victronconnect:ve-smart-networking
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victronconnect:ve-smart-networking [2019-10-01 12:33] – guy_stewart | victronconnect:ve-smart-networking [2020-05-29 06:39] – [3. Synchronised charging - further details] guy_stewart | ||
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===== 1. Introduction ===== | ===== 1. Introduction ===== | ||
- | A VE.Smart Network is a wireless network | + | A VE.Smart Network is a wireless |
- | + | ||
- | Use VE.Smart to add remote voltage- and temperature- sensing to your Victron MPPT Solar Chargers. Connect either a BMV battery monitor - or the new [[https:// | + | |
+ | Features: | ||
+ | * Remote Voltage reading | ||
+ | * Temperature sensing | ||
+ | * Current sensing | ||
+ | * Synchronised charging | ||
+ | === Remote voltage-, temperature and/or current sensing === | ||
+ | Use VE.Smart to add remote voltage, temperature and/or current sensing to your Victron MPPT Solar Chargers. Connect either a BMV battery monitor, a SmartShunt, or the new [[https:// | ||
\\ | \\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | This video introduces the Smart Battery Sense: \\ | ||
{{youtube> | {{youtube> | ||
- | ===== 2. Voltage | + | |
+ | === Synchronised charging === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pairing two or more SmartSolar chargers in a VE.Smart Network, enables synchronised charging. This improves the charge efficiency and battery life. | ||
+ | ===== 2. Voltage, temperature | ||
The battery voltage data is used to compensate for voltage-drop over the battery cables. This ensures that the battery is charged with the exact voltage as configured in the charger - instead of a lower voltage due to resistance in the wiring. | The battery voltage data is used to compensate for voltage-drop over the battery cables. This ensures that the battery is charged with the exact voltage as configured in the charger - instead of a lower voltage due to resistance in the wiring. | ||
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For lithium batteries the charge-voltages remain the same at all temperatures, | For lithium batteries the charge-voltages remain the same at all temperatures, | ||
- | ===== 3. Specifications ===== | ||
- | ==== 3.1 VE.Smart Networking compatible products ==== | + | The battery current data is used to allow the tail current setting (see the [[victronconnect: |
- | ^Product range ^ Compatible ^ [[https:// | + | ===== 3. Synchronised charging - further details ===== |
- | |BMV-700 | Yes | Yes | Voltage-sense | | + | |
- | |BMV-702 | + | Connect multiple SmartSolar charge controllers together in a VE.Smart network to make them charge the battery as if they were one large charger. The chargers will synchronise the charge algorithm between themselves, with no further hardware required. They will simultaneously switch from one charge state to another, for example from bulk to absorption. |
- | |BMV-712 | + | |
- | |SmartSolar MPPTs | Yes <sup> (2)</ | + | Each unit will (and should) regulate its own output current. Which, among others, depends on the output of each PV array, cable resistance and the configured maximum output current of the charger. As such, it is not possible to configure a ' |
- | |BlueSolar MPPTs | Yes | Yes | Uses received sense data to optimize charging | | + | |
- | |Phoenix Smart IP43 Charger | + | === Synchronised charging is not always necessary === |
- | |Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC Charger Isolated | + | |
+ | There are certain system types in which synchronised charging is not necessary: | ||
+ | |||
+ | - ESS Systems with managed batteries: the inverter/ | ||
+ | - ESS Systems with unmanaged batteries: the inverter/ | ||
+ | - Other systems with managed batteries: the battery is already controlling the solar charger. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In all above situations, the solar charger is already being controlled. Managed batteries are CAN-bus connected lithium batteries, as well as other chemistries, | ||
+ | |||
+ | For chargers that are already connected and synchronised over VE.Can, pairing them in a VE.Smart Network is not necessary. In case they __are__ paired, the pairing will be ignored. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === How synchronising works on solar chargers === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Synchronising the chargers works in a master-slave manner. The chargers will elect a master among them and that master will be the one to dictate the charge algorithm. As the master cannot be determined by the user, it is important to make sure all chargers belonging to the same network have the **same battery settings**. To know more about the battery settings and some other information, | ||
+ | |||
+ | After being elected, the master will make sure all chargers are on the same charge state and with the same voltage setpoint. As mentioned before, battery charge current is not controlled by the master, but by each of the chargers individually. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the beginning of the day, the master will measure the battery voltage before any of the other chargers in the network start charging (to find battery idle voltage). This information is used to decide what should be the total absorption time for some types of batteries. The battery idle voltage is shared with the other chargers, as well as the total absorption time, and the elapsed time on the current charge state. That information is important so the charge algorithm can be resumed by the chargers if, for any reason, the master stops charging (i.e. sun went down on its panels, charger was shut down, charger loses contact with the network, etc). | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the absence of battery current sensor, such as the BMV, the chargers on the network will have their output current combined to estimate a better battery charge current. | ||
+ | ===== 4. VE.Smart Product Compatibility ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ^Product range ^ Compatible ^ Function ^ | ||
+ | |BMV-700 | ||
+ | |BMV-702 | ||
+ | |BMV-712 | ||
+ | |SmartSolar MPPTs | Yes <sup> (2)</ | ||
+ | |BlueSolar MPPTs | Yes (requires [[https:// | ||
+ | |Phoenix Smart IP43 Charger | ||
+ | |Orion-Tr Smart DC-DC Charger Isolated | ||
+ | |Blue Smart Chargers IP22, IP65 and IP67 | No | Not yet supported, may be compatible in the future | | ||
- To measure battery temperature, | - To measure battery temperature, | ||
- | - Check the table below to see which models are incompatible with this feature. | + | - Early production batches of some models are not VE.Smart capable. |
+ | - Synchronised charging is available on the SmartSolar on version v1.47 or higher except for the models | ||
+ | - Synchronised charging on VE.Smart is only available on SmartSolar Chargers. It is not possible to enable synchronised charging when using a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== 5. Limitations ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * The maximum number of devices which can be connected on one network is 10. | ||
+ | * VE.Smart Networking is designed for small systems which do not have a [[venus-os: | ||
+ | * The transmitter range will be found to be the same as the Bluetooth range - as experienced when connecting a device to // | ||
+ | * It is not possible to measure multiple battery temperatures/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== SmartSolar MPPTs that do not support VE.Smart Networking ==== | ||
+ | All currently shipping SmartSolar MPPTs support VE.Smart Networking. However some older versions of those models do **not** support VE.Smart Networking. Those devices will also not become compatible later with a firmware update: the incompatibility is due to a hardware limitation in those devices. There is a work around: connect a [[https:// | ||
- | All new SmartSolar MPPT's support VE.Smart Networking. However some older versions of our hardware do **not** support VE.Smart Networking. A list of the older // | ||
^Product | ^Product | ||
|VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle | |VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle | ||
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|SmartSolar MPPT 250/ | |SmartSolar MPPT 250/ | ||
- | Note that when listed as not compatible; they will also not become compatible later. The incompatibility is due to a hardware limitation in those devices. | ||
- | Also note that connecting a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle (ASS030536011) to an incompatible SmartSolar charger, will **enable** VE.Smart Networking support for the SmartSolar (Voltage and Temperature sense). In such scenario the internal Bluetooth interface of the SmartSolar should not be used anymore as communication errors may occur - instead the VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle is to be used when connecting | + | ===== 6. Step by step instructions ===== |
+ | We recommend you configure the Smart Battery Sense, or BMV first ...and //then// add one or more solar chargers to that network. You can read the Smart Battery Sense manual [[https:// | ||
- | + | ==== 6.1 Setup the Smart Battery Sense or BMV ==== | |
- | ==== 3.2 Limitations ==== | + | |
- | * The maximum number of devices which can be connected on one network is 25. | + | |
- | * VE.Smart Networking is designed for small systems which do not have a [[venus-os: | + | |
- | * The transmitter range will be found to be the same as the Bluetooth range - as experienced when connecting a device to // | + | |
- | ===== 4. Step by step instructions ===== | + | |
- | + | ||
- | We recommend you configure the Smart Battery Sense, or BMV first ...and //then// add one or more solar chargers to that network. You can read the Smart Battery Sense manual [[https:// | + | |
- | ==== 4.1 Setup the Smart Battery Sense or BMV ==== | + | |
Open [[victronconnect: | Open [[victronconnect: | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
- | ==== 4.2 Join the Solar Chargers to the network ==== | + | ==== 6.2 Join the Solar Chargers to the network ==== |
Go back and navigate to the //Solar charger//, then click // | Go back and navigate to the //Solar charger//, then click // | ||
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{{: | {{: | ||
- | ==== 4.3 Verify operation ==== | + | |
+ | ==== 6.3 Verify operation ==== | ||
When everything is working OK, you will be able to see that the VE.Smart Networking page of the Solar Charger is receiving data: | When everything is working OK, you will be able to see that the VE.Smart Networking page of the Solar Charger is receiving data: | ||
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Clicking on that icon will show the network status. | Clicking on that icon will show the network status. | ||
- | ===== 5. FAQ ===== | ||
- | === Q1: Will you be adding wireless parallel charging as a feature? === | ||
- | Yes we will - though we do not have a date for its introduction yet. | + | ===== 7. FAQ ===== |
- | === Q2: Can several MPPTs be paired to one Smart Battery Sense or BMV? === | + | === Q1: Can several MPPTs be paired to one Smart Battery Sense or BMV? === |
- | Yes. | + | Yes. And, when SmartSolars are connected to the same network, they will also synchronize their charge state. |
- | === Q3: Is VE.Smart Networking disrupted if I connect a smartphone to it at the same time? === | + | === Q2: Is VE.Smart Networking disrupted if I connect a smartphone to it at the same time? === |
Not at all. It is possible to connect with a smart phone, computer or tablet, at the same time. | Not at all. It is possible to connect with a smart phone, computer or tablet, at the same time. | ||
- | === Q4: Will you add the same functionality to the BlueSmart Charger product range? === | + | === Q3: Will you add the same functionality to the BlueSmart Charger product range? === |
Yes we will - though the exact functionality, | Yes we will - though the exact functionality, | ||
- | === Q5: Can Smart Battery Sense be used as a standalone product? === | + | === Q4: Can Smart Battery Sense be used as a standalone product? === |
Yes. In this instance it will simply act as a voltage- and temperature-measuring device. Note that the functionality is limited in that it does not (yet) show the graphs or other data which would normally be generated from these measurements. | Yes. In this instance it will simply act as a voltage- and temperature-measuring device. Note that the functionality is limited in that it does not (yet) show the graphs or other data which would normally be generated from these measurements. | ||
- | === Q6: Can I use Smart Battery Sense in systems already controlled by a GX device (eg CCGX/ | + | === Q5: Can I use Smart Battery Sense in systems already controlled by a GX device (eg CCGX/ |
- | No. The GX device already has voltage sensing (soon they will have temperature sensing too). Adding | + | Yes, but keep in mind that if, voltage or temperature information is also present on the GX Device, the charger will use that information in favor of the information coming from the Smart Battery Sense. The GX device already has, in most cases, |
===== DISQUS ===== | ===== DISQUS ===== | ||
~~DISQUS~~ | ~~DISQUS~~ |
victronconnect/ve-smart-networking.txt · Last modified: 2021-01-14 14:23 by marmour