Thank you for the info, this is a steep learning curve for me.You must not connect the 5v on any of your DIY cables or your very likely kill your devices.
You can only use the 5v on an Isolated USB to TTL UART FTDI like this.
Isolated 4 port USB to TTL UART FTDI – DuPPa
www.duppa.net
Victron Venus OS and a Rasberry
- Thread starter steveh57
- Start date
Just a quick update.
The Ruuvi temp tags arrived today so I set about adding them into the system. All was good but as I suspected may happen the software forcing the Pi to search for the BT Fogstar connection kept rebooting and I then lost the three temp sensors. Turning BT off and on reset it but it timed out within 5 mins repeatedly and then it lost the Ruuvi connections.
Done a fresh download of Venus onto the Pi without the Fogstar "hack" and all the sensors now work fine. Obviously lost the Fogstar info but I can live without that on the Pi and log in on the App for the info.
Oh well..never mind eh ;-)
The Ruuvi temp tags arrived today so I set about adding them into the system. All was good but as I suspected may happen the software forcing the Pi to search for the BT Fogstar connection kept rebooting and I then lost the three temp sensors. Turning BT off and on reset it but it timed out within 5 mins repeatedly and then it lost the Ruuvi connections.
Done a fresh download of Venus onto the Pi without the Fogstar "hack" and all the sensors now work fine. Obviously lost the Fogstar info but I can live without that on the Pi and log in on the App for the info.
Oh well..never mind eh ;-)
Where did you source the Ruuvi tag?
Amazon sadly.
I needed at least three and they were the cheapest by about 6 quid each. I despise buying off Amazon but sometimes needs must.
Yes, Amazon is the cheapest source I have found. Luckily I only need one - for the Fridge!
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OldAgeTravellers
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Thanks for this, sorry not to reply before, I have been rather busy.
Venus.OS is working fine on the RasPI 2b so far but I don't have any kit connected yet and it may slow down as data starts to flow. I have ordered a 4 port UART And cables as a USB-C cable will be much easier to run from my Tech Cupboard down to the battery box where the B2B, BMV Shunt and Inverter live.
Do I need to run a cable to my BMV display and plug it in instead of the Bluetooth adaptor or can the Pi GX connect to it with Bluetooth?
Connecting to Venus.Local with my phone gives a full screen display, but, connecting with a tablet or laptop the display is only small. Can this be enlarged to use as a permanent display?
Thanks again for the help.
You will need to run a cable from the BMV display, to the RPI. It will maintain functionality on display, but the PI needs the data from the bmv via cable. The Bluetooth is only to connect with a mobile/ tablet to the PI.
Venus screen is default size, won’t go larger unless is re coded by competent IT gurus.
Venus screen is default size, won’t go larger unless is re coded by competent IT gurus.
Two on Tour
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You could try altering the screen res by SSH into the config.txt file and playing with the framebuffer size. I altered mine to better suit the RasPi 7" screen.
cd /u-boot/overlays/
nano /u-boot/config.txt
framebuffer_width=800
framebuffer_height=480
Ctrl O enter to save
Hit enter
Ctrl X enter to exit
reboot enter
cd /u-boot/overlays/
nano /u-boot/config.txt
framebuffer_width=800
framebuffer_height=480
Ctrl O enter to save
Hit enter
Ctrl X enter to exit
reboot enter
Whats the default resolution Paul? The venus is displayed in 5" cerbo screen and ecrano GX that is larger.
Two on Tour
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Was from memory 480 high x 272 wide, but with screen scaling to full screen on your gear.
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The more I follow this thread, the more I find my self thinking ooh that looks good, or, in this case scratching my head thinking why?
So, OldAgeTravellers what is the advantage of this and why would one wish to use it? Also, can you provide a link please.
I have a similar question to yours regarding the distance between my BMV display and the Pi, pleased to see Raul has replied, but, does one use a USB extension lead like this https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/usb-...VZ4pQBh1ByAOyEAQYASABEgLKQ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds or extend the wires coming out of the https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25357439...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1 convertor cable?
And don't get me started on these RUUVI things, a quick dabble on the interweb just sent my mind racing but then I'd have to buy a USB hub as I've run out of ports and do I need a powered hub or not and, and, and........?
Fascinating guys, keep it up, I'm learning as we go here, good to keep the old grey matter working.....
Thanks
Bit the bullit and purchased a Ruuvi. Arrived yesterday afternoon. Just in time to monitor the Fridge as we are going on short trip to check out before MOT.
Two on Tour
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I'm running 3 to 4 metres on some of my homemade Ve.Direct cables from my Pi to Orion XS B2B and MPPT, and you can normally run Ve.Dircet cables to 10 metres or more.
To free up USB ports, I'm using a couple of the isolated USB to TTL UART FTDI boards to give me four Ve.Direct cables in and one USB out on each board.
https://www.duppa.net/shop/isolated-4-port-usb-to-ttl-uart-ftdi/?v=79cba1185463
Unless you need remote temperature monitoring, then use wired DS18B20 temperature sensor. I have five DS18B20 hooked up to my Pi via the Pi's I/O pins.
Two on Tour
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I'm using Sonoff Zigbee temperature/humidity sensors in our fridge and freezer as you can add them to Alexa to tell you the fridge and freezer temperatures when you ask her from the comfort of my sofa on our van.
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Last edited:
Two on Tour
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I tried running a powered USB hub (tried a couple of different ones) to get over running out of USB ports on my Pi, but I found that the devices would keep dropping off the device list and reconnecting, which is why I change over to the isolated USB to TTL UART FTDI boards which are rock solid stable.
Thanks for this info, most interesting.
Can these probes got straight to the I/O pins without another board to correct the voltage on them?
Sorry to be dumb but I don't assume anything anymore.
I have used a cheap as chips none powered 4 port USB hub for the MPPT and hunt connections and it is rock solid with no dropouts at all. Strange eh..
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Thank you. I'll digest all that when I have a bit more time to sit at the laptop......there may be more questions
Two on Tour
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The DS18B20 probes connect to a small terminal board. This terminal board has a pull-up resistor that's needed. I have used two of the terminal boards and piggybacked three of the probes onto one board and two onto the other board, and then piggybacked the two terminal boards together to connect the Pi's I/O.
The DS18B20 probes are 3 wires (3.3v pos, neg and a single wire data line) and each probe has its own unique register code which the Venus OS reads to identify the individual probes.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15488682...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
I was trying to connect seven devices to a seven port USB hub which may have been the problem.
Another way to increase the number of USB ports on a Pi is by using a Mega4 USB hub, but they are pricey.
Excellent info, many thanks indeed for sharing the details. I will go and have a look at the bits and work out a plan.
Yep 7 USB devices may have been stretching it a bit ;-) The Duppa stuff looks very good and gets great reviews if expansion is needed.
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I use one of these usb hubs over the last year and it's been faultless.
thepihut.com
Industrial Grade Dual-Host USB Hub (4x USB 2.0)
This industrial-grade powered USB hub can extend your device's single USB port to four USB 2.0 ports and allows you to switch the USB devices between two host computers. This all-metal USB hub is ideal for switching your low-power USB peripherals between a Raspberry Pi and your PC, removing the...
thepihut.com
OldAgeTravellers
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Hi landranger, others more knowledgeable have already answered, but for me at the moment, I don’t know, yet. I have just spent a lot of money and time on upgrading my MoHo to a Lithium system and I had a couple of spare RasPi’s so I thought I would see what the Venus OS was like. Especially as my onboard panel will now be of little use for monitoring the electrical system. I already use HomeAssistant at home extensively for automating lighting,heating, de-humidifiers and solar panels and home battery so I thought it may be like that. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be as sophisticated but I haven’t yet got my isolated hub to start monitoring the Victron kit yet. And perhaps if I get into Node Red there may be more promise there. Or perhaps I can monitor the RasPi Cerbo-GX with Home assistant running on another RasPi! It’s all learning and is keeping the old grey cells going. Luckily there are some very generous experts happy to share their knowledge, both here and elsewhere on the web.
The most important thing like with HomeAssistant is to keep the WAF high, (wife acceptance factor).
Maybe it is all a complete waste of time and I will end up just using the Victron Connect app and the FogStar Bluetooth app to monitor things. But it will be an interesting and educating journey.
OldAgeTravellers
LIFE MEMBER
My 4 port isolated hub arrived from DuPPa in Italy with 4, 1mt cables which just plug into the Victron gear. I had to cut and extend one cable by a couple of meters to reach the BMV-702 display on the Motorhome Dash and I couldn't find any screened cable so just used unscreened 4 core telephone cable and so far do not seem to have any issues. I realised after that I had a 50mt reel of cat-5 ethernet cable, DOH. All however seems to be working fine and this is using the Pi_2B, this is my display, no Solar showing as I have a Votronic MPPT which obviously cannot talk to the Pi-CerboGX :
It seems to be connecting to the Victron VRM ok which is recording the data. I am only using my tablet as a display via venus.local which seems fine at the moment. If I find I need a permanent display then I will sort that out later.
Interesting above Two on Tour displaying the fridge & freezer temperatures I will have to investigate that, which could be very useful. If anybody has seen a YouTube video or blog about it, perhaps they can post a link.
I have not found any way of adjusting the BMV-702 settings from within the system or via the VRM which I will have to do when I add the second battery, so I will have to connect the Bluetooth dongle back in or try to use the buttons on the display, which is a pain from memory.
I am still undecided on whether I like the display, it's adequate but a bit clunky and underwhelming. But I am used to using the fantastic dashboards that can be easily created in HomeAssistant. I could of course add another Pi and run HA on it to take the data from the Cerbo but hardly worth it other than for fun. But may add it into my Home system so as o monitor the Motorhome electrics when it is on the drive.
I haven't measured the power consumption of the system yet but Lenny HB I wouldn't bother buying a Pi4 because if the Pi2 works so well for me, your Pi3 will be more than adequate especially as you have got the display working. and will only have a couple more devices.
So, very easy to do, the pi2 was sitting on the shelf doing nothing so the only cost was €53 for the 4 port hub with 4 cables and £7 for a 5mt Usb-A to USB-C cable.
Interesting above Two on Tour displaying the fridge & freezer temperatures I will have to investigate that, which could be very useful. If anybody has seen a YouTube video or blog about it, perhaps they can post a link.
I have not found any way of adjusting the BMV-702 settings from within the system or via the VRM which I will have to do when I add the second battery, so I will have to connect the Bluetooth dongle back in or try to use the buttons on the display, which is a pain from memory.
I am still undecided on whether I like the display, it's adequate but a bit clunky and underwhelming. But I am used to using the fantastic dashboards that can be easily created in HomeAssistant. I could of course add another Pi and run HA on it to take the data from the Cerbo but hardly worth it other than for fun. But may add it into my Home system so as o monitor the Motorhome electrics when it is on the drive.
I haven't measured the power consumption of the system yet but Lenny HB I wouldn't bother buying a Pi4 because if the Pi2 works so well for me, your Pi3 will be more than adequate especially as you have got the display working. and will only have a couple more devices.
So, very easy to do, the pi2 was sitting on the shelf doing nothing so the only cost was €53 for the 4 port hub with 4 cables and £7 for a 5mt Usb-A to USB-C cable.
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OldAgeTravellers
LIFE MEMBER
Hi all, Venus OS has been running fine on the Pi2 for two months now while touring Norway. I had an old Android tablet with me and found if I used the chrome browser I can stretch the display to full screen which is readable while driving so I can see the charge and whether I have left the inverter on etc. Unfortunately this error has just started coming up just as I get rolling so rev the engine. Any ideas how to clear the errors from the Orion XS and why it is happening. Sorry it is a bit fuzzy it was easier to just take a photo of the screen with my iPad. Chrome also remembers the stretched screen on the Venus display.
You can make the notification to disappear, by selecting each notification to acknowledge that you read it.
As to why, you need to dig in the XS history via BT victron connect app and see what's happening. How is it wired at H L terminals, how the engine detection is configured and if is any relay/ switch from output to leisure battery. Have a look in the history first.
As to why, you need to dig in the XS history via BT victron connect app and see what's happening. How is it wired at H L terminals, how the engine detection is configured and if is any relay/ switch from output to leisure battery. Have a look in the history first.
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OldAgeTravellers
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Thanks Raul I tried tapping the alerts nothing happens. I went into Victron Connect and can see nothing in History, even tried it on the PC. I use D+ for engine shutdown. it works fine. It is set for “Smart Lithium” I have 16mm cable from engine battery 60a fuse, 16mm cable to Lithium batteries with 60a fuse. 16mm cable to good chassis earth same place the BMV702 or should it go to the battery side of the 702?
OldAgeTravellers
LIFE MEMBER
Correction, the -ve side of the XS goes to the battery side of the shunt only the other side of the shunt connects to the chassis.
You are correct, it should go to the load side of the BMV702 shunt, not the battery side. So that all the amps has to go through the shunt, and doesn't bypass it.
I think it should go to the load side of the shunt, not the battery side. If it goes to the battery side of the shunt, the shunt will not account for it in the charge calculations. It is actually not a large amount of charge, the negative is only for the XS electronics board, not the main charge return current, which goes via the chassis. But it will cause a small error, for no reason, so make sure it's connected to the load side of the shunt.
OldAgeTravellers
LIFE MEMBER
Surely only the shunt can connect to the chassis so it can count every electron flowing. That is why I checked and corrected myself because what I wrote first time, was wrong. In the habitation circuit.
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