venus Pi Located next to batteries to keep CAN and USB Cable runs local and interferance free.


No Need for a screen on venus Pi, the HAT will likely get in the way for the case mounting option anyway.


Pi with screen used as a display, showing Remote Console, then Use the RJ45 Cable as a Network Link Between the 2, probably via a little switch as needed to ethernet connect the Pi, leaving them on WiFi results in the need to reboot more often than you would like!
1 Like 1 ·
Show more comments
grizlyadams avatar image grizlyadams Rob Souto commented ·
nice one!



I already have the Rpi3b+, screen and case and all the files (VenusOS 2.8 and setup helper etc)

So just need the hat and that should be that - now need to figure getting the cable to the Rpi which (i hope) will be 10 metres away from the vitron locker on my RV

thanks again - thats a great help.


0 Likes 0 ·
grizlyadams avatar image grizlyadams Rob Souto commented ·

"I Asked REC for a DB9 - Bare End Cable instead of the usual DB9-RJ45 connector "

Do you have the pin-outs for the REC and the Pi hat?


cheers


0 Likes 0 ·
Show more comments
johanndo avatar image
johanndo answered ·

You need HDMI extender and Extender USB for the touch function if you want to put the screen away from the Pi.

1 comment
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

grizlyadams avatar image grizlyadams commented ·

Hi, thanks - i wasn't clear in my first port - want to move the Raspberry Pi AND the screen away from the locker where the Inverter/charger and other VE kit is installed. The Raspberry Pi and the screen are a single integrated unit.


0 Likes 0 ·