Victron Cerbo GX / Globallink 520

D

dexmot74

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Messages
119
Location
Langley, BC
Fluid Motion Model
R-29 S
Vessel Name
No Worries
MMSI Number
316050863
If you have the Cerbo GX what's your thoughts on it?

I already have the Victron MPPT 100/30, MultiPlus II and a BMV 712.

So curious if it would be worth adding?

Thanks!
 
I have one.
If you don't have 24x7 Internet on the boat, personally I wouldn't think it'd be worth the investment.

I installed a Peplink MAX BR1 Pro 5G router with a Peplink Mobility 42G LTE/WIFI antenna. This gives me 24x7 Internet on the boat for only 6 watts and it works under a covered roof (covered silp), for $50/mo. I also run Blink security cameras on this setup.

My Victron MPPT Solar controller and BMV-712 both connect to the CerboGX which then connects to the boat Internet. I also added a temp sensor for the cockpit and one for the hot water heater.

On my phone at home, via the VRM app, I'm able to see battery state of charge, voltage, solar power, and other variables.
I'll know if shorepower was disconnected when my battery goes from 100% SOC to something less than 100% and it says "discharging".

Using this setup I've also been able to figure out the actual daily wattage usage of both refrigerators, and how long to run my hot water heater when under way and how long it will retain hot water over time.

But to get all this data requires Internet connectivity so the CerboGX can report to the VRM cloud dashboard.

I've shared publicly my VRM dashboard so you can see what kind of data it'll show. Look at like, the past 90 days.
https://vrm.victronenergy.com/installation/110844/share/9c31bd69

Without Internet connectivity I don't see the value of a CerboGX on my boat.
Without Internet, it's just a fancy gauge board to show you solar and battery monitor, which you can already see in the Victron app on your phone while onboard your boat.

Additional info about the CerboGX I have published here:
https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/boat-upgrades/victron-cerbogx
 
Yah I was curious about the internet thing. I could have 24/7 internet if I wanted to.

Good to know there is no real advantage beyond the "remote" capabilities vs what I currently have.
 
If you don't have 24x7 internet and probably won't, get a Victron Globallink 520.

https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-sys ... allink-520

I wrote a review of it in another post. It will connect to your Victron MPPT, Shunt, and some other devices and upload the data to Victron's VRM.

I think it's about $220 for the device, with 5 years of cellular connectivity, so no extra internet fees.
 
croakz":uxqcwfbp said:
If you don't have 24x7 internet and probably won't, get a Victron Globallink 520.

https://www.victronenergy.com/panel-sys ... allink-520

I wrote a review of it in another post. It will connect to your Victron MPPT, Shunt, and some other devices and upload the data to Victron's VRM.

I think it's about $220 for the device, with 5 years of cellular connectivity, so no extra internet fees.
Click to expand...
I looked at that and had high hopes but if I remember correctly it doesn't support the MultiPlus inverters.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
 
dexmot74":2zf7d7tv said:
I looked at that and had high hopes but if I remember correctly it doesn't support the MultiPlus inverters.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's not a replacement for the Cerbo GX. So I can't monitor my inverter usage, but it does let me monitor my solar and battery usage & charging through the shunt. Which helps for cheap remote monitoring. You can even get Ruuvi sensors for temperature monitoring.

What I really want is a way to monitor my shore power usage, but I haven't found anything easy for that.
 
croakz":2sa54vnc said:
Yeah, it's not a replacement for the Cerbo GX. So I can't monitor my inverter usage, but it does let me monitor my solar and battery usage & charging through the shunt. Which helps for cheap remote monitoring. You can even get Ruuvi sensors for temperature monitoring.

What I really want is a way to monitor my shore power usage, but I haven't found anything easy for that.
Click to expand...

Did you have to get an external antenna to get good reception? Curious how this performs tucked away in a Lazarette.
 
Love the Cerbo GX. Among the cute tricks:
- remote access to a "console" screen - perfect emulation of the actual display's multiple pages.
- helm control of Victron inverter modes (off/on/charger-only passthrough) - no more lazarette-diving.
- remote (!) control " " " " "
- it picks up (BT) & reports Ruuvi temperature gauges, local or remote. Obviates the Ruuvi Gateway (WiFi bridge).
- there's an officially-tolerated hack permitting your own splash page design (boat name logo).
- entirely self-installable.

/tmm
 
dexmot74":vk62bpun said:
Did you have to get an external antenna to get good reception? Curious how this performs tucked away in a Lazarette.
Click to expand...

I had no problem running it in my port side lazarette with no external antennas.
 
croakz":7f1f2jt1 said:
dexmot74":7f1f2jt1 said:
Did you have to get an external antenna to get good reception? Curious how this performs tucked away in a Lazarette.
Click to expand...

I had no problem running it in my port side lazarette with no external antennas.
Click to expand...

I just ordered a 520...you cost me money :lol:
 
$216 for 5 years seems like good money. Also it now connects to ruvi temp monitors. So a pretty compelling solution for non internet connected boats.
 
Cutwater28GG":a9sadxve said:
$216 for 5 years seems like good money. Also it now connects to ruvi temp monitors. So a pretty compelling solution for non internet connected boats.
Click to expand...

As much as I thought it was cool to look at Victron VRM online and see my solar, battery levels, and usage, the Ruuvi monitoring probably was the most useful. This was my first winter with the boat and I had sensors in the engine bay, the starboard locker, and in the cabin to tell me if I needed to worry about freezing temps.
 
croakz":341docow said:
Cutwater28GG":341docow said:
$216 for 5 years seems like good money. Also it now connects to ruvi temp monitors. So a pretty compelling solution for non internet connected boats.
Click to expand...

As much as I thought it was cool to look at Victron VRM online and see my solar, battery levels, and usage, the Ruuvi monitoring probably was the most useful. This was my first winter with the boat and I had sensors in the engine bay, the starboard locker, and in the cabin to tell me if I needed to worry about freezing temps.
Click to expand...

Yah I ordered 2 Ruuvi as well. Remote temp of engine area and inside will be very useful for winter.
 
Where did those with the Victron 520 mount the main unit?
Did the built in antenna provide adequate cell coverage, or did you install the optional external antenna?
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the 520.
 
I have the GlobalLink 520 and it works great! Its mounted under my flybridge helm and connected to the fuse block. Its nice to know what's going on with all the victron devices on the boat, which it connects to via bluetooth. I have the external antenna, which I found on amazon for about $5.
 
I have my Globallink mounted behind the panels in the cave below the battery switches. No remote antenna and it works great. Run 3 Ruuvi sensors, between them and knowing the state of charge, provides a lot of peace of mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I am assuming that with the GlobalLink you do not see the devices on the VRM tab in the App and that's only for the CerboGX?
 
On our R31 I mounted the global link 520 in the starboard lazarette. It is mounted next to the MPPT solar controller. I opted to use a cable to connect the controller and global link. Plus I ran the 2nd cable to the victron battery monitor that is mounted next to the Webasto controller.
The built in ant works great. I have been able to access the global link 520 anywhere we have been in western Washington and in Canada.
 
Mike&Sarah":25a154f6 said:
On our R31 I mounted the global link 520 in the starboard lazarette. It is mounted next to the MPPT solar controller. I opted to use a cable to connect the controller and global link. Plus I ran the 2nd cable to the victron battery monitor that is mounted next to the Webasto controller.
The built in ant works great. I have been able to access the global link 520 anywhere we have been in western Washington and in Canada.
Click to expand...

Accessing it via what? The VRM Portal or the Android/iOS App?
 
dexmot74":1vgvs34g said:
Mike&Sarah":1vgvs34g said:
On our R31 I mounted the global link 520 in the starboard lazarette. It is mounted next to the MPPT solar controller. I opted to use a cable to connect the controller and global link. Plus I ran the 2nd cable to the victron battery monitor that is mounted next to the Webasto controller.
The built in ant works great. I have been able to access the global link 520 anywhere we have been in western Washington and in Canada.
Click to expand...

Accessing it via what? The VRM Portal or the Android/iOS App?
Click to expand...

Yes using VRM Portal to access the GL520 while away from the boat
We use the victron iOS app when on the boat.
 
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