EN
Manual
VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface
Copyrights 2010 Victron Energy B.V.
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Victron Energy B.V. reserves the right to revise and improve its products as it sees fit. This publication describes the state of this product at
the time of its publication and may not reflect the product at all times in the future.
1 Introduction
1.1 VE.Bus compatibility
The minimal version of the VE.Bus devices connected is 19xx111 or 20xx111, released in 2007.
It is not possible to combine the VE.Bus to NMEA2000 interface with one of the following products in a VE.Bus
system:
- VE.Net to VE.Bus Converter
- Blue Power Panel 2
- Blue Power Panel GX
- Victron Global Remote or Ethernet Remote
Combining with the Digital Multi Control, VE.Bus Multi Control or Phoenix Inverter Control is possible. Note in that
case it is not possible to switch the VE.Bus device on or off. Also it is not possible to control the shore current
limit when one of these other control panels is connected.
1.2 NMEA 2000 Canbus
The National Marine Electronics Association (http://www.nmea.org/) defines standardized protocols in order to
facilitate interconnection of digital equipment on boats. NMEA 2000 is an application level CAN-bus protocol
based on the J1939. Products of different manufacturers can be connected to a shared network cable making the
data commonly available for displaying, control and other functions available on the network.
Note: this product can also be used to integrate a VE.Bus system into another type of Canbus network, which is
not purely NMEA2000.
1.3 Installation
Connection to NMEA 2000
NMEA 2000 requires a single backbone where products must connect to with drop cables. The VE.Net to NMEA
2000 drop cable is equipped with a Micro-C (M12) male connector for this purpose, intended to be connected to a
corresponding T-connector in the backbone. Refer to a NMEA 2000 cable supplier for details about the NMEA
2000 network cabling and required network topology.
This product requires a network power supply. This product will
therefore not function without power on the canbus!
The NMEA 2000 backbone must be terminated with resistors at
both ends. The network will not function properly without them!
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1.4 Sent / received NMEA 2000 messages
NMEA 2000 defines several messages. Messages are identified by their parameter group number (PGN). A
textual description of the message is publically available on the NMEA 2000 website (http://www.nmea.org/).
Detailed specification of the protocol and message definition or part thereof can be ordered online on the NMEA
2000 website. NMEA 2000 is based on and compatible with SAE J1939. This interface product sends the AC
status message as defined in J1939-75. The specification of these messages can be bought on the SAE website
(http://www.sae.org/). The messages sent must be interpreted in combination with the function sending the data.
The interface has one function, “153 Inverter”, when connected to a Victron Inverter. When connected to a Multi
or Quattro, the interface has two functions. The additional function is the “154 AC Input” monitor. Charger Status
messages will be sent by the Inverter function. Both functions have their own network address.
To function properly, NMEA 2000 data consumers like generic displays, need to be able to make a distinction
between the same AC PGNs based on the network address. Depending on the function belonging to that network
address the need to interpret it as either Inverter Input or Inverter Output. Displays not being capable of doing so
will regard the data as belonging to the mains (utility). The Inverter Output is then interpreted as utility #0 and
Inverter Input as utility #1. These default instance numbers can be changed by a network configuration tool if
necessary.
The following messages are accepted by the product for both functions:
PGN PGN(hex) Name
59904 0xEA00 ISO Request
60928 0xEE00 ISO Address Claim
65240 0xFED8 ISO Commanded Address
126208 0x1ED00 NMEA - Request group function
126208 0x1EE00 Receive/Transmit PGN's group function
126996 0x1F014 Product Information
126998 0x1F016 Configuration Information
126208 0x1ED00 NMEA - Request group function
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Message sent by the ‘Inverter’ Function:
PGN Hex Name
65007 0xFDEF AC Output - Phase C, Apparent Power
65008 0xFDF0 AC Output - Phase C, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65010 0xFDF2 AC Output - Phase B, Apparent Power
65011 0xFDF3 AC Output - Phase B, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65013 0xFDF5 AC Output - Phase A, Apparent Power
65014 0xFDF6 AC Output - Phase A, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65016 0xFDF8 AC Output - Apparent Power of all phase
65017 0xFDF9 AC Output - average, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
127507 0x1F213 Charger Status
127508 0x1F214 Battery Status
127509 0x1F215 Inverter Status
127502 0x1F20E Switch Bank Control
The Charger Status is only sent if the connected VE.Bus device is an Inverter / Charger and not an Inverter only
device. Phase information is only sent if the VE.Bus equipped system has multiple phases. The default
transmission rate for the AC PGNs is 1500ms.
The VE.Bus system state is translated to the NMEA 2000 charger / inverter state according to the following table:
VE.Bus System State NMEA 2000 Charger NMEA 2000 Inverter
State State
Off Disabled Disabled
Passthru Not Charging Passthru
Bulk Bulk Passthru
(repeated) Absorption Absorption Passthru
Float Float Passthru
Storage Float Passthru
Inverting / Assisting Not Charging Invert
Fault Fault Fault
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1.5 Binary states
The alarm and relay states are reported by the Switch Bank Control message (127502). Device on the NMEA
2000 bus can use these states to react upon. The table below describes the meaning of the reported binary
states when turned on. When the condition is not met “Turn off” is sent. “No action” is sent for unknown or
reserved fields. The Switch Bank Control is sent once per 6 seconds by default; it is directly sent when a value
changed.
Signal Meaning
Bank Instance 0 (fixed value)
Switch 1 Not used, report as “No Action”
Switch 2 Not used, report as “No Action”
Switch 3 Not used, report as “No Action”
Switch 4 Not used, report as “No Action”
Switch 5 Low Battery warning
Switch 6 Low Battery alarm
Switch 7 Temperature warning
Switch 8 Temperature alarm
Switch 9 Overload warning
Switch 10 Overload alarm
Switch 11-31 Not used, report as “No Action”
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1.6 Imitating the multi / PMC look
The LED state of the multi can be used to easily imitate the front of the multi itself. This is only for graphical
purposes. Do not interpret the LED status to get the state of the device, since LED behaviour might be subject to
change and combinations of LEDs have different meanings. Use the state fields themselves for these purposes.
This is for GUI / user interfaces only.
Literal Led status of a multi (127502)
Switch bank 1 (fixed value)
Switch 1 Led Mains On
Switch 2 Led Mains Blink
Switch 3 Led Absorption On
Switch 4 Led Absorption Blink
Switch 5 Led Bulk On
Switch 6 Led Bulk Blink
Switch 7 Led Float On
Switch 8 Led Float Blink
Switch 9 Led Inverter On
Switch 10 Led Inverter Blink
Switch 11 Led Overload On
Switch 12 Led Overload Blink
Switch 13 Led Low Battery On
Switch 14 Led Low Battery Blink
Switch 15 Led Temperature On
Switch 16 Led Temperature Blink
The state of an individual led can be extracted from the combined.
Blink On Nibble
Off Off 0x0000 The LED is off
Off On 0x0001 The LED is on
On Off 0x0100 The LED is blinking
The LED is blinking in opposite sense as normal
On On 0x0101 blinking. When LEDs of state 0x0100 are off LED in
this state are on and vice versa.
No Action No Action
other Led state is not available
Reserved Reserved
This message is not sent by default. Setting bit 8 in the remote control VREG 0x0202 will enable these
messages. The message is broadcasted every 8 seconds, and it is also sent immediately when a LED state
changed.The message is also sent directly after setting bit 8.
See explanation and examples further down in the document on how to set bit 8 in register 0x0202.
1.7 Data message sent by the ‘AC Input’ Function
PGN Hex Name
65007 0xFDEF AC Input - Phase C, Apparent Power
65008 0xFDF0 AC Input - Phase C, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65010 0xFDF2 AC Input - Phase B, Apparent Power
65011 0xFDF3 AC Input - Phase B, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65013 0xFDF5 AC Input - Phase A, Apparent Power
65014 0xFDF6 AC Input - Phase A, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
65016 0xFDF8 AC Input - Apparent Power of all phase
65017 0xFDF9 AC Input - average, L-N Voltage, Current, Frequency
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1.8 Altering message transmission / instances
The transmission rate and priority of these messages can be changed by using the appropriate NMEA 2000
Request Group Function (126208), a Complex Request, Complex Command and Complex write respectively.
The transmission settings should only be changed with care, since data consumers might anticipate in the data
arriving in certain intervals.
1.9 Other settings
NMEA 2000 requires a method for changing some fields in the NAME. The Device Function Instance and System
Instance of the VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 drop cable can be altered by a Complex Command.
The Installation Description, field 1 and field 2 in the Configuration Information can be set to any desired text (for
example location, purpose of the battery etc) by a Complex Command.
The used network address can be changed by a CMDA message sent as BAM. Since address assignment is
handled automatically within NMEA 2000, manually setting the source addresses is normally not needed.
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2 Victron Energy proprietary message format: VREG’s
Not all values reported by the VE.Bus products can be sent with standard NMEA 2000 PGN’s. These values are
available by the proprietary message 61184 (0xEF00) to the broadcast address 61439 (0xEFFF).
See the document “VE.Can registers - public.docx” for detailed information and examples.
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3 Troubleshooting
How to make sure that there is communication between the VE.Bus to NMEA2000 interface and the
VE.Bus device(s).
1. Disconnect the interface completely. Both the VE.Bus end and de Canbus end need to be disconnected
to reset it.
2. Turn the VE.Bus device (ie Multi or Quattro) on, and wait for it to power up and start inverting or charging.
3. Connect the interface to the VE.Bus device. The VE.Bus device should switch off.
4. Power the interface on the canbus end. Make sure to only power it, and do not connect any display or
other canbus device to the canbus.
5. The VE.Bus to NMEA2000 interface will now start up in ‘monitoring’ mode, and will instruct the VE.Bus
device to switch on after a little while.
6. Wait for the VE.Bus device to switch on.
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4 Specifications
VE.Bus to NMEA 2000 interface
Network type NMEA 2000 Canbus
In conformance with NMEA 2000. Details
Network requirements are available from NMEA 2000 network
suppliers.
Network connector Micro-C / M12 / DeviceNet male.
Canbus supply voltage range 7 - 70VDC
Canbus current draw – typical 20 mA at 12VDC
NMEA2000 Load Equivalent Nr. 1
Operating temp. range -20 – +50°C
ENCLOSURE
Measurements body (w x h) 70 x 50 x 20mm
Weight 100 gram
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5 Notes
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Distributor:
Serial number:
Version : 07
Date : 1 November 2012
Victron Energy B.V.
De Paal 35 | 1351 JG Almere
PO Box 50016 | 1305 AA Almere | The Netherlands
General phone : +31 (0)36 535 97 00
Customer support desk : +31 (0)36 535 97 03
Fax : +31 (0)36 535 97 40
E-mail : [email protected]
www.victronenergy.com
