Best Battery Monitor

[haganap]

I want to purchase a battery monitor and previously on other vans I had a Victron Battery Monitor or on my Niesman the display gave the info required.

I want nothing more than to be able to accurately measure the outgoing/incoming amps for the batteries. The onboard unit does everything else ie battery state but doesn't say what the useage is.

is Victron the best bet or is there a better more simple make? I did find the Victron a bit OTT to be honest.

tia

 

[Richard n Ann]

Ours is great

NASA BM1

 

[Two on Tour]

I like our Victron gear for its ability for customisation to suit the battery installation and that other Victron equipment integrates and networks with each other, plus the ability to view our battery and solar information when away from our van when parked up or laid up, via our MiFi and a cheap Raspberry Pi micro computer

 

[the1andonly]

For a simple low cost Lead acid setup i used one simular to this

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will show voltage current and SOC state of charge. Not the best in the world but usable for £25.
For the next step in terms of complexity/capability price (and a must if LiFePO) then its Victron.
the smart shunt if you are happy using a smart phone whenever you want to know whats happening or if you want to read a display then the BMV712 can be used like the simple one and leave it on SOC or use your phone for all the info it has.
The Beauty of the BMV712 it can also switch a SSR to control charging based on SOC or temperature. A much more sophisticated device that can also be used in a simple way by Numpties, nothing to be frightened of.

 

[the1andonly]

I like our Victron gear for its ability for customisation to suit the battery installation and that other Victron equipment integrates and networks with each other, plus the ability to view our battery and solar information when away from our van when parked up or laid up, via our MiFi and a cheap Raspberry Pi micro computer

I also like the ability for customisation but I use an Arduino mega to connect to the VE bus and a simple display. The 712 is still used to control the relay and the arduino to read temperatures using DS18B20 sensors.