Victron VenusOS & Raspberry Pi | Install Relay Board and setup

Cerbo GX does allow you to connect Relays and use automations to trigger them. Since the Raspberry Pi is limited to its USB interfaces I want to try a Relay Board to connect to the Raspberry Pi and see if it works with VenusOS and what we need to configure.
Copy & Paste Commands:
1. Command:
mv /etc/venus/gpio_list /etc/venus/gpio_list.old
then you can create the new file with:
2. Command:
nano /etc/venus/gpio_list
And you should then copy the entire script from the user "itsme" he/she posted in a previous post under the same link! (copy the "code" and with right click in putty you can paste it) - link below
Then do the following to save the newly created file.
Instruction Source:
community.victronenergy.com/q...
Victron VRM Portal: vrm.victronenergy.com/
Victron Professional: professional.victronenergy.com/
Affiliate links:
KEYESTUDIO 5V DCAC 4-Channel Relay
amzn.to/42bbtQg
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Starter Kit
amzn.to/3Lb3Tig
Raspberry Pi 7 inch Capacitive Touch Screen
amzn.to/3O2VcJT
Victron Energy VE.Direct to USB Interface
amzn.to/2TbCEx4
Power Supply Raspberry DC-DC 12V to 5V 3A Micro USB Converter Voltage Step Down
amzn.to/2UE3Ftf
Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Case
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SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC UHS-I Card with Adapter
amzn.to/3hArEBJ
WEIZE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
amzn.to/3Llfuev
Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 100Ah
amzn.to/3dgngWO
Victron Energy Smart Battery Sense
amzn.to/3wXIdOp
Victron Energy SmartShunt
amzn.to/35Ufo9C
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT
amzn.to/3vVpWzF
Victron Energy Smart Battery Protect
amzn.to/3gV6E9q
Victron Energy VE.Direct to USB Interface
amzn.to/3jnvEaS
8mm 5/16“ Copper Core Nickel-Plated Terminal
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Cable Lug Crimping Tool
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Timecodes
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Two steps needed
02:59 - 1. Step: Connect Hardware
05:24 - 2. Step: Software (VenusOS) configuration
09:15 - It works!
10:29 - Configure VenusOS display to 4 Relays
12:32 - Outro

[@fldutch]

Thx 4 the video - been searching for an alternative method to switch on my phoenix smart charger to give my ESS some extra charging power when dynamic power prices are low :). So going into all the other videos to check for your experience :).

[@fourdoorcoupe4170]

Wow thank you for this video! I just learned yesterday that I can use my spare Pi4 with venusOS and got it installed last night and setup with the VRM portal. I have a full solar setup and LifePo4 bank in my sprinter van with a generic shunt and now I have a victron shunt on order. I'll ordered the ruuvitag to connect to venusOS and monitor temps from my phone since most of the dedicated wifi thermostats don't report in real time to the android apps. I will see if I can get the generator start function to work, and I'm hoping my mini split has some I/O on the main board to tap into. I will also see how the relays work with the DC linear actuators for my solar rack. What a rabbit hole this turned into but its so much fun! Thanks again for such a clear and precise video! Cheers!

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Thanks for your feedback and motivation towards the Victron world - and my videos ;-)

[@fredstephens6793]

I have found your videos to very concise and on target maybe you could create the following videos: 1. Overview of all the subprojects that are installable for the RPI? 2. Installing Node-Red host in the large image RPI image 3. MQTT integration (local not cloud) 4. CAN support, with a sub emphasis on RV CAN? 5. Nodes for Node-Red to allow simulation or integrating non Victron Inverters/Chargers or Solar chargers into Venus OS/VRM tracking. 6. Anyway to have the display switch to a web-browser to access Home Assistant GUI or Node-Red generated GUI? Hey, I know that it’s a big list. Just some things that I have been noodling on.

[@steveo_6930]

Super, das sieht so einfach aus

[@user-ross-99]

Thanks Tobi - I'm thinking about adding some relays (I live on a narrow boat on the UK canals) for enabling and disabling Orion B2B charger when it's a sunny day and there's no point in using extra diesel to charge the LiFePO4s, and switching on diesel central heating from Node RED. I also want to set up a couple of rules for mains charging when on shore power, etc. All good fun!

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

That sounds great! I have not used Node Red yet since I think I do not have a use case as of now. But the relays are great so far and it was easy enough to enable them on the Raspberry Pi :-) We will see where this is heading - I am happy about other ideas/comments to explore!

[@user-ross-99]

@@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi Hi again - just a cautionary note! I've just been looking through some of the reviews for the relay board and there is a BIG issue with the specification shown on Amazon. I've commented on a different relay board I've purchased on Amazon in the past which had similar problems. Despite it saying that it can be used to switch 10A at 250V it wouldn't be safe to do so. The relays are capable of switching at these voltages and currents, but the PCB hasn't been designed accordingly and although I would be happy using it to switch 12v signals on my boat, I wouldn't want to risk arcing and possible fires and I probably wouldn't use it for 10A at 12v either. Hope this might help others

[@tiborchren]

Hi, interesting for those who don't have Cerbo to have relays visible in OS Venos. Usually some external relay pcb boards are used, but they are not visible in the OS Venus. I'm thinking of automating the cooling and heating of the batteries according to the temperature of the batteries, and switching fans or heating pads through the relays so that the batteries are always in ideal temperature conditions. Maybe as an extra safety feature it would be good to add a smoke sensor if one of the battery cell fail and starts smoking, then turn on the fans to suck the smoke out through the exhaust somewhere. This function could be simulated with a smoke generator. 😉💨

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Haha, great Idea ;) the fan function i thought about too. Let me do some research ;)

[@cameronbennier]

I thought the 6 or so input pins were still available...im going to play around with some of the possible inputs that I might be able you use in my installation

[@5nowChain5]

Coukd have just used a double strip extender or 2 to raise the pins up enough to take the relay board.

[@MrAbloem]

Hi, great video. I am newbee at Venus OS. I would like to stop and start charging on SOC value coming from my JK-BMS wich is available in my Venus OS. Looking for some tips..... The relay is on its way from Ali at the moment.

[@TheonenonlyGraffy]

Would like ro use it for my Electric water heater. Maybe ad a temp monitor?

[@Ryan-nd3zh]

Under settings/relay the manual says there’s a polarity function. I need to set change the open close of the relay but don’t see this function. Can’t remember if it’s there before adding the relays but it’s not there now. Does this script somehow overwrite this function?

[@kamsiu7342]

Love to see if node-red can control the relay. I am thinking you can shut down some 3rd party inverter with it.

[@sergiomu8922]

Hi Tobi, do you have any news about last release of CERBO 3.21 and external Relay Board, remoteGpio doesn't still work so in not possible to see more of the 2 internal relay of Cerbo

[@rupeshrathod8123]

hello tobi, nice tutorial. i need to install ct sensors to view my grid and inverter amps on pi benus os. can you do that ? thank you

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Hey Rupesh, I'm doing some research on this.

[@bergkoen]

Hi, great video !! My relais work the other way around, on = off and off = on. How can I fix this?

[@rBennich]

On the relays it should say NC or NO. NC means normally closed, NO means normally open. Putting the output lead into the opposite connector should sovle the problem. I'm guessing.

[@bergkoen]

@@rBennich thanks, but that's not what I mean. The relays default are activated when I boot up the Raspberry. I would like them to be default off (NO) instead of activated (NC). Then I can use NO instead of NC.

[@rBennich]

@@bergkoen After watching the video, it looks like you could switch polarity of the relays from the OS, if that helps.

[@perepoveda1926]

Hi, do you think there is any possibility to have the relays far from the Raspberry Pi, in the same LAN and switch them remotely? I have the swimming pool in the other side of the land where is the solar installation and I would like to switch on the pump when the battery is full...

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

I did not look at this option as of now but isn't it easier having a long wire going from the relay to the pool pump instead of the entire relay board?

[@user-vi5vm1ob3y]

Would this install work for PI 4?

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Yes

[@Ryan-nd3zh]

Only two relays showed up. I followed your vid. Any ideas?

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Did you get the relay board with 3 or 4 relays on it? I would assume the gpio_list file needs to be adjusted. Did you adjust it to match the pins or change anything?

[@Ryan-nd3zh]

@@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi I’m about as green at this as one can be but I think I figured it out. I have an 8 relay board but when it came it didn’t come with a female to female ribbon so I was loading the script before physical installing the board. The two relays I believe is likely a default and hoping when I connect the relays the 8 will appear. I did edit the script in nano for 2 additional relays.

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

okay, might be possible, keep me posted!

[@Ryan-nd3zh]

I don’t see the display with the 6 relays.I’m running v3. I never installed the guimod in the first part of that instructions in the link. Could this be the problem? If so would you mind doing a video installing this guimod?

[@tobisreallifeskillswithtobi]

Hey Ryan, I don't think the guimod will solve this. I did activate it in this video for example: studio.kzbin.infoIGZdpnUt59k/edit I assume you copied the gpio_list one to one? Did you install the RpiGuiSetup with the setuphelper or did you only follow my video step by step?