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engmarc asked

Ekranos connecting to Ve.Smart network

I have an Ekranos running the most up to date 3.32 firmware and a BMV712 and Smart Solar MPPT TR 150/45 and some other devices in the works to be installed.

At first I connected the two devices to the Ekranos with the Ve.direct cables and it shows nicely on the Ekranos screen.


Then, I went to each device on the Victron bluetooth app and set up a VE.Smart network for them to talk to each other.


Now the Ekranos doesn't show the two devices even though they are connected to it via the VE.direct cable.

I also do not see anywhere on the Ekranos to add it to the VE.Smart network?


Knowledgable help is appreciated.


PS All devices have the latest firmware installed as of 5/27/24.

MPPT SmartSolarBMV Battery MonitorVE.Smart Networkekrano gx
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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ commented ·
You can't mix cable and Bluetooth Victron networks.

Stick with cables. More functionality and no issues as you grow the system.


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engmarc avatar image engmarc kevgermany ♦♦ commented ·
ahh, it is very misleading in the documentation
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3 Answers
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engmarc answered ·
Found the problem, I had deleted the VE.Smart network on the devices. After rechecking everything I found the VE.Direct cables loose.

A huge design flaw in my opinion that the VE.Direct cables do not have a positive lock feature like RJ11 and RJ45 cables (and many other cable types). This lack of securing really creates a way for the VE.Direct cable to shake and become loose.

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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ commented ·
Odd. I've got them in my campervan, which has wrecked its suspension a few times due to terrible roads. No issues with VE.Direct cables, though. They're pretty tight and seems to lock in well
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pwfarnell avatar image pwfarnell commented ·
Many years in a boat without issue either. Make sure the cables are supported next to the devices so that there is no cable weight on the termin which also prevents them being accidentally knocked.
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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) ♦♦ commented ·

Hi @EngMarc,

I have seen this complaint before, and passed it on.

For my own installations, I use a small cable clip to secure the VE.Direct cable near to the point of connection so there is no pressure on it.

I use a generic clip, but there are also some out there 3D printing some custom ones;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsROFu7FeM8

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engmarc avatar image engmarc Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) ♦♦ commented ·
Thank you and nice to know others have a similar problem.

My situation currently is that I'm installing the systems so a lot of stuff is moving around and changing which is making the VE.Direct cable attachment even worse. I still think once things are settled in and not changing much that they might jostle loose after a while so will look at some sort of retainer/clip.

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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Hi @EngMarc,

The short answer is in almost all cases VE.Smart networking should only be used in systems without a GX device.

The situation with VE.Smart networking and GX devices can get a little complicated around the exceptions to that, and is explained in more detail here - https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/VE.Smart_Networking/en/limitations.html

and here:

https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/VE.Smart_Networking/en/faq.html



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engmarc avatar image engmarc commented ·
@Guy Stewart


See below as I unset the Smart network setting on both the BMV and MPPT but they don't show up on the Ekranos even though they are connected via VE.direct

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nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ engmarc commented ·
Delete the ve smart network on all devices. Then reboot the GX, if it doesn't reappear.

You shouldn't mix these two types of connectivity.

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engmarc avatar image engmarc nickdb ♦♦ commented ·
ok, I'll reboot the GX.

As for mixing the networks, it didn't say anything in the manual of the GX so bought the hype in the app and created the VE.Smart network. -> I won't do this AGAIN :O

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engmarc answered ·

Ok, so I disconnected the MPPT Solar and the BMV from the VE.Smart network.

They are both connected to the Ekranos via VE.direct cables still and don't show on the display page. I did disconnect and reconnect them but still don't show up on the Ekranos or VRM. They were there before i did the VE.Smart network option.

Ideas?

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Additional resources still need to be added for this topic

VE.Smart Networking Manual



Ekrano GX product page.

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