The Bluetooth, Victron build quality, and level of customization make this my favorite battery monitor. They can do midpoint monitoring, monitor the voltage of a starter battery, and monitor your battery’s temperature if you buy Victron’s temperature sensor. Lastly, both Victron monitors I tested have a few extra features. If your battery bank is far from where you spend your time, such as in a separate building on your property or a couple floors down in a basement, then you might find the monitor’s limited range frustrating. I measured 30 feet, around 70 feet less.ģ0 feet was enough for me to be able to connect when walking around outside of the fifth wheel, but I couldn’t venture too far away or else I’d lose connection. That’s certainly not bad.īut I then tested the SmartShunt’s Bluetooth range when the monitor was inside the battery compartment of my dad’s fifth wheel, surrounded by electronics and walls that could interfere with the signal. When I tested its uninterrupted range in a backyard, I measured 90 to 100 feet. The main gripe you’ll see about the SmartShunt is that its Bluetooth range isn’t very good. Advanced users will rejoice at all the extra information. The app also stores historical data and has a trends report which you can refer to to see things like how your battery percentage or the charge or discharge current has varied over time. And, ultimately, the extra customization helps the monitor be more accurate. It’s a little overwhelming at first, especially since a lot of the settings make no sense the first time you read them.įortunately, Victron has a detailed product manual and there are plenty of excellent YouTube videos on the SmartShunt that will help you dial in the settings for your battery. The Victron monitors are highly customizable and have a lot of settings you can adjust. To install the SmartShunt, you could simply tape it to your battery.Įverything takes place in the app, including adjusting settings and monitoring your battery’s state of charge, voltage, current, and other specs. Then you connect the shunt to your battery bank like normal and you’re ready to start monitoring. Or you can use a couple screws and a drill to mount it to a wall. You could even just mount the shunt to your battery using double-sided mounting tape, which is a relatively common solution among DIY solar enthusiasts. The lack of a screen makes the SmartShunt the easiest to install. It doesn’t have a screen, but Bluetooth comes built in, so you can use the free VictronConnect app to monitor your battery bank from your phone or tablet. It’s pricey, but - given its combo of features - I think it’s actually a pretty good value. Check it out below and consider subscribing to my YouTube channel if you like videos on lithium batteries and DIY solar projects!Īfter testing all these monitors, the SmartShunt ended up being my favorite. I made a video version of this review which gives an overview of each monitor and walks through my testing. Video: Best Battery Monitors for RVs & Solar Batteries Upgrade Pick: Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart 500A.Best Screen: Renogy 500A Battery Monitor. ![]()
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