Ski Bum Truck V2.0, F450 Rough Road RV

[java]

Old ones coming out

New insulation, I had a piece under the old ones, but it was thin and crushed over time. 1" of XPS used this time.

The old cases showed a little rub wear between them, nothing really to worry about, but I added a little protection anyway. Old inner tubes, should give just a hint of space/cushion

And all in place!

And wired up. Need a bit more wire, and one USB to VE Direct for the victron stuff. I didn't realize you have to leave the head of the BMV in place, I was going to pull it and use the color control only.

 

[java]

Got all the power wiring done. Just need to run control wires (which takes being a contortionist.... ). Plugged it in, no smoke, flipped the breakers on, no smoke. Charger fired up and went to work!

One odd thing, the inverter charger wont pass thru the incoming AC unless its in invert mode?

Added a Big negative post.

And all the power done! Just need to run control wires....

 

[Alloy]

The inverter won't pass thru unless it is turned on.

When there is 2 or more lugs on a terminal flipping the fist one upside down makes adding the next lugs easier.

 

[java]

I am so freaking sore. What idiot designed this *******king truck?!?!?!

48" deep, 9" wide.... My wires have to run at the VERY back edge.... Put both arms over your head, shimmy in, brace feet against other wall, breathe out and push.... Ouch. I am not a small person...

After drilling two holes (because the first one was too small.....) Feed long stiff wire through and try to hit the hole in the upper shelf. Curse repeatedly. But I got it, take one VE direct cable, one power cable, and one ethernet, and hope like hell you can get it back thru the little hole.

Removed the BMV, cut the hole for the Color control, and mounted it.

Remounted the BMV (you need it for the battery calculations, the color control wont talk to the shunt directly....)

And powered it up. No programming. I was exhausted at this point...

Now the annoying part. The color control will not work with the bluetooth dongles.... ******. I guess I will see if I can return the VE to USB I bought.... Stupid. It will work on wifi.... But you have to use their wifi dongle they like. And that's a sh$$it load more setup. I guess I will try to learn some networking..... If I can get on the house wifi from where the truck is parked that might be cool though.... Remote data logging is possible I guess. More to learn.

The inverter won't pass thru unless it is turned on.

When there is 2 or more lugs on a terminal flipping the fist one upside down makes adding the next lugs easier.

Yeah I wish it would pass thru with inverter off. Oh well. Its done.

Yes the bottom terminals are flipped, they are still just big and unruly.

 

[Alloy]

Don't look flipped in the picture....but i just noticed.....is the jumper between the neg power post and the shunt 4/0 or 1/0?

There is one more window you can add that will show the DC power consumption.
Maine Menu - Settings - System Setup- scroll down to HAS DC SYSTEM - turn it on then press enter.

https://www.easy-lms.com/index.php?...ing-color-control-gx/course-34261&language=en

[/URL]

 

[java]

Don't look flipped in the picture....but i just noticed.....is the jumper between the neg power post and the shunt 4/0 or 1/0?

There is one more window you can add that will show the DC power consumption.
Maine Menu - Settings - System Setup- scroll down to HAS DC SYSTEM - turn it on then press enter.

https://www.easy-lms.com/index.php?...ing-color-control-gx/course-34261&language=en

[/URL]

The bottom two 1/0 are flipped.

The black is 4/0. I had one so I used it rather than two more 1/0.

I will have to look at adding the DC draw, always liked that one on the BMV. Like I said, I pulled it in and walked away yesterday. Didn't touch any menus or anything. I don't even know how to turn the inverter on and off yet

 

[Justin Cook]

Now the annoying part. The color control will not work with the bluetooth dongles.... ******. I guess I will see if I can return the VE to USB I bought.... Stupid. It will work on wifi.... But you have to use their wifi dongle they like.

FYI, you can use any wifi dongle; the little nano one Victron recommends isn't made by them and isn't anything special. For many applications I recommend one of the more robust units with an actual physical antenna so that you can still connect even if you're not parked directly in front of your house/other connection point.
Also, you can connect a USB keyboard to the CCGX... doesn't do a whole lot but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to enter your WiFi credentials than using those clicky clicky buttons.

 

[java]

FYI, you can use any wifi dongle; the little nano one Victron recommends isn't made by them and isn't anything special. For many applications I recommend one of the more robust units with an actual physical antenna so that you can still connect even if you're not parked directly in front of your house/other connection point.
Also, you can connect a USB keyboard to the CCGX... doesn't do a whole lot but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to enter your WiFi credentials than using those clicky clicky buttons.

Hmmm I tried a net gear one I had and it would not recognize it....

Thoughts?

I know theirs isn't anything special or made by them.... I ordered one anyway.... 22$

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[Justin Cook]

Hmmm I tried a net gear one I had and it would not recognize it....

Thoughts?

I know theirs isn't anything special or made by them.... I ordered one anyway.... 22$

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Really, that's odd... what version of Venus OS (FW) is your CCGX running? 2.42 is the latest, and I've tried a random bunch from a number of manufacturers on this OS and never encountered one that didn't work. Victron lists 5 different ones that had been tested to work as of version 2.23 (https://www.amazon.com/Asustek-Usb-n14-Adapter-802-11n-300mbit/dp/B00J1BGB2K is one that I've recommended several times due to its range) but make a point that they just stopped testing after the 5th one because they all seemed to work.
Well, the nano one that you've ordered will work fine for you, but if you haven't updated the FW on the CCGX yet, do that as soon as you have a good net connection and then -if you have some curiosity about it- see if that netgear one works afterward. If it doesn't, let me know what model it is? I keep a running (though fairly short) list of things that don't work with Victron kit.

 

[java]

Really, that's odd... what version of Venus OS (FW) is your CCGX running? 2.42 is the latest, and I've tried a random bunch from a number of manufacturers on this OS and never encountered one that didn't work. Victron lists 5 different ones that had been tested to work as of version 2.23 (https://www.amazon.com/Asustek-Usb-n14-Adapter-802-11n-300mbit/dp/B00J1BGB2K is one that I've recommended several times due to its range) but make a point that they just stopped testing after the 5th one because they all seemed to work.
Well, the nano one that you've ordered will work fine for you, but if you haven't updated the FW on the CCGX yet, do that as soon as you have a good net connection and then -if you have some curiosity about it- see if that netgear one works afterward. If it doesn't, let me know what model it is? I keep a running (though fairly short) list of things that don't work with Victron kit.

I have not checked firmware, I will.

It's an older net gear. Probably at least 5 years old



Edit...

Firmware 2.18

And this is the adapter



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[Alloy]

I tried a dongle that was laying around and no go. Then tried to find ones that Victron recommended but found all were sold out for a year so I order the simple dongle. The signal from simple dongle was 40%@100'. Once connected the software updated. I've since upgraded to long range and the signal is 60%@100ft. I have the simple dongle if someone wants it.

Color Control GX: Accessories & Tips - Victron Energy

Update Nov 19th 2018: The latest Wi-Fi dongle compatability info is here: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#internet_connectivity See the section 1.6.2 Wi-Fi USB dongle. Update Jan 4th 2016: Tested Wi-Fi dongles as below, per Victron Live. For further internet connectivity...

www.victronenergy.com

 

[java]

I tried a dongle that was laying around and no go. Then tried to find ones that Victron recommended but found all were sold out for a year so I order the simple dongle. The signal from simple dongle was 40%@100'. Once connected the software updated. I've since upgraded to long range and the signal is 60%@100ft. I have the simple dongle if someone wants it.

Color Control GX: Accessories & Tips - Victron Energy

Update Nov 19th 2018: The latest Wi-Fi dongle compatability info is here: https://www.victronenergy.com/live/ccgx:start#internet_connectivity See the section 1.6.2 Wi-Fi USB dongle. Update Jan 4th 2016: Tested Wi-Fi dongles as below, per Victron Live. For further internet connectivity...

www.victronenergy.com

And where were you yesterday.....

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[Alloy]

Sorry wasn't thinking.......should have asked how the GX was going to be connected.

 

[java]

Sorry wasn't thinking.......should have asked how the GX was going to be connected.

No worries. Dongle is en route. The net gear doesn't work....

Hopefully the little one will get wifi in the driveway.

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[Alloy]

In the fall I added a programmable thermostat. Makes a big difference in A/h the furnace uses.