bbb user instructions

Intro

This page explains how to install and work with the Venus image on a BeagleBone. Tested bones are BeagleBone Black and the BeagleBone Enhanced.

The BeagleBone Venus image can be used with and without the ve-cape installed.

For any questions or issues, contact us on the venus dev mailing list. Note that the beaglebone image is still in the test phase: do not contact our service department or sales managers with question about it.

For more background info, see the project bbb home page.

Getting started:

1. download the latest installer image from the feed.
2. unzip it, or use Etcher: it will unzip it for you.
3. get an sdcard, put it in your computer
4. burn the image file (something.img) on an sdcard. On windows, use Etcher or win32diskimager. Note that this will reduce the usable size. Especially on Windows it is not so easy to get it back to its original format and size.
5. insert the sdcard in the beaglebone
6. hold down one of the BOOT buttons while applying power to the device:

• on the cape it is the only push button there is.
• on the beaglebone itself it is the one closest to the sdcard slot.

7. release the button once you see blinking LEDs
8. wait until the install progress is completed: after a few seconds of random flashing, the four LEDs are a progress bar. A flashing LED means it is running. Continuously lit means that stage is completed. Each LED corresponds to a stage of the installation:

• Partition, format /data and /scratch
• Install rootfs1
• Install rootfs2
• Install boot loader

9. once all four LEDs are lit continously, the sdcard can be removed.
10. Power cycle the device.

Installation is done. Note that the procedure to update to a new version is different than above: above steps do a full (re-)install, wiping everything on the emmc.

To find the device:

1. connect to your local router, using an ethernet cable
2. find the ip address. On a windows pc, go to Network. That will list the Beaglebone in the Other devices section. Double click to open the Remote Console
3. open a browser, and navigate to the ip address, for example http://192.168.52.3. If all went well, you will see the Remote Console page loading, and will be able to browse the menus.

Wiring the cape:

See the images in this powerpoint for the different connections.

No cape? Skip this chapter and read below to learn about connecting via USB.

• make sure to power the cape: powering the beaglebone via its usb connector won't work
• relays: The connections are on the two black 3-pin connectors. Relay 1 is the left one. Relay 2 is the right one. Note that relay 2 is not used by any software yet. On the three pin connectors, pin 1 is on the left when holding the product in front of you and looking at the connectors. Pin layout:
  • Pin 1 = Normally closed
  • Pin 2 = Common
  • Pin 3 = Normally open
• tank levels work. The inputs are on the green 14 pin connector on the cape:
  • Tank level 1 goes between pin 9 and 10
  • Tank level 2 goes between pin 11 and 12
  • Tank level 3 goes between pin 13 and 14
• temperature senders: use the temp sensors that come with our Multis. Connect them to the green 14 pin connector on the cape:
  • Temperature sensor 1 goes between pin 1 and 2. Pin 1 is positive, pin 2 is Ground
  • Temperature sensor 2 goes between pin 3 and 4. Pin 3 is positive, pin 4 is Ground
• vecan port works.
• second canbus port works, but there is no (normal) way to configure the bbb yet to use it.
• digital inputs: don't use them on cape pcb's earlier than revision 0.6. Also there is no software for it yet, and it is not yet being worked on. RJ-12 wiring (needs updating!)
  • pin 1: digital input 1
  • pin 2: ground
  • pin 3: digital input 2
  • pin 4: digital input 3
  • pin 5: digital input 4
  • pin 6: digital input 5

Generic:

• The software running on the BeagleBone is the same as what runs on the Color Control GX, see CCGX User manual
• Victron Live open source page - CCGX & Venus
• For any questions or issues, contact us on the venus dev mailing list. Note that the bbb image is a test release, do not contact our service department or sales managers with question about it.

Enabling ssh (developer feature)

To get access to the bbb via ssh, enable the Remote support function. Find it under Settings -> General. The current test versions don't have a root password yet, just login with username root. To set a root password, follow instructions here.

Connect via WiFi

See Settings -> Wifi. Note that not all wifi usb sticks are supported. See CCGX Manual internet section for the two that we do support.

Connecting products

Connecting to a VE.Bus product (Multi, Quattro, etc)

When using ve-cape: works out of the box for cape hw2 & hw3 samples. Once hw rev 4 is supported, the earlier samples won't work anymore due to a pin change.

With MK3-USB:

• modify the /etc/venus/mkx-port file: change the listed tty for the ttyUSB in use by the MK3-USB
• remove the -i flag from /service/vecan-mk2/run
• restart the bone, or just the service responsible for the vebus communication.

See the running section in the mk2-dbus readme.

With MK2-USB: not supported

Connecting to a VE.Direct product (BMV, VE.Direct Solar Charger, etc)

Connected on ve-cape: works

Connected via USB: tested and works. We tested with 8 MPPTs and one BMV connected via USB and works fine: more capacity than the CCGX.

Connect to a VE.Can product

requires ve-cape, works.

Connect to a product via Ethernet (Energy meter, Fronius Inverter, etc)

Works.