You can also monitor the voltage of a second battery and set up programmable alerts for low voltage. Use it to track battery SOC and energy usage over time. The historical data logging is extremely useful. Take a look at the Victron Smart BMV-712 instead if you prefer to have a mountable display. It works seamlessly with other Victron equipment or as a stand-alone battery monitor. I like the versatility and compactness of the Victron Smart Shunt. You monitor and program the Smart Shunt using the Victron Connect mobile app or one of Victron’s GX devices ( Cerbo GX or Color Control GX). ![]() It communicates via wireless Bluetooth or through Victron’s VE.Direct cable interface. Unlike the BMV-712 though, the Victron Smart Shunt does not have a display unit. It is the successor to the popular Victron BMV-712 battery monitor used for 12V, 24V and 48V systems. The Victron Smart Shunt battery monitor is a compact module with the control unit and shunt combined. RV Battery Monitors under $200 with Shunts Victron Smart Shunt We use affiliate links and may earn a small commission on qualified purchase you make. ![]() Firmware Upgrades with new features and bug-fixes.Integration and networking with other vendor equipment platforms (Victron).Triggered Relay (to activate equipment like generators or cooling fans).Remote Monitoring / Control via mobile App.The models closer to the $200 mark may also include bonus features like these that you may want to consider: My Top 5 Battery Monitoring SystemsĪll of the battery monitors listed will have the basic monitoring features previously mentioned. Some systems may take it a step further with more sophisticated SOC algorithms, but all are based on measuring current flowing in and out of the battery bank. The battery monitor should now show a SOC of 95%. After one hour 5Ah is added back to your remaining capacity. ![]() Now let’s put a 5 Amp charge back in your battery. If you draw 10 Amps from your battery for one hour (10Ah), the SOC should read 90% (or 90Ah) remaining. Charge current coming back in from a battery charger or solar is ADDED to the available battery capacity.ĮXAMPLE: A 100Ah battery charged to 100% has a 100Ah of available capacity. Here’s how it works at a very basic level.Įlectrical current (Amps) leaving the battery to power your gear is subtracted from the available battery capacity. The control unit takes the current measurements over time and converts them into Amp Hours.įinally, the computed Amp Hours are either added to or subtracted from the available battery capacity. Those measurements are sent in real-time back to the control unit. The shunt measures electrical current as it flows back and forth across it. ![]() Here’s an article explaining Amp Hours if you’re not sure what that means. So the battery monitor first needs to know how many Amp Hours of energy your battery bank can store when it’s fully charged. How Battery Monitors Calculate the State-Of-Chargeĭeep cycle batteries are rated in Amp Hours (Ah). It measures all energy flowing in and out of the battery and passes that data back to the control/display unit. You will need something better to get a measurement of your battery bank’s remaining capacity.With most battery monitors, the shunt is a separate device connected between the battery and the rest of the system. When you charge with the Convertor or Solar the battery voltage will be artificially elevated making it harder to know how your battery is doing. Lithium batteries do not sag nearly as much as lead acid batteries. The reason why it is hard to know the SOC of the battery is because when you discharge with heavy loads like a microwave or coffee pot the battery voltage will sag with the load. The standard battery gauge that most RV manufacturers equip their coaches and trailers with, the kind with three or four LED “idiot” lights, will never let you know the actual SOC of your battery. I’ve helped many RVers that did not include a battery monitor, and therefore damaged their batteries past usability within the first year! More info on How far to discharge your Lead Acid RV batteries? Knowing your battery bank’s State of Charge (SOC) is important so that you do not drain your battery too much and shorten its life. Would you drive your car without a fuel Gauge? You do not need a Battery Monitor, but the “idot lights” will not let you know how full your battery is.
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