question

Rich Bernhardt avatar image
Rich Bernhardt asked

Connecting NOT-supported NON-Victron RS485 irradiance sensor

Hello

I'd like to connect an RS485 irradiance sensor to a Cerbo GX where the sensor is a non-victron product and also outside the list of supported ones. Solar Radiation Sensor(RS485).docx.pdf


My question: should this not-supported RS485 sensor be appear in anywhere in Cerbo's Remote Console interface - similar to this example from the manual?1714902919466.png


This is the sensor: Solar Radiation Sensor(RS485).docx.pdf


My main goal is accessing the sensor in Node-Red...


----

PS: The CerboGX manual completely omits the chapter: "connecting NOT-supported NON-victron products" - https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Cerbo_GX/en/connecting-supported-non-victron-products.html#UUID-f9339154-b332-dd0a-5b15-e9e35713c203


cerbo gxNode-REDModbus TCPrs485irradiance monitoring
1714902919466.png (30.2 KiB)
solar-radiation-sensorrs485docx.pdf (1.4 MiB)
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.

1 Answer
matt1309 avatar image
matt1309 answered ·

Not sure this will be much help but here's the code for what's adding the driver to gx device:

https://github.com/victronenergy/dbus-imt-si-rs485tc/tree/master


It's written quite differently to other drivers so harder for me to follow quickly. I also dont have an irradiance sensor.

However i think the config.py is what you'll need to tweak most to integrate non supported sensors assuming your sensor is also modbus rtu. ie edit the modbus registers noted in the config.py to correspond with your unit. You may also need to tweak units and factors if yours differs.


Not a complete answer sorry but hopefully enough to get you started.


These github files can be found on your gx device in the folder /opt/victronenergy/dbus-imt-si-rs485tc folder.

2 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.

Rich Bernhardt avatar image Rich Bernhardt commented ·
Hi Matt.


Many thanks for your help. Sorry for my late response, but haven't received a notification about your answer (email about relocation of my question has arrived twice).


I've never installed any packages before onto Cerbo. Could you please navigate me through the steps? I use the latest Ubuntu Linux on my laptop. Many thanks Matt

0 Likes 0 ·
Show more comments