Removing the CBE system totally (D300 & Panel) ?

[LeccyLee]

Some may recall my previous thread about the CBE system that many of us have in our vans.

Ive now got a virtually all Victron system (Orion, MPTT, Shunt and Multiplus) now, and even just ordered the Cerbo and touchscreen, and the Cerbo has the ability to monitor temperatures, tanks and even control relays.

So being an Electrician, and really not being a fan of the CBE control panel and unit, I was thinking of totally removing it! Just wondered if anyone else has gone this far? Obviously id have to fit a 12v distribution board to replace the D300, but lighting would still work as is with existing switches etc.

My only issues to maybe solve, is the electric step (retracting with ignition etc). And the fridge also running only when engine running. Appreciate any ideas on those, and thoughts in general?

 

[Wombles]

Bump - can anyone advise?

 

[LeccyLee]

Guess not… haha. Ah well

 

[Hoovie]

If I were to do this I would get hold of the wiring diagram for the CBE300 so you can see what is coming in going out and work from there.
It is not a hard process to replace the functionality of a built-in PDU like a CBE300 or the like if you want to remove it. I have a Sargent EC325 in my Motorhome and I am not using a lot of its functionality as I have fitted a Victron EasyPlus, MPPTs and B2B. I have kept the Sargent in place as I do quite like the control panel and the unit does 12V distribution but if it were to fail beyond self-repair, it would be simple to replace with a switch panel, 12V fuse box and 240V CU, with maybe a simple 30A Relay or two for step & fridge functions.

 

[LeccyLee]

I have the diagrams and yes I don’t think it will be too difficult as a sparkie, was mostly curious as to anyone done it before and any tips etc.

Sounds like you have a similar situation with Victron upgrades.

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[Hoovie]

I have the diagrams and yes I don’t think it will be too difficult as a sparkie, was mostly curious as to anyone done it before and any tips etc.

Sounds like you have a similar situation with Victron upgrades.

I am not directly familiar with the CBE 300 but I thought it was quite a nice system? One potential advantage you would have is that it uses the standard CBE frame sizes so if you did rip it out you could use the same fitting and build yourself a nice switch panel to fit into the triple (think triple? maybe double?) CBE frame if it is not too much of a reroute? (my Sargent panel is on the opposite side of the van from the EC325 and uses a data cable to connect, so if I did replace, any new panel would have to go elsewhere as running 12V cables to it just for switching would be too much of a pain).

Once you have the Cerbo installed, the usefulness of the CBE Panel will lower even further as you will end up using the Screen, or VRM to control things. I control my Fridge from the Victron sub-system, enable the electric water heater via it based on Battery SOC, turn on the external locker AC socket remotely, etc. This is my System via VRM....

Something I have failed to manage to do is use the Cerbos Tank Level inputs to replace the Sargent panel info. The Sensors seem to work in different ways and when I connected them up to the Cerbo just to have a play to see, they stopped working entirely on the Sargent. So while it would be useful, I am happy enough using the Sargent to show that info.

 

[Bobby-gg]

I'd say it would be relatively easy too, and my fridge relay within the ds300 failed so I've just used a D+ signal controlled relay on the fridge directly, bypassing the cbe completely.

The only thing I'd worry about is the length of the the existing wiring, mine is very tight and if your replacement distribution panel is bigger, you might have to start extending cables

 

[mitzimad]

i was going to do the same with my ebox if i couldnt get it fixed its only a package of stuff you can easily replicate, as you say ,with fuses and relay

 

[TheBig1]

A very simple job when you get into it, especially if you mark each of the outgoing supplies as they are on the CBE box. The fridge and step retract are simply relays triggered by the D+ going live on engine run. Fit a decent quality fuse board with LED tell tales and it will be easy to work on later. Most of all, document what you have changed, so any future owner can fix faults in years to come

 

[Hoovie]

A very simple job when you get into it, especially if you mark each of the outgoing supplies as they are on the CBE box. The fridge and step retract are simply relays triggered by the D+ going live on engine run. Fit a decent quality fuse board with LED tell tales and it will be easy to work on later. Most of all, document what you have changed, so any future owner can fix faults in years to come

The Fridge is a very simple "D+ turns on fridge Relay", but the Step might need a little thought behind it as you have a switch to put it in and out, and the auto-retract on engine start feature usually.
If you make it "too simple" you can end up with a step that maybe comes out everytime the engine stops, maybe DOESN'T go in with engine start and maybe one you cannot control with a switch reliably.
Yes, that is doable for sure, but not quite as simple as just whacking a relay on the +12V to the step.

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[LeccyLee]

So as im taking out the CBE kit, im guessing I need to get and fit some relays as well.

 

[LeccyLee]

Something I have failed to manage to do is use the Cerbos Tank Level inputs to replace the Sargent panel info. The Sensors seem to work in different ways and when I connected them up to the Cerbo just to have a play to see, they stopped working entirely on the Sargent. So while it would be useful, I am happy enough using the Sargent to show that info.

Yes im worried about tank sensors too, but if need be I buy new ones and get them fitted. I believe the Cerbo only takes resistive sensors, but if you add the Victron Tank unit, it will work with any sensor type, but which will be cheaper the victron tank unit or new probes... haha

 

[Hoovie]

Yes im worried about tank sensors too, but if need be I buy new ones and get them fitted. I believe the Cerbo only takes resistive sensors, but if you add the Victron Tank unit, it will work with any sensor type, but which will be cheaper the victron tank unit or new probes... haha

Info is hard to find on what is in place, but it is possible to "convert" a group of sensors into a single resistive output with a fairly simple circuit of resisters of different values, which the Cerbo should be able to then use. This is what I was hoping to do and have both Sargent and Cerbo reading the info (with the original sensors connected via an opto-isolator to get the right voltage level to work with and hopefully not impact the Sargent, but any connection seemed to stop the Sargent reading at all, so I parked that idea as the sargent gives me enough on tanks (even thought the Cerbo would be nicer if I knew it could work with the sensors. My water tanks are very inaccessible so want to mess with them as little as possible.

But That circuitry might be worth looking at as I believe the Victron tank unit is rather pricey.

 

[Taff015]

Let me know how it goes. I cant get the parts to solve an issue with my CBE 540hy so im planning to do the same! just got to figure out the 22 fuses and what each wire does!

 

[Pyroman850]

TheBaron, did you carry out the conversion, and what was wrong with the CBE kit?

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