Two new products add to the utility of the Cerbo GX

The first product, the Energy Solutions SmartSwitch DC4 , is the easiest to use and to understand.  It is totally plug and play and adds four channel digital switching to the Cerbo,  We were able to get this up and running without even reading the instructions, it was that easy.   The device can switch four channels, for example lights, a small pump, or a small DC fridge.   It is for use in 12 or 24 volt DC systems only, each switch can be ON-OFF, Momentary, or Dimming.  It includes built in circuit protection for the circuits it is switching.  Each circuit can be a max of 5 amps and the total for all four is 15 amps.  It connects to the Cerbo by VE Can and in our installation it was automatically recognized.  It is possible to add additional units to get more channels.  This kind of digital switching has up till now being the province of larger RV and Boat Manufacturers but now it is available to smaller installers and the consumer aftermarket due to its ease of installation and use.  For a Sprinter van it might be possible to use the Cerbo GX for all DC switching on board with the aid of this device.  And of course the switching can be done remotely over the VRM if needed.

Next we have the GX IO-Extender 150.  This can do more things but to get full use needs external devices.  It is a plug and play device that connects to the Cerbo using a USB connection.  It adds two additional relay ports to the Cerbo GX, these have the exact same specification as the ports built in to the Cerbo.  Then it adds a Solid Switch which is a solid state relay capable of handling up to 4 amps.  This can be used to switch a larger solenoid and thus  control heavy duty devices.  Then it has 8 input/output ports.  These are 5 volt controls only and so cannot be directly connected to anything in your boat or RV, the 5 volts is used as a control for external devices.  5 volts is commonly used on all kinds of switching and control systems and inexpensive relays are available that are triggered by this voltage.  There is no end of things that can be done with these ports but they are not ready to do anything "out of the box" without the help of external devices.  Among the uses will be industrial controls and home automation.  Some home automation products can use these 5 volt signals and then the Cerbo can be used to control things remotely.  Also all the I/O devices can be automated using Node Red which is where the real fun starts.

Lastly there are four PWM ports which can be used by digital dimmers, these also operate on 5 volts.