The VE.Bus Smart dongle is two products in one:
First of all it is the Bluetooth accessory for our range of inverter/chargers: Multis, MultiPlusses, MultiPlus-II, MultiGrid, MultiGrid-II, Quattros, and our series of Phoenix Inverters with a VE.Bus port. When installed, use the VictronConnect App to monitor operation and also operate the system: change the input current limit as well as switch between Off, On and Charger-only modes.
Secondly it can work as a Voltage- and Temperature-sense device for the inverter/charger. This works with all models.
For monitoring, the device is a great alternative in caravans, smaller yachts and motor homes for which the Color Control GX or Venus GX are a step too far.
When used with Multi- inverter/chargers the dongle provides on-battery temperature and voltage sensing capabilities - allowing compensation for possible cable losses that can occur during charging and discharging. Temperature sensing allows accurate temperature-compensation during battery charge cycles. The dongle is, at present, the only way to add an “on-battery” sensing capability to the MultiPlus-II models, if they are not also connected to a GX device and CANbus battery.
The dongle can be used in systems with or without a GX device - such as the CCGX. In systems with a GX device, and another source of temperature and voltage data (eg from a CANbus battery), the CCGX data will override temperature and voltage information from the dongle. In this role the dongle will still provide live-information via its VictronConnect interface; and it will provide firmware updates without requiring an internet connection.
When the dongle is used in systems that do not have a GX device, the dongle's voltage and temperature data becomes the primary source of that information and can be used by other connected devices for voltage compensation.
In systems with a Multiplus-II, dongle, and GX device, but no other source of temperature and voltage, the data from the dongle will also be used.
At this time, the VE. Bus Smart dongle cannot send its temperature and voltage data as part of a VE. Smart network.
The VE.Bus Smart dongle is able to sense battery temperature in two ways: The default method is the dongle's onboard temperature sensor. When the dongle is mounted directly onto the battery case (using its adhesive attachment) it will sense the battery temperature directly from the battery casing. The second method - which provides improved battery temperature sensing - is available by using an optional battery-terminal mounted sensor. When this sensor is connected, the default sensor is overridden and the dongle will use this method instead.
