How do I connect multiple MPPT controllers to a Cerbo GX?

Lyall Burgess
1 day ago
2 min read

Many boat owners will have installed a Victron Cerbo GX, or the new Victron Ekrano GX, aboard which are neat devices that help show power usage aboard. It can show how much power is coming in (from multiple sources including solar panels) and how much power is being consumed.

The Victron Cerbo GX (left) and Ekrano (right) display your power usage aboard

They monitor the solar panel production by having each of your MPPT controllers hardwired with a VE.Direct cable running from the MPPT to the ports on the back of the Cerbo/Ekrano.

VE.Direct cables are available in lengths from 0.3m - 10m (1ft - 32ft)

The trouble is that there are only a certain number of ports available so when you have a larger solar array and multiple MPPT controllers you start to run out of ports to plug them in. This can be made worse if you also have a BMV-712 or SmartShunt hard wired which takes up a port.

Victron Cerbo GX	Victron Ekrano GX
3x VE.Direct ports	3x VE.Direct ports
1x USB port (type A)	2x USB ports (type A)

Both the Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX have three VE.Direct ports so can allow for up to 3x MPPT controllers (or 2x MPPT controllers and 1x BMV-712/Smartshunt). If you have more devices to connect then you can also use a Victron VE.Direct to USB interface, the Cerbo has space for one and the Ekrano space for two.

The limitation with the USB interface is the cable length, at approx. 1.8m (6ft). It's the only length available so if your MPPT controller (located close to the battery bank) is more than 6ft from the Cerbo/Ekrano (which might be at a nav desk/in the salon) then you need to look at getting a powered USB hub and a length of USB cable. In other words, it starts to get tricky!

There is now a better solution with the USB Quadport

There is now a better solution with the USB Quadport, made by Duppa in Italy, designed specifically for Victron devices. This allows you to plug up to 4 VE.Direct cables into the Quadport and with a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable can plug it into a USB port on the back of your Cerbo/Ekrano. VE.Direct cables are less expensive, no need for powered USB hubs and this increases the number of devices that can be plugged in:

Victron Cerbo GX - up to 7 devices

Victron Ekrano GX - up to 11 devices