Victron Cerbo GX vs Ekrano GX: Which Should You Buy?

Victron Cerbo GX vs Ekrano GX comes down to where you want the brains of your system. Both are Victron GX devices: they connect your MultiPlus, MPPTs and shunt, show everything on one dashboard and link to VRM for remote monitoring. The Cerbo GX is a box you mount out of sight, with an optional GX Touch 50 or 70 screen. The Ekrano GX builds the GX computer into a 7-inch touchscreen.

Ross Lukeman compares the Ekrano GX and Cerbo GX for vans and RVs.

Victron Cerbo GX vs Ekrano GX: Comparison

Feature	Cerbo GX	Ekrano GX
Screen	Optional GX Touch 50 or 70 (waterproof)	Built-in 7-inch touchscreen
Wiring location	Box near the batteries; thin cable to screen	Connections at the display
Wi-Fi access point	Built in	Built in
VRM remote monitoring	Yes	Yes
MFD / NMEA 2000 integration	Yes	Yes
Water/dust rating	Screen waterproof	Display IP54 from the front with steel bracket

Source: Victron Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX product pages.

Why Many Builders Prefer the Cerbo GX

All the data cables (VE.Bus, VE.Direct, tank senders) land at the Cerbo, which can sit next to your electrical gear. Only one slim cable runs to the screen. One commenter summed it up: the Cerbo “is a more centralized device/hub”, and they didn’t want all the connections behind the display as with the Ekrano.

Why Choose the Ekrano GX

One device instead of two, with a clean flush-mount look.
A 7-inch screen with dark mode for night viewing.
Victron calls it its most powerful GX device to date.

Which Should You Buy?

Van or RV with gear in a rear garage or under a bed: Cerbo GX + GX Touch.
Boat helm or a panel close to the electrical bay: Ekrano GX.
No screen needed at all: Cerbo GX alone, using VRM and the app.

Victron lists every Cerbo GX variant, with datasheets, on its official product page.

For full specifications, see Victron’s pages for the Victron GX Touch 50 and Victron Ekrano GX.

What Plugs Into a GX Device

Both units act as the hub that gathers data from the rest of your Victron gear. Typical connections in a van or RV:

Device	Connection
MultiPlus or Quattro inverter/charger	VE.Bus (MK3 not needed; the GX talks to it directly)
SmartSolar MPPT, SmartShunt, Orion XS	VE.Direct cable
Lynx Smart BMS or compatible lithium battery	VE.Can or BMS-Can
Tank senders and temperature sensors	Cerbo GX tank and temperature inputs
Generator auto-start	Cerbo GX relay

Check each datasheet’s port list for counts, since a large system can run out of VE.Direct ports. Victron’s VE.Direct to USB interface adds more through a USB port.

Worked Example: A Typical Van Build on a Cerbo GX

MultiPlus-II 12/3000 on VE.Bus
SmartSolar 100/50 and an Orion XS on VE.Direct
SmartShunt on VE.Direct
Fresh and grey tank senders on the tank inputs
A GX Touch 50 near the side door

That’s three VE.Direct devices plus VE.Bus, which a Cerbo GX handles on its own. The Cerbo sits under the bed with the batteries, and only the screen cable runs forward. Example layout.

What the Dashboard Shows

A live flow diagram: AC input, inverter, battery, solar and DC loads with watts on each.
Battery state of charge from the SmartShunt or BMS.
Tank levels and temperatures where sensors are fitted.
Controls for the inverter/charger (on, off, charger only) and the shore power input current limit.

The same screens are available remotely on VRM, so you can check a parked RV from home.

Setting Up Either Device

Connect all data cables with the system powered down, then power the GX device.
Join it to Wi-Fi or Ethernet, or use its own Wi-Fi access point to configure it.
Update to the latest Venus OS firmware.
Set the battery monitor source (SmartShunt, BMS or the inverter’s own estimate).
Register the device on VRM with its portal ID to enable remote monitoring.
If you have a lithium battery with a BMS, set up DVCC so chargers follow the BMS’s limits.

Worked Example: A Boat Helm on an Ekrano GX

On a sailboat, the nav station is often right next to the electrical panel. An Ekrano GX flush-mounted there takes the VE.Bus cable from a Quattro, VE.Direct from two SmartSolar controllers and a SmartShunt, and an NMEA 2000 link to the chartplotter. One device does the job, and the 7-inch screen in dark mode stays readable at night without spoiling night vision. Example layout; confirm the port count for your gear on the Ekrano datasheet.

Extra Features Worth Knowing

Remote console on VRM: you can operate the GX screen remotely, as if you were standing in front of it.
Alarms and notifications: VRM can email you on low battery or a lost shore connection.
Venus OS Large: an optional firmware that adds Node-RED for custom automations and Signal K for marine data.

Screens Compared

Option	Size	Mount
GX Touch 50	5-inch	Surface-mount, waterproof front
GX Touch 70	7-inch	Surface-mount, waterproof front
Ekrano GX	7-inch with built-in GX	Panel-mount

FAQ

Can the Ekrano GX do everything the Cerbo does?

Victron positions both as full GX devices with VRM, Wi-Fi and MFD integration. Check the port lists on each datasheet for your exact connections.

Is the GX Touch screen required with a Cerbo?

No, it’s optional.

Do they work without internet?

Yes for local monitoring; VRM remote access needs internet.

Can I add an Ekrano later to a system with a Cerbo?

You’d normally use only one GX device per system. If you want a bigger screen on a Cerbo, the GX Touch 70 is the matching 7-inch option.

Do they work with a boat’s chartplotter?

Yes. Both offer MFD integration, so compatible chartplotters can show the Victron dashboard.

Sources: Victron Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX product pages (victronenergy.com); Ross Lukeman, “Victron Ekrano GX vs Cerbo GX”; Mobile Solar Consulting, “Victron Ekrano vs Cerbo GX”.