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I am stuck with my ET340 setup .
ET340 is sitting in the power distribution cabinet (solid steel case - forget WIFI ).
The pipes, laid in concrete, I had forseeen for additional wires, have been wrecked by the builders - squeezed...
So I end up having no option to -route an additional wire to my Venus/ Multigrid, two rooms away.
I do have Ethernet LAN in the cabinet and I am aware of RS485 <-> Ethernet adapters, but will the Venus / Multigrid be able to communicate ?
Those sort of adapter / converter gadgets are not supported by Victron.
That's not to say that they won't work, it's just that if you do decide to try them, you'll be on your own.
Have you thought about using a wireless Zigbee connection?
Txs, Zigbee was the first choice, but wireless won't work sitting in a rock solid steel cabinet :(.
I ordered two simple RS485-Ethernet adapters right now, will give it a try and report back
Hi Vicky,
You can use the Ethernet cable as an extension of the Rs485 cable!, ie..a twisted pair for the ground a twisted pair for each of the data +/- of the inside of the Ethernet cable.I have used this in the past with no issues,no adaptors are used so no problems encountered!
Thanks Mark, I understand what you mean, but I don't have Ethernet cabling in the cabinet. I have Ethernet made available over Powerline. So I'll try to connect RS485-Ethernet-Powerline-Powerline- Ethernet RS485 :o) No the most simple and cheap way, compared to a stupid pipe with cable..., but the only one I can see here as an option. I'll let you know how it worked out at the end
... after a couple of hours, taking hurdle by hurdle I made my setup working.
Now ET340 meter is connected by quite a chain of components.
ET340 Meter -> RS485/Ethernet Converter -> Ethernet/Powerlan -- >Powerlan/Ethernet - > Ethernet/RS485 Converter- >RS485/USB cable -> Venus GX
Additional cost beyond the USB cable you need anyway:
2 pc. RS485/Ethernet converters € 53.-
Devolo Powerline for the distribution cabinet €150.-
AVM546E €50.-
So not a steal, but helps big time.
I might write up the setup later, or on demand if this of interest for somebody.
Pretty cool set up there Vicky!
To finally having three energy meters working, this is how I had to set it up at the end. Three meters at one bus didn't work. See here
Could you use a pair of tp-link powerline adapter instead of the Devolo Pro 1200 din rail and the AVM 546E for the network extension part?
Hello vicky, could you possibly post your config of the two RS485 converters.
Got the same ones but can't get them connected.
Regards
Oli
Ethernet uses only two pairs in the cable. You can use one free pair for RS-485.
