Your Cerbo or Ekrano Just Got a Lot More Capable

The Victron Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX have always been the brains of a well-built off-grid system. But a lot of people don't realize just how much these devices can talk to outside of the Victron ecosystem. With the release of Venus OS 3.70 earlier this year, that list got significantly longer. If you already have a Cerbo or Ekrano, you may have more capability sitting on your shelf than you think.

Here's a breakdown of what's new and what's worth looking at.

Shelly — The Obvious One

Venus OS 3.70 now natively supports Shelly Gen2 and newer smart switches, energy meters, and RGB light controllers. This is big news for anyone who wants to control and monitor AC loads without adding a full automation platform to the mix.

The setup is straightforward. Shelly devices on the same network are discovered automatically, though disabled by default. Once enabled in Settings → Integrations, they appear in the switch pane. Supported device types include on/off switches, dimmable outputs with slider control, and energy meters.

In practical terms, this means you can put a Shelly smart plug or relay on a water heater, a pump, a battery charger, or any AC load you want the Cerbo to see and control — without any coding. The Shelly 1, 1PM, 2.5, 4PM, and EM series are all worth looking at depending on your load type. For energy monitoring on a grid-tied or hybrid system, the Shelly 3EM is a popular pick for whole-house metering.

Shelly hardware is also inexpensive compared to dedicated industrial gear. A Shelly 1PM runs about $15–20. That's a cheap way to add a controlled, monitored load to your system.

The Switch Pane — Where It All Lives Now

The real story behind 3.70 isn't just Shelly. It's what Victron did with the switch pane. The switch pane has grown to become a central point for an entire digital control system. GX relays, Node-RED virtual switches, and supported third-party digital switches such as Garmin, Shelly, and Safiery now appear together, enabling customizable controls.

This is a meaningful shift. Victron is clearly building the Cerbo/Ekrano into a hub-level controller, not just a monitor. If you're doing a complex build — RV, cabin, vessel — the switch pane gives you one place to manage everything that matters.

Ruuvi — Temperature, Humidity, and Pressure Over Bluetooth

Venus OS 3.70 also added support for Ruuvi Air sensors via Bluetooth. Ruuvi has actually been in the Victron ecosystem for a while, but it keeps getting better.

RuuviTag Bluetooth sensors extend the temperature monitoring capabilities of the Cerbo GX and Ekrano GX. They measure temperature, air humidity, and air pressure, and the data is visible through VRM. You can set automations off the sensor data — if a battery compartment gets too hot, trigger a relay. If a freezer hits an alarm threshold, get an email.

These sensors are compact, rugged, and inexpensive. If you have a Cerbo or Ekrano and a battery room, a freezer, a mechanical space, or any area where temperature matters, a couple of Ruuvi tags are an easy add.

Garmin EmpirBus — For Marine and RV Builds

Garmin EmpirBus digital switching is now supported in the switch pane on both the GX display and via remote console on VRM — a welcome addition for RV builders, boatbuilders, and OEMs. If you're already running a Garmin MFD on a vessel, this is worth knowing. Alarms from the GX device are now transmitted onto the NMEA 2000 network, and Garmin MFDs will display these alerts from the helm.

GX IO-Extender 150 — More I/O When You Need It

The GX IO-Extender 150 enhances the input and output capabilities of a GX device, enabling seamless integration with additional sensors, controls, and external devices. It connects via USB, which also serves as its power source. The device can be controlled using Node-RED on the GX device as well as the switch pane. If your Cerbo is running out of analog and relay inputs on a complex build, this is the expansion path Victron intended.

Home Assistant — If You Want to Go Deeper

Home Assistant users now have two official integration paths. Victron Remote Monitoring was introduced natively in Home Assistant 2025.10. There's also a Victron BLE device integration available. Both allow you to pull Cerbo data into HA dashboards, automate against it, and combine it with other smart home devices — including Shelly hardware that's already on your network.

This path requires more setup and some comfort with HA, but the payoff is a fully customized monitoring and control environment that goes well beyond VRM.

The Bottom Line

Venus OS 3.70 is a strong signal of where Victron is taking the ecosystem — they are clearly working on integrations with other products and services. If you've been treating the Cerbo or Ekrano as just a monitoring device, it's time to take another look. The hardware you already have is capable of a lot more than the default setup shows.

If you have questions about any of this or want help speccing a system that takes advantage of these integrations, reach out. We're happy to talk through it.