Victron GX and Monitoring: Picking the Right Device

Victron GX and monitoring products tie a Victron system together. Every Smart product already talks to the free VictronConnect app over Bluetooth. A GX device goes further: it collects data from every connected product, coordinates charging, runs automations like generator start, and uploads everything to VRM, Victron’s free remote monitoring portal.

EXPLORIST life compares Victron GX devices.

The Three Layers of Victron GX and Monitoring

Layer	What it is	Cost	Needs internet?
VictronConnect	Phone/computer app; sets up and monitors one device at a time over Bluetooth	Free	No
GX device	Cerbo GX MK2 (box + optional screen) or Ekrano GX (built-in screen) running Venus OS	Paid hardware	No for local use
VRM portal	Web and app dashboard with history, alarms and remote settings	Free	Yes, via the GX device

Cerbo GX vs Ekrano GX

Feature	Cerbo GX MK2	Ekrano GX
Screen	Optional GX Touch 50 or 70, waterproof, one cable	Built-in 7-inch touchscreen
Mounting	Box near the batteries, DIN-rail mountable	Panel mount at the dashboard
Processor	Dual-core	Quad-core
Tank and temperature inputs	Yes	Yes
Generator auto start/stop	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi access point	Yes	Yes
MFD / NMEA 2000	Yes	Yes

Sources: Victron Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX product pages.

What a GX Device Adds

One dashboard for solar, shore, alternator, battery, tanks and loads.
System-wide coordination. Victron says the GX unifies readings and coordinates actions across connected devices, such as sharing battery data with chargers.
Managed lithium batteries. Victron’s product page says a GX device is required to integrate supported third-party lithium batteries.
Remote control through VRM, including input current limits and generator on/off.
Micro SD logging when there’s no internet (Cerbo GX).

Which One Do You Need?

One MPPT and a SmartShunt: VictronConnect alone is usually enough.
A MultiPlus plus solar and a shunt: a Cerbo GX gives one dashboard and remote settings.
A lithium battery that needs CAN communication: a GX device is usually required.
A boat with a chart plotter: either GX device integrates with MFDs.
Dashboard space and a clean look: Ekrano GX. Wiring near the batteries: Cerbo GX.

Datasheets and manuals for the Victron Cerbo GX and the Ekrano GX are on Victron’s website.

DVCC, Explained Simply

DVCC (Distributed Voltage and Current Control) is the GX feature that makes several chargers behave as one. With a compatible lithium battery or BMS connected, the GX device reads the battery’s requested charge voltage and current limit and passes them to every charger: the MultiPlus, the SmartSolar controllers and, where supported, the Orion XS.

Worked example: a battery’s BMS asks for no more than 100A of charging. Solar is producing 70A and shore power is connected. With DVCC on, the GX device limits the MultiPlus’s charger to about 30A so the total stays near 100A (example). Without DVCC, each charger would follow its own settings and could add up to more than the battery wants.

Smaller Ways In

Not every system needs a Cerbo or Ekrano:

GlobalLink 520: a small cellular device that sends VE.Direct data from one or two products to VRM, with a data plan included for an initial period. It’s good for a remote trailer or a single solar controller.
MultiPlus-II GX and EasySolar-II GX: inverter/chargers with a GX device built in, so a separate Cerbo isn’t needed.

Worked Example: Three System Sizes

System	Suggested monitoring	Why
Weekend camper: SmartSolar + SmartShunt	VictronConnect only	Two Bluetooth devices, checked on site
Remote trailer with one solar controller	GlobalLink 520	Remote VRM without Wi-Fi
Full-time van: MultiPlus, two MPPTs, Orion XS, SmartShunt, tanks	Cerbo GX + GX Touch 50	One dashboard, DVCC, tank levels, VRM
Off-grid home with a generator and lithium BMS	Cerbo GX or Ekrano GX	DVCC, generator auto-start, remote control

Setting Up DVCC on a GX Device

Connect the battery’s BMS to the GX device’s VE.Can or BMS-Can port, using the cable the battery maker specifies.
Check that the battery appears in the device list with its state of charge.
In Settings > DVCC, turn DVCC on (it’s required, and switched on automatically, for many managed batteries).
Optionally set a system-wide charge current limit and enable shared voltage and temperature sense.
Confirm each charger shows that it’s being controlled.

Automations Worth Setting Up

Generator auto start/stop on low state of charge, high load or time of day, with quiet hours.
Relay control for a water heater or pump based on battery or solar conditions.
Tank alarms when fresh water runs low or grey water is nearly full.
Email alarms on VRM for low battery or lost shore power.

Firmware and Updates

GX devices run Venus OS, which Victron updates regularly with new features and support for new products. Updates can be installed online on the device, from VRM, or from a micro SD card or USB stick.

FAQ

Is VRM really free?

Yes. Victron lists VRM as free, and it needs a GX device connected to the internet.

Can I see VRM without Wi-Fi?

The GX device needs an internet connection. Wi-Fi, Ethernet or a GX LTE modem all work.

Does the Cerbo GX need the touchscreen?

No. You can use the remote console in a browser, VictronConnect or VRM instead.

Do I need a GX device for DVCC?

Yes. DVCC runs on the GX device and coordinates the chargers connected to it.

Will a GX device work with non-Victron batteries?

Many third-party lithium batteries are supported. Check Victron’s battery compatibility list for your exact model and cable.

Can I use a tablet as the display?

Yes. The GX device’s Remote Console opens in a browser on the local network or through VRM, so a tablet mounted on the wall can act as the screen.

Does a GX device use much power?

It’s small compared with an inverter’s idle draw; check the datasheet’s consumption figure when planning a low-load system.

Sources: Victron Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX product pages, MultiPlus-II 120V datasheet (VRM section) (victronenergy.com, accessed Oct 2026); EXPLORIST life, “Is newer really better? Victron GX Devices Compared.”.