smartsolar 100/30 remote on off without the Victron cable.

[Robert Gulotta]

I have read a few posts on Victron forums stating that the VE.Direct non inverting remote on-off cable isn't necessarily needed to disable the charge controller, and that I can just ground the rx pin and it should disable charging.

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/57019/controlling-mppts-using-the-vedirect-one-off-cable.html

Assuming the above is true, my thought is that I can wire an extio port + to ground and the extio - to the rx pin on the charge controller and I could skip buying the cable, and more importantly, waiting for it.

My question is if anyone knows if this will draw more than 50ma, which I kinda doubt, or if anyone else has done this before.  I'd like to get this done asap because I am over-voltaging one of my cells when charging because I can't turn the unit off yet.

[Dacian Todea]

Robert,

Maybe that is true but if so why will Victron sell what looks like an active cable to do that ?

You can try and see if that is true but I suggest using a 1kOhm between that rx pin and GND as even with that it should work and there is some protection against ground loop. Also get the GND from the MPPT controller do not get that from some other place closer to battery to limit the ground loop effect.

And please let us know if that works as it will save a few $ if it works.

You will connect the RX pin to 1KOhm then to EXT IOx+ and then the EXT IOx- will be connected to GND.

[Robert Gulotta]

Message got caught up in spam so sorry for the delayed response.  

ostensibly the cable is more universal in nature in that it can take differing signal voltages and keep the unit safe but is unnecessary if you are just going to ground the pin, at least according to one Victron employee on one of the forums I was reading.  There's nothing published in manuals about it that I have seen but I'll try it.  The pin is small and I didn't have anything that I felt comfortable attaching to it so I ended up ordering the JST connector to make it easy, but I am not going to get it before I leave town so I have to just clamp down on the charging voltage to protect everything while I am gone.  I'll wire up the pin and let you know how it works when I am back around the 21st.  

[Robert Gulotta]

I got re-inspired and found some interesting things.

The pin works to turn the unit on and off but I have something wrong.  

If I set the extio4 to type 0 the charger stays on.

Type 1 it turns off.

Type 2 it turns off.

Current state of the system is charging with only CFET and DFET flags active.

My hunch is that I need to pull the pin high instead of grounding it.  I think I am going to pull 3.3v off of pin2 for the wifi green connector and see what that does, still using the 1k resistor?  I have a shaved down alligator clip on the pin so I’ll double check if I am shorting to another pin and causing chaos.

Let me know if you think that makes sense.  I feel safe with 3.3v on the mppt pins, will go to 5v if it doesn’t do anything but I am not sure if I should keep the 1k resistor in there or go to 4.7k or 10k or something else.

If you have time to let me know your thoughts it would be greatly appreciated!

[Robert Gulotta]

actually, as I reconsider I think I need to use a NC relay that's open when type 1 signal is on leaving the pin floating and then grounds the pin when the relay is off... I think I have a mechanical relay I can use if it doesn't draw too much current but I'll likely have to use an ssr long term I would guess.  Can I run 12v through an extio pin?

[Jan Paauw]

“The Victron on/off remote cable is intended for on/off control of BlueSolar MPPT solar chargers with a VE.Direct interface.
It will switch the product on when the source signal turns high, and switch the product off when the
source signal turns low or becomes free floating.

 Specifications:
Maximum input voltage: 70V
Minimum input voltage needed for switch on: approximately 6V
Switch off level: input voltage must be less than 1V or must be free floating.

 Thas what the specs say,  but why all that trouble with relays, resistors  etc.  if that Remote cable is only 22 euro. 

 

Op donderdag 13 januari 2022 om 19:34:20 UTC+1 schreef Robert Gulotta:

[Robert Gulotta]

for sure, I am just trying to get this operating properly before I leave for a week and I can't get the cable in time.  It's just playing at this point, not a crisis.  I'll just turn the voltage for everything down when I am gone and it'll be fine.

[Dacian Todea]

Robert and Jan,

It makes sense that MPPT is ON by default and then connecting that Rx pin to ground will turn it OFF thus likely all they have in that cable is a NC optoisolator  and maybe a few resistors and that can cost maybe 1 or $2 then there is the connector not sure how easy is to find that and some work.

For most is maybe less effort to just buy that already build Victron Cable.

[Jan Paauw]

Yes the distances  are a bit different at your places than here in the Netherlands, Victron is just around the corner.

Nice to try and see f it works,  I have that cable only  just not here at home, will take a look tomorrow  I'm curious what's in it.

Op donderdag 13 januari 2022 om 20:08:17 UTC+1 schreef electr...@gmail.com: