Battery temp sensors (1 Viewer)

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May 17, 2016
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Aberdeenshire
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2nd base
There's been a few threads recently of blown batteries so given that I'm a full timer in a small van I thought I should invest in some sensors. Hopefully they would give me enough warning if one or both batteries started to cook.

So what's out there? How do they work, easy enough to fit? And given I've 2 victron batteries, shunt and victron MPPT do victron do a pair of sensors to have the data displayed on the connect app?
 
Apr 27, 2016
7,419
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Manchester
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42,762
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A class Hymer
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Since the 80s
Victron do a sensor called SmartSense which literally sticks on the side of the battery. It sends temperature and voltage data by Bluetooth to other Victron stuff like the MPPT and BMV Shunt. I don't know if you can fit two at the same time, never tried it.
 
Aug 1, 2021
1,197
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Pembrokeshire, UK
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83,135
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Auto-T Expedition 66
I've got a Victron SmartSense that is stuck into the side of the leisure battery. There is no alarm function that I'm aware of that would alert users to a cooking, overheating battery. Perhaps this is something they should add to future app updates? Would be a good idea.

The main benefit of the SmartSense device is that it communicates continuously with the Victron MPPT controller (providing it has Bluetooth) and therefore determines the voltage that needs to be reached before it goes from Bulk to Absorption charging. The colder the temperature the higher the Absorption voltage. (The controller on its own has its own temperature compensation built in but is based on the temperature first thing in the morning when the charge process starts. Using the van often in European mountainous areas, together with a dark coloured van I was concerned that applying temperature compensation based on maybe 10 degrees as the sun rises that then increases to over 20 degrees by mid afternoon may lead to an overcharged battery without the additional SmartSense).
Screenshot_20221003-133802.png

Screenshot_20221003-133906.png
 
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Jan 27, 2018
2,851
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Northampton
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52,151
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Rapido & Bongone
The method i use is not for everyone as it requires a small amount of programming skills but examples can be found.
I use an Arduino (small microprosessor) to measure voltage of LB and SB and temperature of battery water and dump valve and display on a simple LCD. A bridge too far for most would be my next step is to interrogate the BMV712 and use it to control SSRs to charge a LIthium battery based on SOC
 
Apr 3, 2018
3,946
11,190
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PVC
Exp
1995-2004 & 2017》
The method i use is not for everyone as it requires a small amount of programming skills but examples can be found.
I use an Arduino (small microprosessor) to measure voltage of LB and SB and temperature of battery water and dump valve and display on a simple LCD. A bridge too far for most would be my next step is to interrogate the BMV712 and use it to control SSRs to charge a LIthium battery based on SOC
Did anybody else understand any of that.??

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Nov 13, 2011
1,559
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Lincolnshire
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30 years
If the two batteries were right next to each other, then I suspect one Victron Smart Sense stuffed down between would do what you are trying to achieve.

Geoff
 
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monzer
May 17, 2016
3,701
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Aberdeenshire
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B524
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2nd base
If the two batteries were right next to each other, then I suspect one Victron Smart Sense stuffed down between would do what you are trying to achieve.

Geoff
One under each seat unfortunately. I've ordered 2 smart sensors so hoping to get them wired up this weekend.
 
May 16, 2021
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Funster No
81,251
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Autotrail
I've got a Victron SmartSense that is stuck into the side of the leisure battery. There is no alarm function that I'm aware of that would alert users to a cooking, overheating battery. Perhaps this is something they should add to future app updates? Would be a good idea.....
if this is something that is a concern, then it would be very easy to fit a temperature controlled relay with a +ve on the input and a 12V buzzer, for example, on the output. Soon as the temp hits the activation value, relay activates and buzzer goes.
Needs no complicated programming, just a basic ability to read a user guide for the unit. cost would be under a tenner for the whole thing.

If it is not a Buzzer wanted, it could be a warning light (or both).

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May 16, 2021
1,273
1,738
Funster No
81,251
MH
Autotrail
The method i use is not for everyone as it requires a small amount of programming skills but examples can be found.
I use an Arduino (small microprosessor) to measure voltage of LB and SB and temperature of battery water and dump valve and display on a simple LCD. A bridge too far for most would be my next step is to interrogate the BMV712 and use it to control SSRs to charge a LIthium battery based on SOC
Why would you need to interrogate the BMV712 in order to achieve that? Just use the Relay settings to activate/deactivate based on SOC and connect the BMV Relay to the SSR. No need to over-complicate :)


On my last campervan I did just this in order to dump excess solar energy to the 240V Water Heater via, oddly enough, an SSR :D
 
Jan 27, 2018
2,851
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Northampton
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52,151
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Rapido & Bongone
Why would you need to interrogate the BMV712 in order to achieve that? Just use the Relay settings to activate/deactivate based on SOC and connect the BMV Relay to the SSR. No need to over-complicate :)
My post may have not been clear but that is what i do, i interogate the bmv to better display (in my mind) the info gathered by the bmv.
 
Dec 2, 2019
3,886
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Amersham
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67,145
MH
van conversion
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Since 2019
I would of thought with the batt sense networked with the solar charger, and temp compensation activated in the solar charger, then it will de rate if battery goes high. If it stops or reduce the charge the battery can’t warm up unless shorted.
 
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