Empowering Your Raspberry Pi: Adding External Relays with Venus OS

[@AdamDeLay07]

Links to the parts & pieces in the video (affiliate links) ------------------------------------ Adafruit Non-Latching Mini Relay FeatherWing www.adafruit.com/product/2895 ELEGOO 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire amzn.to/40avHKx Victron 48V MultiPlus-II 5kVA 120V Inverter www.currentconnected.com/product/victron-48v-multiplus-2-5kva-120v-inverter-70a-charger/?ref=AzzpK9Fl 10kVA 120/240v Base MultiPlus-II System www.currentconnected.com/product/10kva-120-240v-multiplus-2-5kva/?ref=AzzpK9Fl Victron Cerbo GX www.currentconnected.com/product/victron-cerbo-gx-system-controller/?ref=AzzpK9Fl Victron GX Touch 7" Display www.currentconnected.com/product/gx-touch-display-cerbo-gx/?ref=AzzpK9Fl

[@kamsiu7342]

The large Venus OS has Node Red feature where you should able use the other relays in automation

[@fpvtechnology837]

Hi. I cannot find video where you explain how to install packages manager ? Franck from France

[@AdamDeLay07]

Howdy Franck. I believe this is one of the videos where installed SetupHelper which gives you the package manager. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIfOhXmqeampnLM

[@DaveCapamagian]

Hi Adam, awesome video mate, very helpful to get the relays set up. Would it be possible for you to do a video on setting up analog tank level senders into the Venus OS. I just can't make sense of the info online. Cheers in advance Dave

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks Dave! Unfortunately I don’t have any tank that I can put a sensor on. It might be worth asking some questions on the Victon community forum. Now I did just do a video on a Bluetooth propane sensor and from what I’ve seen, the same company might do Bluetooth water sensors as well that integrate into the Victron ecosystem. Might be worth a look (plus less wiring!).

[@OurHome-lw3jz]

Can these relays be used for alarm states on the batteries and network devices?

[@AdamDeLay07]

Unfortunately only Relay 1 has an "Alarm" function. The remaining relays all seem to be manual relays only. If the battery is connected to the Cerbo, it might be possible to trigger an alarm based on certain battery criteria, but I'm not positive. I haven't done much with the alarms. I've got notification set up on the Cerbo and VRM for specific instances.

[@Albert_206]

Just a great video Adam, one gets full ideas out of enthusiasm (seriously) 👍👍 Cheers, Albert 🇳🇱

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks Albert!

[@tiborchren]

Thank you for this video 👍

[@GarethJones-dk9yp]

Great video. I've done this before. I still suffer with one little issue is my main circuit breaker is wired to a shunt trip on the dc side. When I reboot the pi the gpio pins go high for a couple of seconds and then low when it boots up. Annoying this trips my breaker. Need to find a fix for this at some point.

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks! That's interesting. What shunt trip breaker are you using?

[@socialcycles13]

Adam, great videos on the Victron inverter. I would like you to do a video on ess back feeding into the grid.

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks! I do not have an interconnection agreement with my utility company and these Victron inverters are not UL listed. I do plan on looking at ESS at some point, but with the attempt to not backfeed the grid at all.

[@cgutowski471]

Another great video. Seems you are getting into more automation and other topics because you’re not fighting inverter issues any longer.

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks Chris! Yeah it’s amazing how much other stuff you can get into when your not constantly fighting issue…

[@YamahaYZFR6RJ05]

Amazing video! Thank you so much, this helped me a lot. I´m planning to run the new GUI-2 (which looks just awesome) in the future in my camper. Would it still be possible to have all 6 relays working after upgrading to GUI-2? I read somewhere, that GUI Mods will not work with the new version and that Kevin is not planning to continue his work on the GUI Mods. Cheers from Germany

[@AdamDeLay07]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment! I hadn't heard about GUI-2. Looks like it's gonna be the next UI update for Venus OS. Looking forward to taking a look at it! I would imagine if the new update has a lot of the things Kevin put in GuiMods, there's really no need to update it. To my knowledge, the functionality has always been there, GUI Mods just made it accessible through the dashboard. Ultimately it's going to be based on if the controls are added to GUI-2 or not. Take care!

[@YamahaYZFR6RJ05]

@@AdamDeLay07 thank you for your answer. My camper is stored away at my dads place for the winter so I can't test it myself for the next 2-3 month. Maybe it would be a good video idea to check this out. 😁

[@AdamDeLay07]

@@YamahaYZFR6RJ05 Now that I know it's there, I might add it to my list. I'll have to take a look first at what's currently unsupported.

[@Paul_______]

How do I reverse a relay? When my switch in the screen is off the relay is on. Only relay 1 lets me change normally open or closed. Other 4 relays don't have the option in the screen. I've been trying to figure this out all day

[@AdamDeLay07]

You just have to switch the wires around on the relay from normally closed to normally open or visa versa.

[@Paul_______]

@AdamDeLay07 I wasn't sure if there would be an issue with the pi constantly energizing the relay for months if I did that

[@AdamDeLay07]

@@Paul_______ I would just verify with the specific relay you end up using. My use cases always had the relay off until I needed to trigger something, which was always a short trigger.

[@Paul_______]

@AdamDeLay07 that's it. Turns out my relay is low active so the relay is on when it has no signal. Looks like I need an active in high relay

[@pulith5220]

Wow thanks for this great help. I am going to order raspberry expansion 8ch board. Hope it would work.

[@AdamDeLay07]

Good luck and have fun!

[@pulith5220]

@@AdamDeLay07 hi Adam. I tried to program using the assistant like you did without pulling wires since am awaiting for the hat for raspi. The problem is the inverter works fine as along as the mk3 cable is connected. It don't pull power from the grid but as soon as I pull out the mk3 cable it uses the grid.

[@AdamDeLay07]

@@pulith5220 are you using any other assistants? If not, you could try using the Virtual Switch option.

[@pulith5220]

@@AdamDeLay07 no I am not using any other assistance. Let me check VS

[@pulith5220]

Can I pick your mind abit. The below is how I put the settings for assistant Program relay Use general flag Set relay ON When SOC lower than 15% Program relay 2 Use general flag Set relay off When soc higher than 50% General flag Use general flag to ignore ac It's keeps charging. I tried stopping my batteries from discharging to see if the inverters would on from grid it didn't. Am I missing something here. I think when I off discharge from bms the inverter was on Inverting and not on ON. because as soon as I put to ON it tries to charge my batteries.