3. Installation
3.1. Ekrano GX Overview of connections
Communication ports | IO | Other |
|---|---|---|
3x VE.Direct | 2x Digital Inputs | MicroSD Card Slot (max. 32GB) |
2x VE.Can | 3x Resistive Tank Level Inputs | Recessed Button for Touch Control |
1x VE.Bus | 2x Temperature Sensor Inputs | Power Supply Port (8 - 70VDC) |
Ethernet | 2x Programmable Relay (NO, COM, NC - current limit: DC up to 30VDC: 3A / AC 125VAC: 1A)) | 7-inch TFT LCD Touchscreen (1024x600 pixels) |
WiFi 2.4GHz (802.11 b/g/n) | ||
Bluetooth Smart | ||
2x USB Host Ports (current limit: 1.5A@5V shared) |
3.2. Mounting options
The Ekrano GX comes with a solid steel bracket, two rods and wingnuts for mounting from the back and an option to mount from the front only, using the attached springs.
Mounting from the back
Mount the Ekrano GX from the back when it is easily accessible.
Prepare the cut-out as per the cut-out template from the appendix.
Screw the supplied M5 studs with the short threaded end into the rear threads.
Place the EGX in the cut-out and mount the steel bracket with the wing nuts provided.
Tighten the wing nuts. When done correctly, this squeezes the seal to the surface around the cut-out, making it watertight.
Mounting from the the front
Mount the Ekrano GX from the front if it is not accessible via the back.
Prepare the cut-out as per the cut-out template from the appendix.
Mount the supplied springs using the two screws with washers.
Make all necessary cable connections.
Push the springs carefully back and hold them with your fingers while inserting the EGX into the cut-out. Then release the springs. They will snap back once the EGX is fully inserted and hold the device in place. Be careful as those springs are strong and it hurts really bad when they accidentally snap onto your fingers.
Mounting position
Even though the Ekrano GX is watertight from the front (when using the steel bracket) and has a bright backlight, do not to mount it in direct sunlight to prevent overheating and to gain better readability. Mount it horizontally. Portrait mode or automatic rotation is not supported.
3.3. Powering the Ekrano GX
The device is powered by using the Power in V+ connector. It accepts 8 to 70V DC. The device will not power itself from any of the other connections (eg network). The supplied DC power cable includes an inline 3.15A slow blow fuse.
When the EGX is used in an installation with a VE.Bus BMS, connect the Power in V+ on the EGX to the terminal labelled 'Load disconnect' on the VE.Bus BMS. Connect both negative leads to the negative stub of a common battery.
A cautionary word about powering from the AC-out terminal of a VE.Bus Inverter, Multi or Quattro:
If you power the EGX from an AC adaptor connected to the AC-out port of any VE.Bus product (Inverter, Multi or Quattro), then a deadlock will occur after the VE.Bus products are powered-down for any reason (after any operational fault or during a black start). The VE.Bus devices will not boot-up until the EGX has power …but the EGX will not boot-up until it has power. This deadlock can be rectified by briefly unplugging the EGX VE.Bus cable at which point you will observe the VE.Bus products will immediately begin to boot-up.
Or a modification can be done to the RJ45 cabling. See FAQ Q20 for more information about this.
Note that both with or without above modification, powering the monitoring equipment with the AC-out of an inverter/charger (of course) has the disadvantage that all monitoring is shut down when there is a problem that causes the inverter/charger to shut down. Examples are inverter overload, high temperature or low battery voltage. It is therefore recommended to power the GX device from the battery.
Isolation
Because the EGX is connected to many different products, please ensure that proper care is taken with isolation to prevent ground loops. In 99% of installations this will not be a problem.
VE.Bus ports are isolated
VE.Direct ports are isolated
VE.Can port 1 is galvanically isolated, VE.Can port 2 is non-isolated
USB ports are not isolated. Connecting a WiFi Dongle or GPS Dongle will not create a problem as it is not connected to another power supply. Even though there will be ground loop when you mount a separately-powered USB hub, during extensive testing we have not found that it caused any issues.
The Ethernet port is isolated, except for the shield: use unshielded UTP cables for the Ethernet network.
Extending USB ports by use of a self-powered USB hub
Although the number of USB ports can be extended by using a hub, there is a limit to the amount of power that the onboard USB port can provide. When extending the number of USB ports, we recommend you always use powered USB hubs. And to minimize the chance of issues, be sure to use good-quality USB hubs. As Victron also offers a VE.Direct to USB adapter, you can use this arrangement to increase the number of VE.Direct devices you can connect to your system, please see this document for the limit of how many devices can be attached to various different GX devices.
3.4. Built-in 7-inch Touchscreen
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The built-in 7-inch touchscreen display provides an instant overview of your system and allows you to adjust settings on the fly. The super slim and waterproof design and easy installation offers a lot of flexibility in creating a clear and clean dashboard.
No configuration is required. When the screen is connected, the device will automatically display the GX overview and menu controls.
Display options are available in the Settings → Display & Language menu. You can set a time before the display turns off, or enable adaptive brightness.
The screen is controlled by a finger tip. You can swipe to scroll up and down through the menus, and tap to make selections. Text and number input is entered via an onscreen keyboard.
3.5. Deactivating touch input control
In order to restrict access to the GX system, it is possible to disable touch input control for the touchscreen. This allows the Ekrano GX to be mounted where it is visible by the operator of the system; and at the same time prevent them from using that to elevate their access level.
Note that this feature only disables touch/mouse control. On the Remote Console you are still able to control the device with keyboard input.
There are three ways to disable the touch function of the display:
Using the recessed button on the back
Using a momentary push button wired to one of the digital inputs
By using an external USB keyboard connected to the Ekrano GX; The touch function can then be toggled on and off by pressing the Pause/Break key.
If you want to use this function, make sure that the USB ports and the USB keyboard are not accessible.
Deactivating touch input control via the recessed button on the back of the Ekrano GX
Take a pointed object (e.g. pen or paperclip) and press the button once
Touch input is now off. Entries are no longer possible. The display switches off after the time set under Display off time (see menu Display & Language). Touching the screen activates the last page set.
Pressing the button again activates the touch function
Deactivating touch input control using a momentary push button
Go to Settings → IO → Digital inputs → Digital input [number of the digital input]
Scroll down the submenu until you see the Touch input control option
Press the spacebar or click/tap to enable Touch input control
Wire a momentary-push button between the appropriate top and bottom pins of the associated digital input
Pushing the button once will activate (disable) touch. Touch entries are no longer possible. The display switches off after the time set under Display off time (see menu Display & Language). Touching the screen activates the last page set. Pushing the button again will deactivate (enable) touch. Note that this pulls the gpio pin to ground. Do not apply voltage to the gpio pins.
Deactivating touch input control using an external USB keyboard
Connect an external USB keyboard to one of the USB ports on the Ekrano GX
Press the Pause/Break key to toggle touch input control on/off.
For keyboards without Pause/Break key use one of the substitute key combinations mentioned in this Wikipedia article.
3.6. Relay connections
The Ekrano GX has potential-free Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC) relay functionality. The function of the relays can be set via the GX menu, Settings → Relay → Function.
Relay 1 is of particular importance because, in addition to manual and temperature-related triggering (also applies to relay 2), it can also be used as an alarm, generator start/stop or tank pump relay.
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If the relay function is configured as an Alarm relay, it is possible to reverse the polarity of the relay via an additional menu. The default setting is Normally open. Please note that reversing the polarity to Normally closed will result in a slightly higher current consumption of the GX device.
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Observe the voltage and current limits of the relays, which are: DC up to 30VDC: 3A - AC: 1A, 125VAC