question

fantail avatar image
fantail asked

CerboGX 3.3 CAN Ports - is the BMS-CAN port real.

1. Is the BMS-CAN a real CAN port based in CPU hardware?

I am aware that you have fixed this port to 500k in your task SW.


2. Why is it being driven by a serial port in SW? NMEA - I do not need

/usr/bin/slcand -o -f -t hw -S 1500000 /dev/ttyS3 can1


3. Why does this slcan task load every time CAN1 port is enabled , EVEN when the CAN1 port is disable in GX services menu?


4. What in your opinion is the best way to disable this task to free up the port for exclusive use by other SW.? ( remove from services? )


Currently it is able to send CAN frames from other tasks but has to share the port ; SLcan task has some kind of filtering to block or grabs the RX frame data before other tasks can access this. Blocking this slcan task could solve my problems with this port.


Note: I am accessing the port directly and configuring it outside of your SW.. The port is needed for additional CAN bus battery module stacks in a three phase system using victron gear. We have already used CAN0 (Ve.CAN) to its limit and need the second CAN port.

regards


VE.Can
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8 Answers
mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image
mvader (Victron Energy) answered ·

Yes, its a real CAN port, but rather limited because of the slcan protocol. For example changing baud rates does not work reliably always, therefore we limited it to 500kbps only.


My recommendation is to not spend any time on this, and buy a Cerbo GX MK2 instead, ask your dealer, which has two full featured can bus ports, instead of one VE.Can and a BMS-Can one.


ps to answer this:


> 2. Why is it being driven by a serial port in SW? NMEA - I do not need
> /usr/bin/slcand -o -f -t hw -S 1500000 /dev/ttyS3 can1

the can port is on a atmel microprocessor, that is connected via a serial port (or serial over USB) to the main SoC that runs Linux. Hence the involvement of slcand. Btw per Venus OS v3.40~13, in public beta testing since yesterday, that daemon is gone since we integrated its features in to the kernel itself. But again: I really recommend to use a Cerbo GX MK2 for your application, or an Ekrano GX.

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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

thank you for answer

my client has around 14 cerboGXs on site each with a minimin of three 15kw inverters attached.

so this news is not going to be well received.


A quick check of the available MK2 cerboGX in Australia shows two versions in stock with part numbers - BPP900450110 and BPP900451100.

What is the difference between these two MK2 GXs ie which is the one I should be using to replace the other CerboGXs with.


regards

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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

Also how am i going to tell the difference between the standard CerboGX and the MK2 version by looking at them?? All pics look the same.

Have found the latest comparison table - which helps ( venusGX had two fully working CAN ports )

But VenusGX CPU is too slow with latest firmware for our needs.


regards

2 comments
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Hi @Fantail,

It is possible to identify the Cerbo GX MK1 from the MK2 from the screen print above the ports on the unit itself.

MK1 is showing BMS-Can

MK2 is showing VE.Can 2

screenshot-2024-05-08-at-221157.jpeg cleanshot-2024-05-08-at-221036.jpg

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mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image
mvader (Victron Energy) answered ·

Hi again,

There is no difference between those two Cerbo GX MK2 part numbers, other than the country of origin.

I’m sorry that this is news to you, Cerbo GX has had its second can bus port limited for years. Hence the different name. Its been publicly documented like that for years as well.

From my side, I’m happy that we’re finally getting that solved and will have two fully functional ports, by launching the MK2 model.

I’m not sure if, aside from part number, there is a marking on the GX to see the difference.


All the best, Matthijs



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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

Hi

The VenusGX had two fully functional Can Ports and then the cerboGX comes along with only 2 of three usb ports and one of two CAN ports fully functional. Both of these issues have been fixed with the MK2 descriptions I have just seen. Both have caused me issues. I am aware your agents have been raising some of these issues and where told that Victron were not going to fix it. Clearly it has been a big enough problem that Victron has decided to build it correctly.

As a side note I have noticed your manuals change as a product progresses in the market, with more important details appearing after products release. ie manuals are incomplete at release missing important details which get added in later months.

Thank you for the confirmation on the part numbers - we thought it might be something like that but needed it confirmed. I will be ordering one EkranoGX and a CerboGX Mk2 tomorrow for testing.

regards Fantail Design

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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

I have seen another image since that shows name as CerboGX MK2 printed on front.

So will find out next week when I get my hands on one, also need to confirm I can identify model correctly in SW.

So waiting to test next week.

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You can identify the model in the software interface by trying to change the settings for the 2nd CANBus.


The MK2 will show all options and allow you to set VE.Can 250 kbit/s.


The MK1 will only allow you to set BMS-Can 500 kbit/s.
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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

For the Victron GODS of confusion and marketing.

/sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model returns "CerboGX" for all cerbos lte,std,Mk2

CerboGX Mk2 and ekranoGX have had Hardware/firmware changes to hardware names for CAN ports --ie CerboGX Mk2 and EkranoGX now name CAN ports vecan0 & vecan1 --( this breaks existing third party SW that uses CAN ports. )

I have also noticed that some firmware updates for MK2 do not update the services menu , and still include BMS-Can.... the ekanoGX has made this change in version 3.31.

there is clearly a better way to identify the hardware as the firmware is clearly getting it right.

How can I identify your hardware model cerboGXs correctly??

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hey @Fantail , I'll get back to you on that.
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fantail avatar image fantail mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ commented ·
when???
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mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ fantail commented ·

Here is a change that might help you:


https://github.com/victronenergy/meta-victronenergy/commit/b9d0c5400e198bde563cc10763ecbcc0d19d0f71


That is the best I could find.


The rename for that port in the menu, in the Cerbo GX MK2 is included in Venus OS v3.40


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fantail avatar image
fantail answered ·

confirming that for the cerbo GX Mk2 version 3.30 services menu still has BMS-Can and ve-Can.

Have also had file permissions issues with MK2 and Ekrano GX firmware.

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