question

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geoff-brown asked

VE BUS communication not working properly after moving system. Cerbo appears to be the issue.

System:

2x Multiplus ii 5000 48v (both 2623498.vff) in single phase parallel operation

1x Cerbo (version 3.40)

1x 250/100 mppt VE BUS

1x 150/80 mppt VE BUS

1x 150/75 mppt VE CAN

2x 48v 100ah Leoch Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries

Problem statement: VE BUS communication not working properly after moving system. Cerbo appears to be the issue.

Hi all

I have experienced an issue which seems, to me, to be unique. I have extensively browsed Victron forums but have not found a similar fault reported.

I recently relocated my Victron system (specs above) approximately 2 metres from one location to another adjacent location in the same room on the same property. Prior to moving it, the system was working well.

  • Cerbo does not display any VE BUS data – does not appear to recognise inverters or MPPTs
  • Can connect to both inverters VE BUS with Mk3 cable and program them as expected with VE Configure
  • Can connect to both inverters VE BUS with MK3 cable and set them up with VE BUS quick configure as either standalone or parallel operation, as per normal.
  • Can connect to both inverters with MK3 cable and reflash firmware, as per normal.
  • Cannot connect directly to MPPTs with MK3 cable (but not sure if Victron intends for this to be possible)
  • When I connect the Cerbo to the inverter using one VE-BUS port, and then connect the Cerbo to the MK3, I can see the Cerbo but not the inverter. This finding is not affected by the presence or absence of VE-BUS termination plug.
  • I blew out all the VE BUS and ethernet ports with a compressor. No effect
  • I replaced all cables with factory crimped cables. No effect.
  • I rolled back Cerbo firmware to 3.1, while leaving inverter firmware unchanged. No effect
  • I performed system reset of Cerbo. No effect.
  • Cerbo is accessible via ethernet, via wifi and via Bluetooth, and appears normal. The only issue appears to be that the VE BUS devices are not working.

When inverters are in parallel mode, they appear to invert normally. However, upon plugging in the Cerbo, Error 14 is triggered.

It seems to me that the Cerbo is the non-functional link in the system. Has anyone experienced this issue, and if so, can you think of any further diagnostic steps to perform. Right now, replacement of Cerbo is my best idea … yikes.

Regards

Geoff

cerbo gx
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2 Answers
Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

@Geoff Brown

Couple of notes.

Update the inverters firmware.

Mk3 does not connect to mppts, neither is it designed to. They are CAN. Make sure those are also up to date.

Ve bus and ve can cannot be connected together daisy chained. Hope you haven't done that (see your system components description)

Ve bus does not use terminators. Those are for can again. Use them there.

Check you are actually plugging into the ve bus ports. A common mistake it to plug into the wrong ports on the cerbo. (And second mistake is to use terminators - not required on ve bus.)

Did you try stand alone comms to the cerbo with the inverters with short runs of patch cables?

Try using the mk3 to usb to the cerbo from the inverter? Like a person would with a raspberry pi?


If all else fails what is a possibility is that (if negatives were broken while some parts of the system were live) that comms boards have been damaged. This can also damage cerbos.

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Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ commented ·

Also hoping these are typos. They are all can?

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geoff-brown answered ·

Hi Alexandra. Thanks so much for that info. Greatly appreciated. It does seem that the Cerbo is the issue, because when it is plugged into a Quattro, that Quattro also flips out and gives a similar comms fault. I will source a new one. Best regards, Geoff

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