question

drillionaire avatar image
drillionaire asked

Connect Phoenix 1200va inverter to Cerbo GX or VictronConnectApp

I have a Phoenix 1200va Inverter (the small portable one) and will be connecting this to a small system with a Cerbo-s GX. (i will be connecting other bluetooth enabled devices directly via ve.direct cable like the smart shunt and 100/30 mppt controller)

Since the inverter comes with 1 ve.direct port out and NO bluetooth, i can choose to connect it directly to the Cerbo-s GX with ve.direct to access it through VRM, OR connect a ve.direct to BT smart dongle, to access the inverter through VictronConnectApp via BT directly.

It doesnt appear like i can do both since there isnt any Built in Bluetooth on the inverter like other smart devices that have both a direct port and bt.

1. Am i stuck having to choose GX vs VictronApp to interface with the Inverter? Will inverter show up in VictronConnect App if it is connected to the Cerbo-s Gx?

2. Is there any advantages of using one over the other? In practice (I get the gx will enable my system to talk to each other) will i need to be using VictronConnectapp anymore now that i have GX?

3. Is there any overlap in features for Inverter on the GX and VictronConnectApp?

Grateful for any insight.



Phoenix InverterVictronConnectVE.DirectVE.Direct Bluetooth Smart Donglecerbo s
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
chrigu avatar image
chrigu answered ·

You are stuck with either communication to the Cerbo or to the dongle, not both at the same time.
The inverter does show up in VC if you connect to the Cerbo over the local network, after connecting to the cerbo there will be an additional tab showing all the devices connected to it.
The options for the cerbo are very limited if connected to it via bluetooth, mostly network settings.
You can also access the inverter trough VRM, but that requires at least spotty internet connection on the cerbo.
I keep using VC to take quick looks at things, the instant readout is perfect for this.
The cerbo is not a replacement for VC in my opinion, its an addition. It enables remote connections mostly, not over bluetooth but over network or internet.
If you are not interested in that, or cant establish a network connection to the cerbo, then its usefulness is very limited. It can still do things like DVCC, give you tank readouts or allow you to use NodeRed to program things how you want them, but just from a "connection over bluetooth" point of view a cerbo adds nothing.

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.

drillionaire avatar image drillionaire commented ·
Thankyou for taking the time for that writeup. Makes sense. I guess in regards to the inverter the trade off is getting remote access for the lack of real time wattage consumption?
0 Likes 0 ·
chrigu avatar image chrigu drillionaire commented ·
That about sums it up, yes.


You can still get real time data, either trough VRM, or by connecting your phone to the access point that the cerbo can provide, then its a local network connection. Its a bit sad that the cerbo does not show all connected devices when connecting over bluetooth, but im sure theres a reason for that, theres limits to everything
0 Likes 0 ·

Related Resources

Phoenix Inverter product page

Phoenix Inverter Smart product page

VictronConnect Manual

Download for iOS / Android / Mac / Windows

VE.Direct protocol FAQ

Additional resources still need to be added for this topic