Convert Victron EasySolar-II GX into a Multiplus + MPPT

Been mulling this over for a while actually. The EasySolar-II GX is a tidy all-in-one unit but I've been wondering whether there's any real advantage to splitting it out into discrete components — a Multiplus-II and a separate SmartSolar MPPT — rather than keeping everything bundled together.

On the narrowboat I can see the argument for the integrated unit (space is always the enemy), but for my garden office build I'm leaning towards separating them out. Main reasons:

• Serviceability — if the MPPT packs in, you're not losing your inverter/charger at the same time
• Flexibility — adding a second MPPT later is far simpler if they're already separate units on the VE.Bus/VE.Direct network
• Thermal management — both components running hard simultaneously in one enclosure makes me a bit uneasy

The obvious downside is cost and wiring complexity. The EasySolar-II GX is genuinely good value when you price up the equivalent Multiplus-II + SmartSolar + Cerbo GX separately. That's a meaningful chunk of money.

Has anyone actually done this conversion? I've seen references to it in passing but not a detailed walkthrough. Presumably it's not as simple as just unbolting things — there must be firmware/config implications with the integrated GX device versus running a standalone Cerbo?

Curious whether anyone's had reliability issues with the integrated unit that pushed them towards separation, or whether this is mostly theoretical worry on my part.

Done exactly this on my garden office setup last year — pulled apart the all-in-one thinking and went discrete Multiplus-II + SmartSolar MPPT 150/35.

The real-world win nobody mentions: serviceability. When my MPPT threw a fault last March, I swapped it without touching the inverter side. With the EasySolar you're essentially grounded until the whole unit's sorted.

Cable routing also becomes considerably cleaner when you can position each component independently rather than wrestling everything into one corner because that's where the all-in-one lives.

Downsides? You're adding VE.Direct cables, potentially another mounting plate, and the cost delta between buying separately versus the EasySolar bundle isn't always in your favour if you're purchasing new.

@SunnyViking what's driving this — space constraints or a specific fault you're chasing?

Swapped mine out on the narrowboat when the "convenience" of all-in-one meant the whole lot was useless while the MPPT was being warranty-replaced — never again.

Did the discrete route on my van build — Multiplus-II 12/3000 paired with a SmartSolar 100/30. Main practical win for me was cable runs. With the EasySolar you're constrained by where the unit physically sits. Separate components let me mount the MPPT close to the panels (shorter DC runs, less voltage drop) and the inverter/charger near the battery bank independently.

Also worth considering: if one unit needs a firmware update or starts playing up, you're not offline entirely. Had the MPPT throw a fault once — shore power and inverter kept working fine while I sorted it.

The GX display integration is genuinely nice on the EasySolar, but a Cerbo GX achieves the same thing across discrete kit. Slightly more wiring, but worth it for the flexibility.

@ThistleKen's narrowboat scenario is basically my nightmare made real — on the water, "one unit down means everything down" isn't an inconvenience, it's a safety issue.

My current boat setup runs a Multiplus-II and SmartSolar separately, which means when my MPPT firmware update went sideways last spring, I still had shore power charging ticking away without missing a beat.

The other angle nobody's mentioned: physical placement flexibility. All-in-one forces a compromise location, whereas discrete components let you optimise each unit for heat dissipation, cable runs, and accessibility. My MPPT lives close to the panels on the stern locker roof, Multiplus is amidships near the battery bank — couldn't do that with an EasySolar.

The EasySolar-II GX is a cracking unit for a simple install, but simplicity and resilience aren't always the same thing.