question

jterrag avatar image
jterrag asked

Are Cerbos with serial starting with HQ224 safe to use with 48V systems?

Hi.

In the original technote from Victron the faulty Cerbos (i.e. the ones which would fail on 48V systems) were said to be the ones with S/N starting between HQ2201 and HQ2220 included.

Are Cerbos with S/N starting with HQ224 unequivocally safe to use on 48V systems?

I'm asking because there could have been subsequent technotes on the subject, widening the range of "unsafe" S/N.

Thanks




cerbo gx
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3 Answers
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Hi @jterrag

I can confirm that adding the external capacitor is no longer needed for units built after HQ2221

The HQ224... units are safe to use in 48V systems.

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jterrag avatar image jterrag commented ·
Great! Thank you.
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hvalentim avatar image
hvalentim answered ·

Now. This is a surprise. I have purchased a Cerbo recently which turns out has a HQ2216 serial number. By pure chance/luck I have it temporarily plugged to a separate 12V battery while I settle the details for a main system upgrade, where in the end I was planning to plug it directly.

Should I have not - by pure chance, mind you - read this, I now find out that I would have been playing lottery, risking a burned device.

Something is very wrong in the way this issue has (not) been communicated...

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Matthias Lange - DE avatar image Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·
It's not directly Victrons fault, the seller from whom you bought it should have known that and inform you.

All official Victron distributors got an email about that issues and how to handle it.

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jjbond avatar image
jjbond answered ·

SAY WATT?????? I purchased my Cerbo from the Victron Energy Store on Amazon and this is the first I've heard of this/seen this issue and I'm running 48V.... if buying direct from Victron's Amazon site doesn't get us on the notification list for things like this, what does?

My unit is HQ2048 do I need to be concerned @Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) (I purchased it after seeing the great 2 part video you did with Glen Morris of the Smart Energy Lab, he's a crack up eh.

Jen

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hvalentim avatar image hvalentim commented ·

The issue is said to affect Cerbos with serial numbers: HQ2201xxxxx to HQ2220xxxx (inclusive). Your's is not affected.

I am assuming the first two numbers in the code are the year of manufacture, the second pair the week*. This would mean, devices manufactured in 2022 up to May.

* Convention info supplied by Cerbo manual: "To find the year/week number of your model, look for the serial number which is printed on a label on its back. For example number HQ1309DER4F means 2013, week 09"

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jjbond avatar image jjbond hvalentim commented ·
Thanks @hvalentim I didn't know about the start range and my number looked like it was prior to a fix, glad it was only a window, thanks.
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Matthias Lange - DE avatar image Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·

1. Your unit is not affected.

2. Victron doesn't sell directly to the end user not on amazon or anywhere else.
Victron only sells to it's distributors and they might sell it on amazon.

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jjbond avatar image jjbond Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·

Thank you re my unit not affected and also for the update on the Victron direct sales.

That's what I thought as well, but then I thought maybe they opened an Amazon presence as it looked pretty official, the pictures etc so good to know, I'll go back to my local dealer, prices are the same, they just didn't have stock so I went to Amazon, thanks @Matthias Lange - DE

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Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ Matthias Lange - DE ♦ commented ·
@jjbond

Last I checked the where to buy does not list an amazon seller. If they are not listed then they are not official.

Box movers are the bain of any manufacturers existance, especially those who leach off a good name and then throw mud on it with poor service.

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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ Alexandra ♦ commented ·
Or non-existent service...
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jjbond avatar image jjbond Alexandra ♦ commented ·
And create an Amazon site that looks pretty damn official, thanks for the update @Alexandra
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