Victron Energy brand enthusiast Filip Mączyński has built a website which guides DIYers through the many choices of Victron devices on the way to building their system.
Famously, Victron offers hundreds of products allowing you to select devices which are perfectly-suited to your planned build. Yet having so many devices to choose from can be overwhelming.
Using an AI assistant to draw information together from many different Victron resources Filip’s comprehensive site, CPV24, which he built as a hobby, aims to tell you all-you-need-to-know about each model and to suggests the other devices it might be paired with as part of your system-build.
Using his own vast experience of system building, Filip begins by offering a summary of the qualities of each device, then takes the viewer through the applications that device and model might be used for, adding information step-by-step so you can be sure you understand what the device is capable of doing, and what the alternatives choices are.
Not for profit
It is not an e-commerce site – there are no click throughs to a supplier or ‘Buy Now’ buttons – the intention is to deeply inform and support your investigation, without bias.
Visitors begin their journey by searching for the type of device they wish to know more about.
A brief description of the typical applications for that product are followed by the the min/max power outputs available throughout that class of product; comparison information shows the differences between all items in the range; there are schematics which show at a glance where the device should be installed in relation to other devices in the system; the stand-out programmable features which may be useful to you are highlighted; and there are a few notes on things to avoid with the product, together with installation tips.
The entry closes with some FAQs relating to the device, and examples of products which are in a similar class and which are often found in installations which uses the model you are considering.
When you are clear in your mind about which product is suitable for your needs, CPV24 provides links which take you to relevant location on the Victron site where you will find full technical information and product manual.
The site – which has been designed for DIY systems builders and will also be useful for professionals works like a well-informed librarian with whom you can discuss your areas of interest, filtering out extraneous material as you dive deeper into your requirements and refine your choices – until you can be directed exactly to the ‘shelf’ which will interest you most.
For Filip it’s an opportunity to share his accumulated knowledge with a wider audience, freely. He is a strong proponent of using the power of AI in all areas of work and play. He says: I created the website as a Victron Energy enthusiast. I often needed a clear, easily accessible source of knowledge, but it simply wasn’t available. You will find information scattered across forums, manuals, and various other places, but I wanted to bring it all together in one place.
Node-RED
The generated flows still require checking and testing before being put into service, but the tool offers an introduction to smart home automation – for remote log cabins, vans or boats.
CAD
The site also offers users the opportunity to lay out their planned installation using CAD software which runs on the site’s own server.
Designed for both professionals and DIY users, the main goal here is to take you one to the next level by providing a space where you can work out how all your devices will be arranged. This task will help you decide how this is all going to come together through the layout choices you make. It allows you to take that final powerful step of ownership and understanding exactly how you will wire your own installation.
Access to the CAD tool can be obtained by registering for an account after which the user will be able to use the tool for two hours per day.
Troubleshooting
The site has a troubleshooting guide and offers problem-solving beginning with error codes.
Electrical systems don’t always behave as expected – a battery might stop charging, an inverter might report an overload, or a GX device might lose communication with another component.
Rather than searching through several technical manuals, CPV24 provides guided troubleshooting procedures organised around the symptoms of a problem. The site includes 20 diagnostic paths, together with explanations of error codes and LED indications.
What size battery do I need for my RV? How many solar panels…? Which inverter?
Covering applications including RV, Marine, Off-grid homes and more, visitors can begin by calculating daily electricity consumption, estimate the battery capacity required, consider how many panels they need, choose an appropriate MPPT solar charge controller and decide the inverter capacity necessary to operate their AC appliances.
The website provides 11 interactive calculators and diagnostic tools covering subjects such as battery capacity, solar array sizing, charging times, cable cross-sections, inverter requirements and alternator charging.
And because it is built as a not for profit site, once you have gathered the information you need, wherever you are in the world you can choose to buy from your knowledgable and accredited local supplier.
Have fun!
