Victron Interface MK2.2b (VE.Bus to RS232)

The VE.Direct interface uses 3.3V or 5V TTL-level serial signalling, which is electrically incompatible with the ±12V RS232 standard used by DB9 serial ports and RS232-equipped PLCs. This interface cable bridges the two standards with a built-in isolated signal conversion circuit, translating the TTL logic levels of the VE.Direct port to full RS232 voltage levels on the DB9 connector side — and vice versa — for reliable bidirectional data exchange. The galvanic isolation between the VE.Direct side and the RS232 side is an important safety feature, as Victron VE.Direct products have very little internal protection on their communication ports.

The VE.Direct side of the interface is powered directly from the connected Victron product's VE.Direct port. The RS232 side draws its power from the DTR signal on pin 4 or the RTS signal on pin 7 of the DB9 connector — both of which are automatically driven high by standard serial ports and most serial port emulators, requiring no external power supply in typical installations. For communication, the GND (pin 5), RX (pin 2), and TX (pin 3) pins of the DB9 connector are used following the standard VE.Direct text and HEX protocol, which is fully documented in Victron's publicly available VE.Direct Protocol document.

The interface is compatible with the full range of Victron products that implement the VE.Direct protocol, and supports both the one-way TEXT data stream (real-time monitoring data transmitted at one-second intervals) and the bidirectional HEX protocol (for reading and writing device settings). It is particularly useful for integration with SCADA systems, data loggers, industrial PLCs, Raspberry Pi serial interfaces, and other embedded systems that require a hardwired serial data connection rather than a USB virtual COM port.

Features

VE.Direct TTL to RS232 Signal Conversion

Converts the 3.3V/5V TTL serial signalling of the Victron VE.Direct port to standard RS232 voltage levels on the DB9 connector side, making it directly compatible with PC serial ports, industrial PLCs, RS232-equipped data loggers, and embedded controllers without any additional level-shifting hardware.

Galvanic Isolation — Protects VE.Direct Ports

Built-in galvanic isolation between the VE.Direct side and the RS232 side protects the communication port of the connected Victron product from ground loops, voltage differentials, and transients present on the RS232 side — an important safeguard given the limited protection on VE.Direct ports within Victron products themselves.

Self-Powered from VE.Direct and DTR/RTS

The VE.Direct side of the interface is powered from the connected Victron product's VE.Direct port. The RS232 side is powered from the DTR or RTS pin of the DB9 connector, which standard serial ports drive high automatically — requiring no external power supply or additional wiring in most standard installations.

Supports VE.Direct TEXT and HEX Protocols

Compatible with both the one-way TEXT protocol — which transmits a continuous stream of real-time monitoring data at one-second intervals — and the bidirectional HEX protocol, which allows reading and writing of device parameters, settings, and historical data using commands formatted according to Victron's publicly available VE.Direct Protocol specification.

Compatible with All VE.Direct Products

Works with the full range of Victron products that implement the VE.Direct interface, including SmartSolar and BlueSolar MPPT charge controllers, BMV battery monitors, Phoenix inverters, Blue Smart IP22 and IP65 chargers, and SmartShunt battery monitors — providing a single standardised RS232 interface solution across the entire VE.Direct product family.

Ideal for SCADA, PLC, and Embedded System Integration

Designed for integration with SCADA monitoring platforms, industrial PLCs, Raspberry Pi hardware serial interfaces, RS232-to-Ethernet converters, and other embedded or industrial systems that require a hardwired serial connection rather than a USB virtual COM port for reliable, continuous data acquisition from Victron devices.

Specifications

Protocol Document

VE.Direct Protocol Document