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Warwick Bruce Chapman avatar image
Warwick Bruce Chapman asked

Why can’t I use Bluetooth instead of MK3 to change settings on VE.Bus Devices

@Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) , I've been trying to find a post on this forum that explains why we cannot use VictronConnect / VE.Bus Smart Bluetooth Dongle to configure VE.Bus devices.

I imagine that Multis and the like are among Victron's best selling devices. Why would Victron not make at least a basic quick configure available through VictronConnect via Bluetooth for them?

I think I read once (perhaps from @mvader (Victron Energy Staff) somewhere) that this is a constraint that stems from the design of VE.Bus vs VE.Direct but I don't understand the details beyond that.

Interested. It is a real PITA having to use MK3 on installs. I am a Mac User and this means VirtualBox and Windows and taking my Mac onto sites. It is seriously schleppy.

It would be ideal to be able to use VictronConnect via Bluetooth on my iPhone instead.

BluetoothMK3
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2 Answers
mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image
mvader (Victron Energy) answered ·

Hi @warwick, to be completely open; I'm still a bit undecided with regards to how to allow changing inverter/charger settings over bluetooth. One of the reasons has indeed to do with security; requiring the mk3-usb is a nice physical barrier. And we need some barrier; rather than an innocent end-user (or his or her kid to dramatise this a bit) sitting on a couch and playing with a phone ending up changing the parameters of his/her multi.

And yes, same is true for MPPT Solar Chargers. Right now its up to the end-user to handle that responsibility; including to change the pin code and so forth. Which is nice and simple, but has its drawbacks.

So... lets see what we come up with. I do fully I understand your request/wish.

Currently, our priority when it comes to configuring Multis and Quattros, is to further expand the posibilities of VictronConnect. Already today you can use that on your mac without virtualbox or anything like that, to do firmware updates and configuration of the most common and basic systems. Documented here.

And what we are now adding is setting up of parallel, split- and three-phase systems, for example.

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Warwick Bruce Chapman avatar image Warwick Bruce Chapman commented ·

Thanks @mvader (Victron Energy Staff)

I will try VictronConnect native on the Mac with the MK3 and revert.

What if you:

  1. force a non-default Bluetooth PIN to be set; and
  2. require a configuration change password to be set.

The configure password must be stored on the Multi. If the password is forgotten, an MK3 must be used to reset the password.

Alternatively (and this will not work in some remote sites) use an OTP option to an installer phone or email address - or even better push notification to one of the Victron Apps - perhaps an Installer App.

I’ve had great success in large distributed application ecosystems with users scattered all over the place using OTPs instead of passwords to dramatically reduce people forgetting passwords. This is particularly useful in our case where people might not use something for a while but then when they need to use it, we can’t have them stymied by a forgotten password. Their cell number or email address for an OTP is less likely to change than a password is to be forgotten. We deliver OTPs in the following priority:

  • Push to App
  • SMS fallback
  • Email fallback

Perhaps you could also set the configure password as an offline fallback in the event the OTP cannot be delivered.

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mvader (Victron Energy) avatar image mvader (Victron Energy) ♦♦ Warwick Bruce Chapman commented ·

Hi Warwick, interesting! Could you explain a bit more on the OTP solution you used?

And I’m right that that won’t work for all installations where there is no internet, right?


and the other idea, to be able to reset the password as long as you have a wired cable (mk3 usb, or vedirect usb), is a nice one as well. And simple, no need for a helpdesk helping people to recover their passwords without knowing for sure if him/her is really allowed to get that password.

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solarchain avatar image
solarchain answered ·

It's a security issue. Bluetooth is too exposed, MK3 is limited to owner present with the devices.

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Related Resources

VictronConnect bluetooth troubleshooting guide

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