Monitor Water + LPG tanks Wirelessly on the Victron Cerbo GX with Mopeka Pro Check Sensors

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[@rosslukeman]

Get the Ultimate Van Power Cheat Sheet: www.rosslukeman.com/vanpower

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

This is awesome because I just got a set of Mopeka sensors two weeks ago for our travel trailer. Thanks Ross!

[@rosslukeman]

Good call, they seem like great sensors. Thanks for tuning in!

[@mikenelson1387]

Thank you Ross for the great instructional video.

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks Mike, I appreciate you tuning in!

[@kcwax6633]

Really a nicely put together video. Done at a good pace and easy to follow. Thank you.

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you!

[@spev7989]

Thank you, made the setup painless.

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome, glad that helped!

[@DeekJohnson]

Great job...just inherited Victron setup

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you! Not a bad inheritance!

[@paulroesner]

Keep up the good work. Easy to understand w/ presentation!

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you!

[@gsansoucie]

Thanks just got my Mopeka propane sensors to show up properly on our Cerbo GX screen now. The CM stuff was the key.

[@MadDogGiraffe]

Thanks for this, went and bought one for the BBQ in the garden, the kids (13 and 25yrs 😂) never let me know when they have used it and it is low, now I will never go to the BBQ and find no gas! Your a life saver!

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome! Great to hear this helped you stay one step ahead of them!

[@joecool509]

I recently added the same to my setup. percentages arent correlating at low level so will try recalibration. this is a big improvement in capability. one stop shopping.

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome Joe, yes I could see the need to dial in the calibration as you use it and see that the numbers aren't quite right. Thanks for tuning in!

[@ramonathon5598]

great video thanks! was thinking I had to install the gx tank 140 plus sensors etc then found this video and it made my life so much easier! thanks a lot!

[@rosslukeman]

Hey, awesome to hear this helped you out! I know there are a lot of options when it comes to setting up sensors and it's not always that straightforward. Thanks for tuning in!

[@landmark_adventures]

Incredibly well done video. Thanks!

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you!

[@westmc45]

Thanks for this I just set this up for my two propane tanks on my catamaran

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome, glad that helped with your project, thanks for tuning in!

[@TexasFlyer2]

Nice, clear video! Thanks

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks Alan!

[@jonathanneethling]

Guess what arrived in the post today !! And hopefully I get my bush trailer back at the end off the week… It’s Victron system has been completely upgraded. Thanks so much for the great tutorials 🇿🇦✌🏻 ( bit of a brag, but if you KZbin Bushwakka Fargo, you’ll see my trailer. She’s 1 of 1, and will soon be available in the USA 🇺🇸)

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Jonathan, great to hear the videos have been helpful! Enjoy the sensors, I checked out the Bushwakka Fargo, looks like a cool rig!

[@Bob9999]

I'm not sure but on the Mopeka sensor choosing centimeters may also send celsius info to your Cerbo GX.

[@mjbarran]

Great video, I added both tanks..I see them on the Cerbo dashboard but not on the remote console on a "overview" page.

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you. Maybe reboot the Cerbo?

[@mjbarran]

@@rosslukeman I didn't have the display selected for the propane. Thank you for your reply.

[@LeeH-Ranger83]

Ross, great video. Can I assume you would go through the sames step TWICE if you had 2x 40 lb propane tanks with 2x Mopeka monitors?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Lee, thanks for tuning in! Good to hear you enjoyed the video. On doing the process twice, yes, you'd need to calibrate each sensor in the Mopeka app for its individual tank, and then locate it and name it in the Cerbo, repeating this process for the second sensor/tank. Hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by-

[@katatonos1]

"as the floater moves in the tank" lol

[@fredyramonduartegonzalez362]

Donde puedo comprar sensor de temperatura ambiente, temperatura superficial, humedad y radiación solar compatibles con el cerbo GX? soy de Paraguay, saludos, excelente explicación

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Great video! Thank you for your help. Question, does the LP data show up on the victron app? Or only on the screen?

[@rosslukeman]

Hey Joe, thanks for tuning in, glad that was helpful! To pull up the Mopeka's data on the VictronConnect app, it does not come up directly, as only Victron devices connect to the app. However, one of those devices is the Cerbo GX. So if you click on the Cerbo and hit "remote console," you essentially pull up the Cerbo's screen on your phone, and the Mopeka is there in the device list with all other devices connected to the Cerbo. Of course, it's Bluetooth so you have to be within 20 or so feet of the Cerbo, at which point it's almost easier to walk over and look at the screen. Hope that helps!

[@stevestedman3963]

I have the Mopeka tank sensors on my propane tank. If I mounted it on my fresh water tank I would have to drop the underbelly to change the battery in the sensor. I don’t think I would want to go thru that.

[@johnplyler7054]

Another good video would be one on the Wakespeed WS-500 regulator.

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for the suggestion John, I will keep that in mind! Thanks for tuning in again!

[@ianbishop9096]

Hi Ross. Do you believe the bluetooth would work on a sailboat from the gas locker to inside the saloon, approx 5m. I have the TP Link booster already. Cerbo and bottles would be in fibre glass cabinets. Many thanks

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Ian, great question, but I really can't make this call. I would guess that you'd probably be fine. I would check the Mopekaiot.com site and see what they say about range. You may just have to try it, or switch to the Safiery.com sensors, their LPG sensors are hardwired into the Cerbo. That video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2isn5VooL16msk Thanks for tuning in!

[@craigmarshall5896]

Great video Ross, but being a Brit, and we can have a childish sense of humour I PMSL at 1:50, when you started talking about black water tanks, and floaters! In the UK 'floaters' in that context are, well you can work it out....... Like to check out your videos, so for me informative and funny!

[@gl7286]

Ross, your KZbin videos are great. Thank you. A question on tank monitors - any thoughts on using the newer Mopeka Pro universal sensors for other tanks (water, gray, etc) with the Cerbo as opposed to the SeeLevel sensors you have also covered in these videos? I'm going to be adding sensors to the tanks on a boat and can go either way. Mopeka would have ease of installation on its side. Cost may be a push if the Seelevel is used only with the Cerbo, and not their standalone gauge. Unsure how accuracy and reliability might compare. Any thoughts? Maybe worth a new video with a comparison? 😉

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, good questions, thanks for tuning in. The ultrasonic Mopeka sensors may be more granular and go up by 1% at a time. Depending on your tank height, SeeLevel can move at 2-3% intervals. So that is a difference, maybe not worth worrying about. Also I could not do LPG with SeeLevel, they don't seem to have sensors for those tanks. But in general hardwiring your stuff and sticking it to the tank is going to be more robust. Batteries and magnets for everything is less stable, especially in a moving vehicle. So those are some thoughts, no right answer on this one. Hope that helps-

[@gl7286]

Thanks Ross@@rosslukeman

[@rosslukeman]

@@gl7286 Hey, glad to help. Quick edit: Victron just added the Mopeka Pro Check Universal to the list of compatible devices. Here is the manual with all sensors listed: www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Cerbo_GX/en/connecting-supported-non-victron-products.html#UUID-18d8a141-194d-f582-64ab-268f5072dfad

[@dcraigslist5243]

Great video! How many total tanks can the Cerbo GX show between wires and wireless? Not that I have that many tanks, but I could see there being a limit.

[@rosslukeman]

I'm not really sure, I would say it should be able to do at least 16. It doesn't display them all at once, and they are categorized by type (i.e. fuel, waste water, fresh water, oil, etc.)

[@david1zehr845]

I wish they had come up with this interface sooner. It would have saved me buying a tank 140 to use with the Safiery sensor (which I haven't purchased yet). I had a Mopeka in my last build. Wireless sounds better than wires to me, so I will probably put the tank 140 on the shelf and use the Mopeka. Is one better than the other? My last question is how small of a propane tank can the Mopeka monitor? I have a small propane tank (11lb 2.6 gallon) since I only use it for my Truma hot water heater. Let me know when you get a chance. I appreciate you keeping up on all of the latest.

[@rosslukeman]

Hi David, the Safiery has the advantage of being hardwired and doesn't rely on batteries that will eventually need replacement. The small propane tank is not a problem for any of these sensors, as you will simply put a full tank and tell the Cerbo that whatever the sensor is reading at that moment is the 100% (tank full) reading. The ultrasonic sensors (either brand) tend to have limits on how large of a tank, but not how small. As long as the signal reaches, it will measure it. I hope that helps!

[@timothylinn]

@@rosslukeman IIRC, the Safiery doesn't work on horizontal tanks so that would be another differentiator.

[@rosslukeman]

@@timothylinn good point, the Mopeka is suited for the horizontal tanks, thanks for adding this clarification and for tuning in!

[@ryansessions6278]

great video. Before I splurge on a cerbo gx, can you do a video testing with other bluetooth sensors?? specifically the victron smart battery shunt?? I'd like to consolidate all sensors into a cerbo gx screen rather than an arbitrary list of stats in the victron connect app (I wish victron connect would show the sensors in a nice UI like cerbo gx screen)...anyways, I don't want to run a separate cable from camper battery box inside the camper just for this info when I can use victronconnect....also, I have a spare lithium battery that I sometimes add to my camper when boondocking and since it's removeable (by anderson plug), I don't want to run a wire for it either Thanks!

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for checking out my videos. I have covered all (most?) bluetooth sensors and other peripherals for the Cerbo on this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLWoQHaxPSGfwdZif5uZSCAES_RLFR3_xJ On the Bluetooth items Victron makes, it should be noted that they're all hardwired to the Cerbo. The Bluetooth is only used to connect to your phone, but they cannot report their data to the Cerbo over Bluetooth. A small detail but worth noting I think. I hope you find the playlist useful. Thanks again for tuning in!

[@Wfgross]

Is there a method to define a non-cube shape for the water or gray water tank?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Warren, so there is, but it's "complicated." Victron has this setting for hardwired tank monitors, such as resistive tank senders such as the KUS shown in this video, that would show up under "Analog inputs" and then "Tank level input 1" etc. There's a setting called "Custom shape." However I do not find this under these Bluetooth sensors. Perhaps in a future firmware update. However the Safiery ultrasonic sensor I reviewed does come in under "Analog inputs" and you can see the "Custom shape" setting in this video of that sensor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2isn5VooL16msk It is important to note that Safiery has other sensors that work on water pressure, etc, but they come into the Cerbo the same and are all voltage-based sensors, like the one in that video. Hope that helps, thanks!

[@user-lq2xc5cx6h]

SeeLevel II 709-BTP3 is now Bluetooth capable. Will the Verbo GX be able to read this instead of needing to use the RV-C cable

[@rosslukeman]

Hi William, good question. The answer unfortunately is no, the SeeLevel Bluetooth edition only talks to their proprietary app. Cerbo uses Bluetooth LE with the Mopeka sensors, and only the sensors shown in this video work at this time (Mopeka Pro Universal has been reported to not work). If the companies do not collaborate on the programming, then it won't work. So as far as SeeLevel, only the sensor shown in my other video will work with the Cerbo or Ekrano GX at this time. Or the Mopeka sensors shown in this video.

[@rasmousein]

It's just USA!! Not all of North America that use f° hehe Thanks for the great video, very well made

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for watching! On the temps, I haven't traveled everywhere in the world, just trying to tell you guys how to change the temperature units in the settings.

[@rmueller3247]

Is there any setup to add the tp link bluetooth booster to the cerbo gx?

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for tuning in. No the TP Link antenna doesn’t require any setup. You just plug it in and supposedly it boosts the Bluetooth reception. Hope that helps!

[@timswave]

Great video. I used it for my water tanks. I bought the LPG Universal Pro sensors and I cant get them to connect. Shows great in Mop app but Cerbo wont find them. Continuous scanning, enable, reboot...nothing.

[@rosslukeman]

Hey thanks for the feedback, yes they came out with the new Universal and I wasn't sure if it was compatible. Seems like it would be but perhaps it's not based on your experience. I just checked and Victron says this in the Cerbo GX manual: Only Mopeka Pro Check-Water and Pro Check-Sensor LPG sensors are supported. Other Mopeka sensors, even if they have Bluetooth, are not supported. I know the new Universal unit takes less power, maybe they changed the communication protocol and that messes up its ability to report to the Cerbo or Ekrano GX. Thanks again for your feedback on this- Ross

[@timswave]

I should've folllowed up after. I too did some review and other posters have said they contacted Mopeka and things have changed. Mopeka says the ball is in Victron's court. I sure hope it gets updated because it seems that is what is now available for purchase. Thx for all the content.@@rosslukeman

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for the heads up on this!

[@LeeScottbetterbounce]

Perfect. Does the water sensor work on a steel tank? Also I didn't know about the inside and outside temp sensors being wireless. Do you have these too please?

[@rosslukeman]

Yes the water sensor works on plastic or metal tanks, I've got a video on the Ruuvi temp sensors here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpvCkoKQfZefhsk Thanks for tuning in!

[@LeeScottbetterbounce]

@@rosslukeman That's amazing! so can I use 1x mopoka on gas bottle 1, 1x mopeka gas bottle 2 and 1x mopeka on water tank? aswell as the 2x ruvvitags for indoor and outdoor temperature on the cerbo gx. really impressed with these 2 vides. hoping i can purchase them as soon as you reply : )

[@rosslukeman]

@@LeeScottbetterbounce Yes all 5 of those sensors would work on the Cerbo GX. Good to hear you're enjoying the videos!

[@jay6.7powerstroke63]

Is there a limit on the amount of bluetooth sensors you can add for tank levels?

[@rosslukeman]

I don't know of a physical limit, I think it will do maybe 100, it will just bog it down and it will start operating with a lag. It will do any reasonable number of sensors with no problem.

[@aubreyj.tennant1123]

Great review! Does the mopeka work for stainless steel fresh/grey tanks.

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Aubrey, they will definitely work with stainless steel tanks, but you will probably need to use the little cage with adhesive that comes with it as the magnets probably won't work on stainless steel. Hopefully the included adhesive works and is not only for plastic. That would be my only question. But in general, the ultrasonic readings should definitely work with your stainless steel tanks.

[@litzdog911]

Excellent video! I have a Victron CCGX v. 2.93 firmware, not Cerbo GX. I don't have the "I/O" on my Settings Menu. Is it possible to add this feature to the CCGX, or does it only support the Cerbo? Thanks!

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Jim, I also have a CCGX but I believe what we are doing today is beyond the era of the CCGX. It was even beyond the Cerbo when that first came out. My first inclination is to add the TP-Link USB 4.0 adapter I showed in this video, into the USB port on the CCGX. That would hypothetically be your Bluetooth antenna to bring those signals into the device. But if you've updated the firmware and you don't have the I/O menu, that is where all of the sensors are located, both wired and wireless, in the menu. So it may be that adding a Bluetooth antenna is useless. The antenna is $10, so you are welcome to try and report back if you will, or ask on the Victron Community forum. Thanks for tuning in!

[@rosslukeman]

I just found this post, this may be what you need, looks like it will work, Mopeka's will work the same as Ruuvi's: community.victronenergy.com/questions/112834/connect-ruuvi-to-ccgx.html

[@litzdog911]

@@rosslukeman Excellent! I will order a Bluetooth dongle and give it a try. Hopefully my CCGX will display the "I/O" Settings option when the dongle is installed. I'll post back after I give it a try.

[@rosslukeman]

@@litzdog911 Awesome, yes I would love to know how it works out, thanks!

[@litzdog911]

@@rosslukeman It works! I added the Kinivo USB Bluetooth Adapter (one of the Victron recommended adapters) to the back of my older CCGX display. My two Mopeka Propane Tank Sensors were immediately discovered, just like what you show in your video. I just posted a video of my installation and setup on my KZbin channel.

[@stevepessy]

Do you happen to know if this works with the smaller sensors? I already use the 024-1001 sensors. I am upgrading my solar and plan on purchasing a Cerbo GX and this would be awesome to add to the interface.

[@rosslukeman]

Hey Steve, great question. I don't believe it will work with the 024-1001 at this time, but here is the full updated list from the Cerbo manual: www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/Cerbo_GX/en/connecting-supported-non-victron-products.html#UUID-18d8a141-194d-f582-64ab-268f5072dfad Hope that helps!

[@tigxs]

Does the Pro sensor have a USB plug to connect via the power bank or throw other power supplies? How long does his battery live? I want to install the sensor on my car's propane tank 70 liters. It is cylindrical and located horizontally. Will this pro version sensor work? Thank you.

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Tigran, thanks for tuning in! As far as the USB plug, no, the sensors do not have any plugs/ports. It's battery power/Bluetooth only. If you get the new Pro Check Universal, they increased the battery life on that one. It should last 2-3 years. It is supposed to work on horizontal tanks. You might get the little plastic cage that also bonds to the tank, to help the magnets. However it's supposed to stay on with only the neodymium magnets it has. Hope that helps! Here is the Pro Check Universal for reference: amzn.to/3WWpkLm and this is the collar if you need one: amzn.to/3R1s4n6

[@TroyD-vo1bz]

Can these also be used with the Pico Simarine system?

[@rosslukeman]

No the Pico doesn't have Bluetooth, so it can't work with these wireless Bluetooth sensors.

[@TroyD-vo1bz]

Okay, thanks!

[@rosslukeman]

@@TroyD-vo1bz You got it, thanks for watching!

[@gjjohnston]

I currently have Firmware version 2.94, I have 2 Mopeka LPG but it only sees one - both side by side. I enabled the one sensor but it doesn't show up in my device list. Any recommendations? Thanks for all the great videos - I've learned a lot from them!!

[@gjjohnston]

Maybe I don't have the Mopeka Pro sensors, they look different - uses the same app

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, yes they explicitly list the "Pro Check" version of the Mopeka sensors as being compatible. I frankly haven't used their other ones, but those aren't listed a viable options with the Cerbo. I'm not sure why, but I suppose the programming is set up to talk to just the "Pro Check" edition. That may be the issue! Thanks for tuning in-

[@user-nl9zm7ll5p]

Hi, does the mopeka LPG sensor work with Venus GX? My off-grid holiday house has app. 15m. distance between my LPG storage and the solar system shed, where the Venus GX is located Too far apart for BT?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Henning, I'm not sure. Does it have Bluetooth? I see you have a USB port. You could try putting a 15m USB extension cord in that port, and putting a Bluetooth adapter like the TP-Link 4.0 shown in the video, near the LPG storage. You also need VenusOS firmware version 2.90 or later. If it does not work you may need to upgrade to the Cerbo. That is my best guess, thanks for tuning in.

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Henning, I just found this post that references the TP-Link Bluetooth adapter. I looks like it may work on the Venus GX: community.victronenergy.com/questions/112834/connect-ruuvi-to-ccgx.html

[@teodortoshev8386]

Hi everyone, I have a question: 1) I have an LPG tank designed for cars mounted in my RV. It's cylindrical and mounted flat on it's side. How would this sensor work with it, or it is not possible? I pump it with gas directly at the gas station, I cannot take out the tank. Thank you.

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, these are supposed to work with flat tanks on their side. With magnets I might be afraid of them falling off, but they are supposed to work with that kind of tank, as long as it's steel so the magnets work with it. I would give it a shot.

[@journeybeforedestinationov3553]

Great products. I will be purchasing these sensors. Question for you, can the Cerbo GX turn something like a max air fan on and off based on interior temps? If so how can that be done?

[@rosslukeman]

Yes the Cerbo has a low-current 1-amp relay that could trigger a higher-current relay that the fan power runs through. You can set off the Cerbo relay based on temperature sensors. You would just want a bypass wire so you could turn on the fan regardless of what the relay is doing. Great question!

[@kbell101]

@@rosslukeman Do the Maxx Airs have a way to turn on with a relay? Mine requires the remote or by pressing the funky soft button on the fan. Makes me wonder if there is a way to turn on with a relay.

[@rosslukeman]

@@kbell101 That I am not sure about. You can turn power to a device on and off from the Cerbo relay based on temp sensors. Beyond that it would come down to the specific device. You are probably right, the microcontroller inside the Maxxfan would prevent it from doing what you want. It would work with a "dumb" fan that just operates with power/ no power. Hope that helps! You may have to just play around with this setup.

[@journeybeforedestinationov3553]

@@rosslukeman I would just install a second fan that has a traditional on/off switch. I am looking for a way to make a fan go on in my Jeep for my dogs. I already have victron items in the jeep and plan to finish off the system with the Cerbo. I want a way to set the fan to turn on when the jeep starts to get warm. I believe this will do what I need. Thanks1

[@rosslukeman]

@@journeybeforedestinationov3553 Sounds great, good luck with it!

[@sdfaulk01]

Will a Cerbo-S GX work for this?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Scott, yes it will do the Bluetooth sensors such as Mopeka and Ruuvi, and voltage-based sensors with the Tank 140, but you lose all direct inputs for tanks and temperature sensors.

[@tlgibson97]

Do they work on stainless or aluminum water tanks or only plastic?

[@tlgibson97]

Just saw another comment saying they work. I had researched them at one point and it seemed like they wouldn't work.

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for tuning in. Yes they should work on those other tank types, you just may need the little cage with adhesive if the tank is not steel. For more info check out Mopeka.com. Also they have a new type now, the Mopeka Universal that you may want to look into. Victron has also updated their firmware to work with the new Universal model. Hope that helps!

[@DavidBradsherBBG]

Can you use this on a Aluminum propane tanks? Maybe with the ring used for the water tanks, would that work? Great video!

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for tuning in David, no they have a separate one for aluminum tanks, but yes it has something to attach it like the water sensor. You can order it from them directly, mine shipped the next day: www.mopekaiot.com/product/mopeka-pro-check-sensor-aluminum-lpg-cylinders-w-collar

[@CampHikeSki]

Do you need to enable the external USB Bluetooth adapter when plugging it into the USB port on the GX, or does it automatically recognize it and work? Thanks for the great video!

[@rosslukeman]

In my recollection it just recognizes the Bluetooth Adapter, I don't recall turning it on or anything. Thanks for tuning in!

[@powderpuff1964]

Victron Cerbo GX can yiu extend lead from unit with usb and funny plug on it many thanks colin

[@rosslukeman]

Hey Colin, yes you should be able to do that. I assume you're talking about the USB Bluetooth adapter. Yes you can put that on the end of a USB extension cable if you need to pick up a signal far from the Cerbo itself.