Victron Energy Cerbo GX MK2 Communication Centre, 8-70V DC, Dual VE.Can, 3 USB Host Ports

Overview

The Victron Energy BPP900450110 is a Cerbo GX MK2 communication centre for monitoring and controlling Victron-based power systems on board. It brings inverter/charger, solar, battery, tank, temperature, generator, and network data into one GX device, with access through VRM, Remote Console, the VictronConnect app, a local browser, an optional GX Touch display, or a compatible marine MFD setup.

This MK2 version accepts an 8 to 70V DC supply, which suits common 12V, 24V, and 48V battery systems when installed within the stated input range. It has three VE.Direct ports, two paralleled VE.Bus RJ45 sockets, two VE.Can ports with VE.Can 1 isolated, three USB host ports, Ethernet, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, four resistive tank inputs, four temperature sense inputs, four digital inputs with pulse counting, and two programmable relays.

The enclosure is IP20 and measures 78 x 154 x 48 mm, so it belongs in a dry, protected electrical space rather than an exposed helm, cockpit, or washdown area. On boats with a larger Victron installation, it works well as the central point for checking battery state of charge, solar harvest, AC loads, tank levels, generator status, shore power limits, alarms, and remote diagnostics.

Key features

• 8 to 70V DC power input supports a wide range of onboard DC system voltages when wired within specification.
• Two VE.Can ports, with VE.Can 1 isolated and VE.Can 2 non-isolated, give more flexibility for systems that need separate CAN connections.
• Three VE.Direct ports support direct connection of compatible Victron devices such as battery monitors, solar charge controllers, and DC-DC chargers, with up to 15 VE.Direct devices supported in total when direct and USB-connected devices are counted together.
• Two paralleled VE.Bus RJ45 sockets connect compatible Victron inverter/chargers into the monitoring and control system.
• Three USB host ports can be used for supported accessories and, on the MK2 hardware, any of the three USB ports can power a GX Touch display connection.
• Four digital inputs include pulse counting, useful for supported pulse-based monitoring tasks.
• Four resistive tank level inputs and four temperature sense inputs help bring tank and environment data into the same power-system view.
• Two programmable NO/NC relays support functions such as alarm relay, generator start/stop, tank pump control, temperature-controlled relay use, or manual operation where supported by the system configuration.
• Built-in Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth support local access, setup, network connection, and VRM remote monitoring.
• RJ45 sockets are rotated 180 degrees on the MK2 hardware, making cable removal easier in tight electrical panels.
• Wall mounting is supported, and DIN rail mounting is possible with a DIN35 adapter accessory.
• IP20 rating makes this unit appropriate for protected interior mounting, not direct exposure to spray, rain, or washdowns.

Installation and setup

Power is supplied through the DC input connection, not through Ethernet or USB. The included DC power cable has an inline 3.15A slow-blow fuse, which helps simplify a clean feed from a battery or DC busbar. In a marine installation, mount the unit where the wiring stays serviceable, the connectors are protected, and future access to VE.Bus, VE.Can, VE.Direct, USB, Ethernet, tank, temperature, relay, and digital-input wiring remains practical.

For helm visibility, the Cerbo GX MK2 can be paired with an optional GX Touch 50 or GX Touch 70 display using HDMI and USB. The display is optional, so installations that rely on VRM, Remote Console, VictronConnect, or a compatible MFD can keep the main GX unit tucked away in the electrical space while still showing system information where the operator needs it.

Compatibility and system integration

This unit is best matched to boats that already use, or are being upgraded to, Victron components across charging, inversion, monitoring, and battery management. It can bring together information from compatible Victron inverter/chargers, solar chargers, DC-DC chargers, batteries, tank senders, temperature sensors, and supported third-party devices, depending on the full system layout and the required interfaces.

The two CAN ports are one of the practical reasons to use the MK2 version. A vessel that needs a VE.Can connection for a battery system and another CAN-based connection for system integration has more room to plan the network cleanly. The isolated VE.Can 1 port is also helpful where electrical separation on that bus matters.

Use cases on board

For cruising boats, fishing boats, and offshore-capable power systems, the Cerbo GX MK2 gives the operator one place to watch the health of the energy system rather than checking separate devices around the vessel. It is useful for monitoring battery state of charge before leaving the dock, checking solar and alternator contribution during a passage, adjusting shore power current limits in a marina, and reviewing alarms before a small issue becomes a larger electrical problem.

It also suits vessels with generator automation needs. The programmable relay support and GX generator start/stop functions can be part of a system that starts or stops a generator based on configured conditions, while still allowing remote checks through VRM when the boat is unattended.

What’s included

• Cerbo GX unit
• Power cable with inline fuse and M8 terminal eyes for battery or DC busbar attachment
• Two VE.Can terminators
• Terminal blocks for the side connectors: three 4-pin, two 3-pin, and one 2-pin