Victron Cerbo GX Camper Van Setup: Complete Wiring and Configuration Guide

When you build a full Victron Energy off-grid electrical system - an MPPT solar charge controller, a SmartShunt battery monitor, an Orion-Tr DC-DC alternator charger, and a MultiPlus inverter-charger - you quickly realize that checking individual Bluetooth readings on your smartphone gets tedious.

To check your solar yield, you tap into one app menu. To check your battery percentage, you disconnect and open another. To switch your MultiPlus from inverter to charger mode, you walk into the garage utility cabinet and toggle a physical rocker switch.

The Victron Cerbo GX solves this fragmentation. It is the centralized communications brain of the Victron ecosystem.

Paired with a GX Touch 50 or Touch 70 display screen, the Cerbo GX combines every component, temperature probe, and water tank level sensor into a single, beautiful real-time touch interface mounted on your living area wall.

Even better, when connected to your van's mobile Wi-Fi router or Starlink, the Cerbo GX uploads real-time telemetry to the free Victron Remote Management (VRM) cloud portal, allowing you to monitor and control your van from anywhere on Earth.

Here is the complete wiring and configuration guide to installing a Cerbo GX in your camper van build.

1. What the Cerbo GX Controls: Port Overview

Before mounting the hardware, understand the connection ports on the Cerbo GX housing:

[ Top Ports ]
- VE.Direct 1, 2, 3: High-speed serial links for MPPT controllers and SmartShunts
- BMS-Can / VE.Can: High-speed CAN-bus networks for smart lithium battery communications
- USB 2.0 (3 ports): Power and data for GX Touch displays, USB GPS, or tank senders

[ Bottom Ports ]
- Power Supply (8V to 70V DC): Direct fused 12V/24V power from house battery bus
- VE.Bus (2 RJ45 ports): Direct two-way communication cable to MultiPlus inverter/charger
- Ethernet RJ45: Hardwired local network connection to van router or Starlink
- HDMI Port: Video output signal directly to the GX Touch display
- Digital Inputs (4): Door contact sensors, bilge alarms, or push-button triggers
- Temperature Sensor Inputs (4): Resistance probes for battery banks and fridge compartments
- Tank Sender Inputs (4): Resistance inputs for fresh water and grey water level sensors
- Programmable Relays (2): 6A dry-contact relays for generator auto-start or ventilation fans

Cerbo GX Port	Connects To	Cable Type Required
VE.Bus	MultiPlus or Quattro Inverter/Charger	Standard RJ45 UTP Cat5e / Cat6 cable
VE.Direct 1	SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller	Victron VE.Direct Cable (0.3m to 10m)
VE.Direct 2	SmartShunt or BMV-712 Battery Monitor	Victron VE.Direct Cable
HDMI + USB	GX Touch 50 or Touch 70 Screen	Integrated dual-ended cable included with screen
Power IN	Main 12V DC Distribution Fuse Block	18 AWG duplex wire with inline 1A fuse
Temp 1 - 4	Battery or Ambient Temperature Probes	Victron Temperature Sensor for Quattro/MultiPlus
Tank 1 - 4	Resistance Fluid Level Senders (USA 240-33 $\Omega$)	18 AWG twisted pair wire

2. Mounting and Wiring: Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1: Powering the Cerbo GX

The Cerbo GX requires very little power (approximately 2.8 Watts / 0.22A at 12.8V with the Touch display on, and under 1.5W with the display sleeping).

• Wire the included power cable with inline fuse directly to your 12V positive distribution block.
• Install a 1A or 2A fast-acting blade fuse in that circuit slot.
• Connect the negative lead directly to your main negative distribution bus bar.
• Note: Always power the Cerbo GX from the unswitched side of your cabinet, so it continues monitoring battery voltage even when the main 120V inverter is shut down.

Step 2: Connecting the MultiPlus (VE.Bus)

Connect one end of a standard RJ45 Ethernet patch cable into the VE.Bus port on the MultiPlus, and the other end into the VE.Bus port on the Cerbo GX.

• Important: Do NOT plug this cable into the standard Ethernet network port on the Cerbo; VE.Bus uses a proprietary communication protocol.
• The Cerbo GX now has direct two-way control over the inverter. You can turn the inverter ON, OFF, or Charger-Only, and set the Shore Power AC Current Limit directly from the touchscreen.

Step 3: Connecting Solar and Battery Monitor (VE.Direct)

Use official Victron VE.Direct cables to connect:

• Port 1: Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller.
• Port 2: Victron SmartShunt or BMV-712 battery monitor.

The Cerbo GX automatically recognizes both devices within three seconds of connection. Zero manual IP addressing or pairing is required.

Step 4: Mounting the GX Touch 50 or Touch 70 Screen

The GX Touch display is a sleek, ultra-thin capacitive touchscreen (Touch 50 is 5.0 inches; Touch 70 is 7.0 inches):

1. Cut a small 1.5-inch diameter hole in your wall paneling (the screen mounts flush against the wall using an included mounting bracket).
2. Route the combined dual-ended HDMI/USB cable from the screen behind the wall to your electrical cabinet.
3. Plug the HDMI connector into the Cerbo GX video port, and the USB connector into the designated power USB port directly beside it.

3. Integrating Fresh and Grey Water Tank Level Sensors

One of the most powerful features of the Cerbo GX for van life is eliminating generic LED tank level gauges.

The Cerbo GX includes four dedicated analog tank level inputs (Tank 1 through Tank 4):

• Compatible with standard European resistance senders (0 to 190 ohms) or standard American resistance senders (240 to 33 ohms).
• Common marine-grade float arm senders (like Kus, Wema, or Moeller stainless steel level senders) wire directly to the Cerbo screw terminals.

Wiring:

1. Run two wires from your fresh water tank sender to the Tank 1 screw terminals on the Cerbo GX.
2. In the GX Touch menu, navigate to: Settings -> Tank Inputs -> Tank 1.
3. Set Fluid Type to Fresh Water, select your sender resistance standard (USA 240-33 $\Omega$), and enter your tank capacity in gallons or liters.
4. The living area touchscreen now displays an animated graphic showing your exact fresh water percentage and remaining gallons in real time.

4. Temperature Sensing and Programmable Relays

The Cerbo GX features four dedicated temperature probe ports and two programmable dry-contact relays (Relay 1 and Relay 2):

Battery and Freezer Monitoring:

• Connect Victron micro-temperature probes (part ASS000001000) to the temperature screw terminals.
• Mount one probe on your LiFePO4 battery pack to monitor cell temperatures.
• Route a second probe inside your 12V chest refrigerator or under-chassis grey tank to alert you before freezing.

Automatic Fan / Heater Automation:

Use the programmable internal relay to automate van cooling:

• Wire a 12V cabinet exhaust fan through Relay 1.
• In the Cerbo GX menu, program Relay 1 to close automatically whenever cabinet temperature exceeds 35 C (95 F), and open when temperature drops below 30 C (86 F).
• Your cabinet stays cool automatically while your inverter and DC-DC charger are running at high power.

5. Setting Up the VRM Cloud Portal

When you connect the Cerbo GX to your van's mobile Wi-Fi hotspot (via internal Wi-Fi or hardwired Ethernet cable), it automatically connects to the Victron Remote Management (VRM) cloud portal.

VRM is 100% free with zero subscription fees:

1. On your laptop or smartphone, visit vrm.victronenergy.com and create an account.
2. Click "Add Installation" and enter the unique VRM Portal ID found on the sticker on the back of your Cerbo GX (or in the GX Touch menu under Settings -> VRM Online Portal).
3. Your van is now linked to the cloud.

What VRM Gives You:

• Remote Console: An interactive digital replica of your van's wall touchscreen accessible from your office desk or smartphone. You can toggle the inverter on, adjust shore power limits, or verify battery state of charge from anywhere in the world.
• Historical Analytics: Detailed graphs tracking solar generation, daily watt-hours consumed, battery voltage trends, and temperature logs over the last 6 months.
• Push Notifications: Instant alerts sent to your phone if battery voltage drops below 12.0V, shore power disconnects, or tank levels run low.

Use our free van daily power usage calculator and inverter size calculator to size your primary components before linking them to your Cerbo GX.

FAQ

Does the Cerbo GX require an internet connection to work?

No. The Cerbo GX and GX Touch display function completely offline. All local control, touch screen operation, tank level monitoring, and automated relay triggers run locally on internal firmware. An internet connection (via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or mobile hotspot) is only needed if you want to use the cloud VRM portal and remote phone monitoring.

What is the difference between the Cerbo GX and the Cerbo-S GX?

The Cerbo-S GX is a lower-cost version of the standard Cerbo GX. The Cerbo-S omits the analog tank level resistance inputs and temperature probe inputs. If you only want to monitor your inverter and solar controller, the Cerbo-S saves approximately $70. If you want integrated water tank levels and temperature sensors, you must buy the standard Cerbo GX.

Can I use an iPad or tablet instead of the GX Touch screen?

Yes. If you have an iPad, Android tablet, or old smartphone mounted on your van wall, you can open the tablet web browser and navigate to the Cerbo GX local IP address. The Cerbo GX serves an HTML5 interface called the HTML5 App / Remote Console, allowing you to use a standard tablet as your touchscreen without buying the GX Touch display.

How much power does the Cerbo GX consume over 24 hours?

The Cerbo GX draws approximately 2.5W to 2.8W when active with the screen on, and drops to approximately 1.5W (0.12A at 12.8V) when the screen goes into sleep mode. Over 24 hours, it consumes approximately 35 to 50 Watt-hours (about 3 to 4 Amp-hours), making it exceptionally lightweight on your battery bank.