question

hovyd avatar image
hovyd asked

Pylontech not on Device List of Cerbo GX

I have a Multiplus II 48/5000/70 connected to a Pylontech US3000C battery (one unit) via a Cerbo GX box. No solar, only AC-in for battery recherge. So the main function is basically a glorified UPS for now. The mismatch in sizing is for future use: I only need to power a few computer stations now from this 3kW battery for a 2-hour load shedding bridge and for voltage stability, hence only 1x battery at this stage.


Problem: I cannot get the Pylontech battery to reflect on my Device List, viz
1670307121449.png


My firmware versions are:

1670307172401.png

1670307194725.png

I followed the Victron&Pylontech (/live/start) manual to the letter (I believe).

My at GX box connection to battery is a T568A cable from the BMS-Con with the 2nd port plugged with dead-end terminal (supplied with the GX):

1670307632707.png

Power to Cerbo GX is from Multiplus battery terminals:

1670307659436.png

T-sense wire connection can also be seen in the top-left corner.

Battery connections:

1670307736885.png


1670307767039.png

Left neg pole used for the temp sense. Removal of this to test if this was the problem did not resolve my issue.


DVCC settings:

1670308115937.png

I tried with "Limited Managed Charge Voltage" On and Off.

1670308132704.png

1670308148812.png

The Victron/Pylontech manual suggested that SVS and STS should be Off, and there should not be a "Limited Battery Charge Voltage"


The BMS-Can port speed of 500 kbps is correct, viz:

1670308163729.png

I do a "Redetect System" to try to load the Pylontech.

I really am stuck now as I understand that I need to see the Pylontech listed as a device to proceed further.

Please help!!

Thank you.

Multiplus-IIPylontechgx device
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1670307736885.png (1.7 MiB)
1670307767039.png (1.1 MiB)
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1670308132704.png (103.6 KiB)
1670308148812.png (104.5 KiB)
1670308163729.png (71.1 KiB)
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3 Answers
niborb avatar image
niborb answered ·

Have you tried an official ASS030710018 cable for the BMS-CAN link? Are you running an up-to-date firmware on everything?

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hovyd avatar image hovyd commented ·
1. Not an official ASS030710018 cable; but a tested Type A cable. Does this matter?
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hovyd avatar image
hovyd answered ·

Solution:

The Type A cable as specified on Victron&Pylontech must not be a straight through connection!!!

It must be a Type A at the Pylontech and a Type B at the Cerbo GX. So it needs to be a cross-over connection.

Issue was resolved:

1670331608868.png

If only Victron specified it as such - I have wasted many hours in fault finding. Sigh.


1670331608868.png (49.2 KiB)
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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ commented ·
It's in the Victron manual, close to the start of section 3, CAN-bus wiring.
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hovyd avatar image hovyd kevgermany ♦♦ commented ·

Sorry, cannot find that.

In the Victron&Pylontech manual it only states "The Victron VE.Con to CAN-bus BMS type A Cable, part number....." No mention of cross over to Type B at the Cerbo GX side. The manual has no unique identifier (a very basic problem), so here are the snip views:

1670393309551.png

1670393355799.png

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Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

@hovyd

A simple case of not reading any of the manuals definitely here. It is specified in the Pylontecs own manual and on the victron website in a number of places.

When there are no comms the cable is always the first suspect.

The cable recipie is spelled out in a number of places.

The difference is really the ground pin.

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hovyd avatar image hovyd commented ·

Ah, thank you for more clarity.

1. I did research manuals. How I need to know that I have not reached all the manuals is beyond me. So, this critical requirement is not stated in the manual which I would have expected to be sufficient (the Victron&Pylontech manual),

2. For others out there that are not so proficient in the Victron environment; below is the table referred to in the link that Alexandra gave in the reply:

1670487673504.png


(Further to that my conclusion that that a cross-over cable from Type A to Type B is probably therefore incorrect - the cable that worked was made up for me by a Victron knowledgeable technician). The pin-out positions are to be followed.

3. And so I can thankfully learn from this Victron Community.

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