VE Configure Tips

From user Rick M:

VE Configure on macOS Big Sur

April 26, 2021

1 System Requirements

▪ macOS 11.2 Big Sur or higher (may work on earlier versions of Big Sur)

▪ CrossOver 20.0.4 or higher (may work with earlier 20.0.x versions) (https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover#mac)

▪ VE Configuration tools (https://www.victronenergy.com/support-and-downloads/software#ve-configuration-tools-for-ve-bus-products)

2 Installation of VE Configure with CrossOver

Standard installation procedure via "CrossOver Software Installer"

▪ Download and install CrossOver for Mac if not already complete.

▪ Download the "VE Configuration tools" program.

▪ Run CrossOver.

▪ Click the "Install a Windows Application" button or click on the Configure menu and select "Install Software...".

▪ In the "CrossOver Software Installer" window click on the "Select Installer" tab.

▪ Click on "Choose Installer File...".

▪ Navigate to the VECSetup.exe file you downloaded from Victron. It may be named VECSetup_X.exe where X is some letter. Select the file and click on "Use this installer".

▪ Click on Continue.

▪ On the "Select Application" tab click on "Unlisted application" at the bottom of the list.

▪ Click on the "Select Bottle" tab.

▪ Click on "New Windows 10 64-bit Bottle...".

▪ Optionally, update the value in "New Bottle Name" with "VE Configuration". Remember the bottle name, you will need it in the second half of section 3 below.

▪ Click on Continue.

▪ On the "Install & Finish" tab click on Install.

▪ This will begin the installation process and launch the VE Configure tools Setup Wizard. Follow the prompts and accept all of the default values clicking Next several times and finally Install. Uncheck the "Start VEConfig when setup finished" checkbox and click on Finish. If VEConfigure launches, click on the File menu then Exit.

▪ Click on Done to dismiss the CrossOver Software Installer.

3 Allow for the use of a Victron MK3 VE.Bus to USB cable

Before you can use VE Configure with your VE.Bus device (such as a Multiplus) you need to perform some manual steps so the device connection will be recognized.

Connect the MK3 to the VE.Bus device using a standard network cable. Plug the USB cable into your computer. You may need a USB-C to USB adapter depending on your Mac.

You now need to run the Terminal application on your Mac. Enter "terminal" into the Spotlight search. Then click on Terminal. A Terminal window will appear. Type the following commands exactly in the window (press the return key after each command):

1. cd /dev

2. ls *usbserial*

This should display a value similar to "tty.usbserial-HQ2009XXXXX" where the last part is likely the serial number of your MK3.

Using that value you need to create a symbolic link in the "dosdevices" directory used by CrossOver. This is done using the following commands:

1. cd /Library/Application\ Support/CrossOver/Bottles/VE\ Configuration/dosdevices

2. ln -s /dev/tty.usbserial-HQ2009XXXXX com1

In the first command replace "VE\ Configuration" with the actual bottle name you remembered from the steps of section 2 above. In the second command be sure to replace the "HQ2009XXXXX" with the actual value you saw from the "ls *usbserial*" command earlier.

4 Run VEConfig and connect Multiplus

You are now ready to run VEConfigure and connect to your VE.Bus device such as a Multiplus.

▪ Ensure the device is still connected via the MK3 cable.

▪ Start CrossOver if needed.

▪ Double-click on the VEConfig icon.

▪ Once you get past the initial prompts of VEConfigure, click on the Options menu and uncheck the "Scan for available COM ports".

▪ Click on the "Port Selection" menu, then "Com port", and then select "Com 1".

At this point VEConfigure should connect to and recognize your VE.Bus device. Use VEConfigure as needed to setup your device.