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Gordon Scriba avatar image
Gordon Scriba asked

Best way to connect 4 MPPT controllers to Cerbo GX 6 meters away

Question regarding the wiring of 4 Victron SmartSolar MPPT controllers and the Cerbo GX. The Cerbo GX has only 3 VE direct ports. The controllers will be mounted about 6 meters from the Cerbo GX. Should I keep all the controllers together and use a USB hub with a single VE Direct cable to a single port on the Cerbo GX? Alternatively, I would need to run 3 VE Direct cables to the 3 VE Direct ports (once again, 6 meters away) and one VE Direct to USB cable (6 meters) to one of the USB ports on the Cerbo GX. Appreciate your thoughts re: this. Thanks.

cerbo gxsmart solar set-up help
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Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) avatar image
Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) answered ·

Do you already have the MPPTs?

The new VE.Can MPPT’s were designed for this application - https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/smartsolar%20mppt%20ve.can

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If you must use VE.Direct MPPT's, then I would suggest running the individual VE.Direct cables, and the extra on a single USB-VE.Direct adapter. While extra initial installation hassle, this would be more a reliable solution, as it eliminates the most unreliable part, the USB hub.


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Gordon Scriba avatar image Gordon Scriba commented ·

I have not purchased yet, but other than the connection advantage, I do not like the idea of spending considerably more for the larger controllers. Will Victron have smaller capacity VE Can SmartSolar chargers? In the 100/30 range?

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