Nothing worse than an old dongle!

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2021

Well, while traveling out west we are dry camping half of our 2 month adventure. So I got a bug to upgrade from our PWM Renogy controller to a Victron 75/15 MPPT. I wanted to be one of the cool kids and NETWORK! We have a Victron BMV 700 with a Bluetooth dongle added in 2017 and we already can monitor via the display and VictronConnect, so what could be simpler, right?

We found a local supplier near Colorado Springs (Colorado Standby), who had an uninitiated, but previously installed controller at an almost 30% discount - score! Today, we set it up only to find that the old dongle would not network! So, after a little research I discovered that the VE Direct Smart Dongle that networks (Model ASS030536011) was available on Amazon and can be delivered to a nearby Hub Locker. The old dongle was factory installed before the shower wall was secured to the front counter, so, we probably will end up snipping the old dongle as it is secured with screwed in clips that we can’t reach. I sure hope we can thread the new dongle wire using a short fish tape.

I considered just replacing the easily accessible shunt with a SmartShunt which I think will still allow the use of the display. I don’t think the BMV 712 is compatible with the hardwired display, so, I would be left with a hole in the wall. Fingers crossed the new, upgraded dongle works!

TNOutback · September 2021

@Sharon_is_SAM I have to think the only thing missing in the 700 from the 712 is the built-in Bluetooth. To what “hardwired display” are you referring to? My 712 is hardwired to the display, and I’m networked to the MPPT.

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2021

@TNOutback - I confused the Smartshunt with the 712. You are right - the 712 has a display that includes temp monitoring at a cost of $260. Not sure if just switching out the PCB (if available) would let me use the 700 display. The Smartshunt has no option for a display, hence the hole in the wall! Seems I have more options if the dongle exchange fails. We just realized that if we can’t thread the new dongle as planned, we can still access the back of the display to plug in the new dongle. Worst case is I would need to mount the dongle in a new place.

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/26029/replacing-bmv-700-with-a-bmv-712.html.

https://community.victronenergy.com/questions/36181/can-i-buy-just-a-shunt-pcb-for-bmv-712.html

BrianZ · September 2021

@Sharon_is_SAM, Kudos on figuring it all out, and also on your title for this thread.

jkjenn · September 2021

This is a good piece of info and Vicfron has made it at a reasonable price point!

Nothing worse than an old dongle!

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