I almost fainted when I saw the price of a Victron battery monitor

[albertramsbot]

Are there any alternatives? Well yes there are but any that are recommended? I was going to buy a Renogy DC-DC battery charger to go with my Victron solar charge controller, and they do one thats around half the price.

 

[Two on Tour]

Cheaper versions on Amazon if your not worried about whistles and bell and just want a gauge with a readout.

Amazon product ASIN B088RG27LS

 

[albertramsbot]

Might be cheaper to get an Android tablet and install all the apps needed to monitor everything. I have a victron app. I think there is a renogy one? Like a command centre attached to the wall

 

[andyman]

I use the built in battery monitor. If when I press the light switch the light comes on the battery is ok.

 

[Two on Tour]

If you do not wire everything through a shunt, then you will not get a true and accurate indication of your battery condition and state of charge.

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[Lenny HB]

I can't remember who but one supplier has the Smartshunt on offer at the moment for £107, a Funster posted a link.

 

[Two on Tour]

I can't remember who but one supplier has the Smartshunt on offer at the moment for £107, a Funster posted a link.

On Amazon.

Amazon product ASIN B0856PHNLX

 

[jumar]

Might be cheaper to get an Android tablet and install all the apps needed to monitor everything. I have a victron app. I think there is a renogy one? Like a command centre attached to the wall

Or an old smart phone....we've all got old smartphones in a drawer somewhere.... haven't we?

 

[pagey]

what is a shunt please

 

[Itsmcb]

Cheaper versions on Amazon if your not worried about whistles and bell and just want a gauge with a readout.

Amazon product ASIN B088RG27LS

I've had one of those fitted for over a year, works perfectly well

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[Lenny HB]

Might be cheaper to get an Android tablet and install all the apps needed to monitor everything. I have a victron app. I think there is a renogy one? Like a command centre attached to the wall

You would still need a shunt and a way to measure current and compute amps in and out.

 

[Insider]

what is a shunt please

It's part of the (Victron) kit that sits between the battery(s) and the rest of your motorhome. Anytime you turn something on electrically in the camper current has to flow thru this "shunt" and can therefore be measured and reported on either via display or an app on your phone.

 

[windboy]

Might be cheaper to get an Android tablet and install all the apps needed to monitor everything. I have a victron app. I think there is a renogy one? Like a command centre attached to the wall

Are you able to expand to give some idea how this works? how would it communicate, I'm interested having just fitted new leisure batteries and would like to monitor SOC easily.

 

[Lenny HB]

Are you able to expand to give some idea how this works? how would it communicate, I'm interested having just fitted new leisure batteries and would like to monitor SOC easily.

Won't really work for SOC, the Smart shunt at £107 is a bargain snap one up quick.

 

[Gromett]

I have had both the Victron and the NASA battery monitors and the Victron was miles ahead on accuracy and usability.

I will stick with Victron for future builds. Worth the money in my view.

If you don't need the bluetooth bells and whistles then the £130 odd for the BMV 700 is worth it.

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[windboy]

I understand the OP, having myself just fitted new habitation batteries I was looking for a way to keep an eye on their SOC.
The Victron Smart Shunt requires logging on to so not informative at a glance.

Has any one knowledge of the cheaper monitors using shunts, I believe other funsters have used these.

Although the Victron systems provide very comprehensive information they are expensive.

I have a display which displays battery voltage but I understand this is inaccurate unless off load and settled.

Forgive me if this is seen as hijacking the thread but I was about to post a question on this subject

 

[Lenny HB]

If you don't need the bluetooth bells and whistles then the £130 odd for the BMV 700 is worth it.

The 712 wasn't avaliable when I fitted mine I soon ended up forking out another £45 for the Bluetooth adaptor it makes it so much more useable.
If fitting one now I would fit a Smartshunt as I hardly ever look at the display.

Also the 712 & the Smartshunt monitor starter battery voltage the 700 doesn't.

 

[St3v3]

I can't remember who but one supplier has the Smartshunt on offer at the moment for £107, a Funster posted a link.

That was me, £107 on Amazon, direct from Victron

 

[albertramsbot]

I have had both the Victron and the NASA battery monitors and the Victron was miles ahead on accuracy and usability.

I will stick with Victron for future builds. Worth the money in my view.

If you don't need the bluetooth bells and whistles then the £130 odd for the BMV 700 is worth it.

Is this a Shunt? I mean the BMV 700 or does that battery monitor connect to a Shunt? - cheers

 

[missmollie]

Won't really work for SOC, the Smart shunt at £107 is a bargain snap one up quick.

I have just purchased one of these off Amazon as I have been looking for a while a better way to monitor my batteries and solar. I have 2 x 110ah batteries, does the small positive signal wire on this just connect to the positive terminal that feeds my distribution unit?

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[albertramsbot]

Confused now can anyone link to a Vicron Smart Shunt or any other smart shunt. If I search I get the battery monitor, dc to dc chargers, MMTP controllers 0 aarrrrrhhhh

 

[albertramsbot]

Here

• The SmartShunt is an all in one 500 amp battery monitor. Your phone can be connected and acts as a display.
• The SmartShunt connects via Bluetooth to the VictronConnect App on your phone/tablet and you can read out all monitored battery parameters - like state of charge, time to go, historical info and more
• The SmartShunt is equipped with Bluetooth, a VE.Direct port and a connection that can be used for: monitoring a second battery, midpoint monitoring or a temperature sensor
• The SmartShunt is a good alternative for a BMV battery monitor, especially for systems where battery monitoring is needed but less wiring and clutter is wanted
• Incorrect installation can be hazardous, Please consult a licensed professional and follow all applicable electrical codes during installation

So I could use a tablet to monitor via app and bluetooth. What would the second battery be then?

VE.Direct port and a connection that can be used for: monitoring a second battery, midpoint monitoring or a temperature sensor

 

[albertramsbot]

Do you need the blue tooth dongle as well? I have a Victron MPPT 100/50 with the APP. So I also need the Shunt £107, the USB lead £29 for something else and Bluetooth Dongle £60

 

[Lenny HB]

Is this a Shunt? I mean the BMV 700 or does that battery monitor connect to a Shunt? - cheers

The BMV700 is a battery monitor and comes with the shunt but a Bluetooth adaptor is another £45.

Confused now can anyone link to a Vicron Smart Shunt or any other smart shunt. If I search I get the battery monitor, dc to dc chargers, MMTP controllers 0 aarrrrrhhhh

Amazon product ASIN B0856PHNLX

Do you need the blue tooth dongle as well? I have a Victron MPPT 100/50 with the APP. So I also need the Shunt £107, the USB lead £29 for something else and Bluetooth Dongle £60

The Smartshunt has Bluetooth built in.

 

[Diabalo]

I've had one of those fitted for over a year, works perfectly well

Me also, gives a good idea what's going in and what's going out. There's something it cant do around capacity, pickle or peckel effect? something like that Uncle Lenny HB will know what it is as he told me.

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[the1andonly]

The cheap type can be got for about £25 if you want a display.i used one for 2 years before getting lithium and a 712 which has a display and can control relays (why i bought a 712 not a smart shunt)
The buetooth is built in so no dongal required for the smart shunt only if the mppt controller is only old enough not to have bt built in.
A usb lead is not required for your application. (Unless you are dafy enough to diable the bluetooth)
You will be able to control/ monitor both solar input and power usage with one ap on your tablet.

 

[albertramsbot]

The BMV700 is a battery monitor and comes with the shunt but a Bluetooth adaptor is another £45.

Amazon product ASIN B0856PHNLX
The Smartshunt has Bluetooth built in.

So it would appear in the Victron app and could be connected to via that? My Victron 100/50 has built in Bluetooth so I can monitor the input from solar, watts. amps and volts etc. I take it the smart shunt as an app or is connected too via the same app and I can then monitor my batteries. Excellent

 

[Revolvor]

So I could use a tablet to monitor via app and bluetooth. What would the second battery be then?

Your engine battery (voltage only)

 

[Lenny HB]

So it would appear in the Victron app and could be connected to via that? My Victron 100/50 has built in Bluetooth so I can monitor the input from solar, watts. amps and volts etc. I take it the smart shunt as an app or is connected too via the same app and I can then monitor my batteries. Excellent

I think it uses the Victron Connect app.

 

[steveh57]

All the Victron Smart kit uses the Victron Connect App. The use of the additional temperature/ voltage probe with the Smart shunt provides accurate realtime battery data to the MPPT controller. The V.E Direct port allows you to gather data from the device to feed a Cerebo GX or other device i.e Raspberry Pi, then you access all the data in one place or via the online Victron VRM portal- useful when your vans in storage.

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