Cerbo GX Manual

With VRM (Victron Remote Monitoring) you can remotely monitor, control, manage and optimise your Victron Energy systems and identify potential problems early by setting alerts and alarms.

When connected to the internet, a GX device unlocks a wide range of VRM Portal and VRM App features for monitoring, alerts, diagnostics, control, and management. Key features are summarised below.

See the Internet Connectivity chapter for how to connect the device to the internet.

For a complete overview of all features and functions of the VRM Portal, see the VRM Portal documentation.

Detailed instructions are in the VRM Portal Getting Started document.

Note that the system must first successfully transmit data to the VRM Portal. If no successful connection has been established, the system cannot be registered to your VRM user account. In such cases, please refer to the sections Troubleshooting data logging and Remote Console on VRM - Troubleshooting below.

Datalogs are transmitted to the VRM Portal via the internet, whenever available. All relevant settings are accessible via Device List → Settings → VRM online portal in the VRM Portal menu. The datalog transmission is designed to function reliably, even over poor internet connections. Connections experiencing up to 70% sustained packet loss are still adequate for data transmission, although some delay may occur. Note that data log transmission to VRM depends on the Access settings for Remote Console & Controls pane in VRM, which must be set to either Full (default) or Read-only.

Adding External Storage

If the GX device cannot transmit logs to the VRM Portal, it stores them internally in non-volatile memory, retaining data even during power loss or reboot.

The internal buffer can hold logs for several days. To extend this period, insert a microSD card or USB stick. Check internal storage status via the settings menu. When external storage is inserted, internally stored logs automatically transfer to it, ensuring no data loss.

Regardless of external storage use, the GX device continually attempts to reconnect to the VRM Portal and upload any stored logs. Even with significant backlogs, data will be transmitted once internet connectivity is restored. Data transmission is compressed, significantly reducing bandwidth usage compared to continuous transmission.

Storage Device Requirements

Manually Transferring Datalogs to VRM

For GX devices without permanent internet connectivity, data can be manually uploaded using a computer:

Storage space requirement:

If multiple storage devices are inserted, the GX device uses the first inserted device. If removed, logging continues internally until new external storage is inserted.

Network Watchdog: Reboot device when no contact

This optional feature (Settings → VRM Online Portal - disabled by default) reboots the GX device if it fails to connect to the VRM Portal. Configure the "No contact reset delay" to set reboot intervals. For example, setting a one-hour delay causes hourly reboots until connectivity is restored.

This section provides guidance for troubleshooting issues when the GX device cannot transmit data to the VRM Portal.

Initial check

First, verify that the GX device is connected to the VRM Portal and confirm if data transmission is occurring.

Verify the connection status between the GX device and the VRM Portal by checking the 'Last contact' timestamp (Settings → VRM Online Portal → Last contact). If the timestamp is within the defined log interval, data transmission is functioning correctly. If it shows dashes ("--"), the GX device has not connected to the VRM Portal since power-up. If it displays a timestamp along with an error, the GX device has transmitted data previously but has since lost connection. Check the 'Stored records' value in the same menu: The 'Stored records' indicates the number of logs that it has stored to send later. A value of 0 indicates that all data has successfully transmitted to the VRM Portal. A value greater than 0 indicates unsent logs due to connectivity issues, typically accompanied by an error message detailed further in this chapter Continue reading if issues persist.

Required communication for sending data logs to the VRM portal:

Reliable Internet Connection: Prefer wired Ethernet connections. Avoid tethered or mobile hotspot connections due to unreliability. Correct IP Address: Typically assigned automatically via DHCP by the router. Manual configuration usually unnecessary. Outbound HTTP(S) Connections: Must allow connections to http://ccgxlogging.victronenergy.com on ports 80 and 443. That should never be an issue, unless on very specialised company networks. Proxy setups are unsupported. For further details, refer to the FAQ Q15: What type of networking is used by the Cerbo GX (TCP and UDP ports)? on network requirements.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Update Firmware:

2. Verify Network and Internet Connection:

Check IP address assignment in Ethernet or WiFi settings (Settings → Ethernet/Wi-Fi → IP configuration → Automatic) and confirm: 'State' shows 'Connected'. IP address does not start with '169'. Netmask, Gateway, and DNS server are present. If the IP address starts with 169, check whether your network has a DHCP server running. 99% of all networks have a DHCP server running, and it is enabled by default on all well-known ADSL, cable and mobile routers. If there is no DHCP server running, then configure the IP address manually as described in the Manual IP configuration chapter. For a GX GSM or GX LTE 4G , see the Troubleshooting guide in the GX LTE 4G manual. Ethernet Issues: If 'State' shows 'Unplugged', check cable and connection indicators on the GX device. The two lights at the back where the Ethernet RJ45 cable plugs in, should be lit or blinking. Two dead lights indicate a connection problem. Wi-Fi Issues: No WiFi adapter connected': Reinsert Wi-Fi dongle. When using WiFi and the 'State' shows 'Failure', it might be that the WiFi password is incorrect. Press 'Forget network' and try to connect again with the correct password.

3. Check the Connection error status

Navigate to Settings → VRM Online Portal → 'Connection error': If a connection error is displayed, the Cerbo GX is unable to communicate with the VRM database. The screen will show an error code indicating the type of connectivity issue, along with additional details to assist on-site IT personnel in diagnosing the problem. Error #150 Unexpected response text: The http/https call succeeded, but the response was incorrect. This indicates that there is a WiFi or network login page, sometimes called a "captive portal", occasionally seen in Airports, Hotels, Marinas or RV campgrounds. There is no solution to make the GX device work with a WiFi network that requires such a login page and/or accepting of terms of use. Error #151 Unexpected HTTP Response: A connection succeeded, but the response did not indicate a successful HTTP result code (normally 200). This might indicate that a transparent proxy is hijacking the connection. See #150 above for examples. Error #152 Connection time-out: This could indicate a poor-quality internet connection or a restrictive firewall. Error #153 Connection error: This error may indicate a routing issue. For more information, review the specific error message displayed. In the example below, the GX device was not permitted internet access through the router. Error #153 Connection problem: And then specifically an SSL related issue. This error may indicate an SSL-related issue. Check the date, time, and time zone settings on the GX device, as incorrect settings can cause SSL errors. Also, ensure that your router does not display a special disclaimer, login, or acceptance page, which is common on public WiFi networks in places like airports and hotels. Error #154 DNS Failure: Make sure that a valid DNS server is configured in the Ethernet or WiFi menu. Typically this is assigned automatically by a DHCP server in a network. Error #155 Routing error: VRM is unreachable. This error occurs if an ICMP error is received, indicating that no route exists to the VRM server. Make sure your DHCP server assigns a working default route, or that the gateway is correctly configured for static configurations. Error #159 Unknown error: This is a catch-all error for errors that cannot be directly categorised. In such cases the error message will provide information about the problem.

In situations where internet access is unavailable, such as remote installations, data logs can be analysed locally without uploading to the VRM Portal.

Install VictronConnect on a Windows or macOS laptop. Insert the USB stick or microSD card containing the data log files from the GX device. Open VictronConnect and use the Venus Log Converter feature to convert the log files into Excel sheets for analysis. Note: The Venus Log Converter is only available in the Windows and macOS versions of VictronConnect. It is not available on iOS or Android. For detailed instructions, refer to the Importing and converting a GX Product Family database File section in the VictronConnect manual.

Follow these steps to resolve Remote Console issues on VRM: