Living on the road, even the simplest things can become a bit of a mission. Want to do the dishes? Better check if there’s enough water. Want warm water? Are the batteries charged enough? These small, everyday things can add up. That’s when smart automations can make life on the road easier by taking a few things off your mind.
Meet Dennis. He’s a part-time vanlifer, an authorised Victron installer, a recommended software integrator in our program, and the founder of Camptronics – a company that turns a regular home on wheels into a smart one. His ideas and integrations, combined with Victron’s open approach to customisation and Node-Red, open up endless possibilities.
Dennis showcased his smart camper concept at Maker Faire Belgium, 2024.
Dennis converted his campervan in 2022 and, during his travels, started noticing things that could be improved to make life on the road easier.
“Along the way I connected with people who were going through the same process but had some shortcomings they couldn’t fix. Others didn’t even realise there were options to fix the issues they had; they thought it was just part of RVing.”
With a background in systems and network engineering, it didn’t take long for Dennis to dive into the electrical side of things and start learning more about Victron systems.
“What sparked my interest in the electrical side of this whole story was the robustness and ease of use of the Victron components. They are easily available as well and have a very friendly and big community. Using these components I set off with a very robust baseline to only improve upon even further.”
From there, he developed an intuitive and reliable central management platform to help RVers easily manage their power systems and automate daily tasks for a more enjoyable time on the road.
Smart automations for the road
The Cerbo GX is at the core of the system, gathering data from the connected Victron components and third-party sensors. Thanks to its openness and customisability, it can do far more than real-time monitoring or switching relays, especially in the hands of a knowledgeable software integrator.
By using the Modbus-TCP protocol, and the detailed register list available to download on our website, Dennis is able to access a deeper layer of system data. He feeds this into the logic he built in Node-RED, allowing him to create custom, in-depth automations tailored to each van. He also makes use of the Cerbo’s built-in MQTT broker, which enables reactive automations. For example, the diesel heater automatically turns on when the temperature drops below 4°C, and the inverter shuts off when not in use to save power.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of what these automations can do.
Location-based insights
The smart control platform uses the GPS location from the Cerbo GX, local weather forecasts, and MPPT data to estimate how much solar power is likely to be available over the next two days. It takes into account sun intensity, sunrise and sunset times, cloud cover, and recent energy use to predict energy availability. If it expects the batteries to fully charge, it can automatically switch on high-consumption devices like the water boiler, making the most of surplus energy.
Location data is also used for more than just solar forecasting. For example, altitude readings help adjust the diesel heater’s settings to improve combustion efficiency in high-altitude areas like the Alps. It can also be used for solo travel safety, sharing your location with friends or family, or even as a theft-prevention feature.
Keeping an eye on the tanks and the pipes
Fresh and grey water levels are monitored in real time, with notifications sent instantly via Telegram or SMS, so you don’t need to keep an eye on them. Some other automations include automatically disabling the pump if the fresh water tank runs low, to protect it from running dry, or automatically turning on the heater when the temperature drops below 4.5°C, to prevent frozen pipes and protect the filtration system.
Smart energy management
When the battery State of Charge drops below 30%, the app sends a notification if any high-wattage appliances such as the induction hob or air fryer are in use, to help prevent deep discharge. The inverter also switches off automatically when not in use, reducing unnecessary power consumption.
The platform detects when the alternator is running and, if there is excess power available, redirects it to heat water or power other high-demand appliances.
Vehicle data
The platform also reads detailed vehicle data such as engine RPM, fuel range, oil and AdBlue levels, odometer readings, and more. “These functions are mostly used in fleets to generate eco scores of trips performed by their company drivers or people who rent out their RV to check how responsibly their vehicles are driven,” Dennis explains.
One less thing to worry about
It is a highly customisable tool, designed for your needs to make life on the road a little simpler. For example, if you have to leave your dog in your campervan, it is nice to know that the system monitors the indoor temperature, as well as the CO2 levels and the air quality, to then automatically enable or disable the heater or the air ventilation.
What’s ahead?
Dennis is currently working on adding features like seasonal profiles, so users can switch between summer, winter or off-grid settings with one tap, and a smart CCTV system that uses GPS and motion detection for extra peace of mind while parked, and doubles as a dashcam while driving.
If you are looking to add smart automations to your own campervan or off-grid setup, send a message to Dennis here. He builds custom software solutions using tools like Node-RED, the VRM API, MQTT, Grafana and Home Assistant, with a focus on making everyday life on the road easier.
Resources for installers and software integrators
This story is just one example of how Victron’s customisable ecosystem can help businesses and individuals to unlock new possibilities, bridging technology and practicality to make life easier. If you are an installer or a software integrator, here are some links that might be useful for you:
- To find a software integrator suitable for your project, visit our Victron Recommended Software Integrators list.
- Are you a software integrator? Take the next step and apply here.
- To learn more about the Software Integrator Program, please read our blog post, Introducing our new Software Integrator Program.
If you need any assistance or would like to share your story about the Software Integrator Program, please get in touch with us at softwareintegrators@victronenergy.com. We’d love to hear about your projects and see the innovative solutions you’re creating!
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