How to Set Up a Victron Cerbo GX: VRM, Wi-Fi, Touch

If you want to set up a Victron Cerbo GX, the job breaks into four parts: power it, connect your Victron devices, get it online, and register it on VRM, Victron’s free remote monitoring portal. The Cerbo GX is the “brain” of a Victron system. It shows everything from solar harvest to tank levels on one dashboard, and it lets you check and control the system from anywhere.

Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every cable correctly, and use a licensed electrician for anything connected to household wiring.

EXPLORIST life’s basic Cerbo GX install and setup.

Before You Set Up a Victron Cerbo GX: What It Connects To

Connection	What it’s for
VE.Bus	MultiPlus and Quattro inverter-chargers
VE.Direct	MPPTs, SmartShunt, BMV, Phoenix inverters
VE.Can / NMEA 2000	Lynx devices, newer chargers, marine MFDs
Resistive tank inputs	Fresh, fuel and black water senders
Temperature inputs	Battery or cabin temperature
Relays	Generator auto start/stop
Micro SD	Offline data storage

Source: Victron Cerbo GX product page.

Step 1: Mount and Power It

Mount it in a dry spot near your other gear. Power it from the battery through a fused feed, following the Cerbo GX manual.

Step 2: Connect Devices

Run VE.Direct cables to MPPTs and shunts, and an RJ45 cable to the MultiPlus VE.Bus port. Plug in the GX Touch 50 or 70 display if you bought one (the touchscreens are waterproof, per Victron).

Step 3: Connect to the Wi-Fi Access Point

The Cerbo has a built-in Wi-Fi access point. Join it from your phone, or use VictronConnect, to reach the setup menus. Then connect the Cerbo to your router, Starlink or a cellular modem for internet.

Step 4: Register on VRM

Create a free VRM account and add the installation using the VRM Portal ID shown in the Cerbo’s menu. Once it’s online, you can see live data and history, get alarms, and change settings remotely.

Step 5: Configure

Set the battery monitor source (usually your SmartShunt), name tanks, set alarms and, if you have a generator, set the auto start/stop rules.

Want the source figures? The Cerbo GX page on Victron’s site has the datasheet.

You can download the GX Touch 50 manual and datasheet from Victron Energy’s website.

Worked Example: Connecting a Typical Van System

Device	Cable	Cerbo GX port
MultiPlus-II 12/3000	RJ45 (UTP)	VE.Bus
SmartSolar 100/50	VE.Direct cable	VE.Direct 1
SmartShunt 500A	VE.Direct cable	VE.Direct 2
Orion XS	VE.Direct cable	VE.Direct 3
Fresh water tank sender	Two-wire cable	Tank input 1
Battery temperature sensor	Victron temperature sensor	Temp input 1
GX Touch 50	Supplied HDMI/USB cable	Display port

Example layout. Use genuine VE.Direct cables rather than adapters, and keep VE.Bus cables away from high-current DC cables where possible.

Setting Up Tank Senders

In Settings > I/O > Analog inputs, enable each tank input you’ve wired.
Choose the fluid type (fresh water, grey water, fuel and so on) and enter the tank’s capacity.
Pick the sender standard: European (0–180Ω), US (240–30Ω) or a custom range.
Calibrate: note the reading with the tank empty and full, and enter those as the empty and full values.
Set low or high level alarms, for example fresh water below 20% or grey water above 80%.

Setting Up Generator Auto Start

Wire the Cerbo’s relay 1 to the generator’s two-wire start input.
In Settings > Relay, set relay 1’s function to Generator start/stop.
Under Generator start/stop, choose the conditions: state of charge (for example start at 30%, stop at 80%), battery voltage, AC load or a scheduled test run.
Set quiet hours so the generator doesn’t start overnight unless the battery is critically low.
Run a manual test from the menu before relying on it.

Setting Up DVCC (For Managed Lithium Batteries)

If your lithium battery or BMS connects to the Cerbo, enable DVCC so the chargers follow the battery’s charge limits. Then check that each charger shows it’s being controlled. For batteries without communication, DVCC can still share the SmartShunt’s voltage and temperature with the chargers.

Worked Example: Checking Data After Setup

After 24 hours, a healthy setup shows on VRM:

Solar yield that makes sense for the weather (for example, about 1–1.5kWh from 400W on a sunny day).
Battery state of charge that climbs during the day and falls at night.
Tank levels that match what you see in the tanks.

If any device is missing, check the cable at both ends, then the Device List on the Cerbo.

Troubleshooting Quick Checks

No VRM data: confirm internet in Settings > VRM online portal, and that logging is enabled.
Inverter not shown: check the VE.Bus cable and that the MultiPlus is powered.
Tank reads 0% or 100% all the time: recheck the sender standard and the empty/full calibration.
Touch screen blank: check both display cables and that the screen isn’t set to auto-off.

FAQ

Do I need a GX Touch screen?

No. You can use VRM, VictronConnect or the Wi-Fi access point instead. The screen is handy for at-a-glance checks.

Does the Cerbo need internet?

Only for VRM remote access. Local monitoring works without it.

Can it run my generator?

Yes, the Cerbo supports automatic generator start/stop through its relay.

Can the Cerbo be powered from a 24V or 48V battery?

Yes. Its supply input accepts a wide DC voltage range covering 12V, 24V and 48V systems; check the manual for the exact range.

Can I set it up without the touch screen?

Yes. Join the Cerbo’s Wi-Fi access point and open Remote Console in a browser, or use VictronConnect, to reach the same menus.

How do I update the firmware?

In Settings > Firmware, check for online updates, or install from a micro SD card or USB stick.

Does it work with a Starlink connection?

Yes. Connect it to the Starlink router over Wi-Fi or Ethernet like any other internet source.

Sources: Victron Cerbo GX product page and Cerbo GX manual (victronenergy.com); EXPLORIST life, “Victron Cerbo GX – Basic Install & Setup”; Mobile Solar Consulting, “Victron Cerbo GX Programming Guide”.