Victron monitoring solution, Venus, on Raspberry

Updated 2022-09-18 !

Victron have a state-of-the-art monitoring solution used by the GX products. It can monitor their other system components such as inverter/chargers, solar chargers, shunts, and batteries both local and remote all over the world.

If you have a smaller Victron solution it is nice to know that the same software, Venus OS(VOS), can run on a Raspberry Pi(RPi) instead of the more expensive and versatile GX products.

Hardware
There are some limitations to which RPi hardware that works and these are listed here together with info on how to install the VOS image.

VOS install

As per 2022-09-12, Venus OS v2.90(described here), there are 2 Venus images to choose from;

• Venus OS
• Venus OS Large. 

Using the Large image will add the two features Node-Red and Signal K.

• For a RPi 2/3 download, VOS, "venus-image-raspberrypi2.wic.gz" from the FTP site. For the raspberrypi4, go up one folder and select the "raspberrypi4" subfolder. (VOS Large => "venus-image-large-raspberrypi2.wic.gz")
• I used a "Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2" and installed this image, with the Raspberry Pi Imager, to a SD card. "Choose OS => Use custom" 
• Insert the SD card into the RPi, connect the Ethernet port to your LAN and connect the power.
• If you want to use the RPi headless, point your browser to http://venus.local where you find the Remote Console(RC)
• If you have plugged in a display to the RPi HDMI port here is how to configure it
• The VictronConnect app(VC), for different OS:s, which lets you get live status, update firmware and configure Victron products, is found here
• If your RPi have a BlueTooth interface, like the mentioned RPi 3, just scan your environment, with the VC app, and connect to the RPi with six zeros(0)
• The Victron Remote Management(VRM) portal is a free service provided by Victron Energy to remotely monitor electrical equipment all over the world
• Register at the VRM portal and add your RPi, as a Venus GX, with the ID from "RC => Settings => VRM online portal => VRM Portal ID"
• If you installed VOS Large you can enable SK or NR via ”Settings => Venus OS Large features”. SK is available at "http://venus.local:3000" or via VRM
• Please note that if you are using SK, VOS Large, you can install NR as a SK plugin and will get the specific SK nodes.

Remote Console via WEB-browser

Additional info

• Connect a Victron SmartShunt and VE.Direct cables
  
• Connect a VE.Bus or VE.Can product
• Venus GX manual
  
• Victron VRM portal, getting started
  
• Victron OpenSource Info
  
• VOS large, adding support for Signal K(SK) and NodeRed(NR)
• Victron Community
  
• Signal K plugin connecting to Venus/GX product
• Venus OS root access

Connect to an external BMS

Serial interface

If you want to connect your BMS to any GX device or a RPi(running VOS), Lous Van Der Walt have done a great job making a driver for these BMS types.

A video in the matter, from Off-Grid Garage, is found here

CAN interface

"kwindrem" have done the great job for the CAN interface.

The video from Off-Grid Garage for Seplos BMS is found here.

Instructions for installing the Waveshare CAN hat.

VOS Large install before v2.90

So info below is for using releases < v2.90 !

• Having a standard VOS, < v2.90, installed
• Format a USB stick, as FAT, and download the latest "venus-swu-2-raspberrypi2.....wu" file from Dropbox
• Copy the file to the stick and insert the stick into the RPi
• With your browser open RC and go to "Settings => Firmware => Install firmware from SD/USB => Check for firmware on SD/USB => Press to check"
• On the next row you will see "Firmware found => Press to install v2.nn-large-30"
• Click on it and it will change to "Installing v2.nn...." and after while you will loose connection during the RPi reboot
• Connect again and check the install with ”Settings => Firmware => Firmware version”
• Via ”Settings => Venus OS Large features” you can enable SK or NR. SK is available at "http://venus.local:3000" or via VRM

Please note that if you are using SK you can install NR as a SK plugin and will get the specific SK nodes.

Upgrading VOSL can only be done via a new ".wu" file !!