Victron Smart Shunt is a Great Way to Monitor Your RV Batteries - Here's my Installation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 เม.ย. 2022
- After lots of searching and research on what to install to monitor our RV battery levels I chose to purchase and install the Victron SmartShunt for a few reasons: its easy to install, it does not require wiring to go to a monitor inside the trailer like other monitors being sold, it connects via Bluetooth so I can read all battery parameters on my Smart phone, like state of charge, time left on batteries, historical information, battery temperature and much more.
Now I actually have accurate information on how much battery power I have left in our two lithium batteries instead of guessing. I like it.
Click here to see my other videos if you like:
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Here are links to informational videos on the SmartShunt that I found that provide more information on them including how to set it up once its installed.
Below these 3 videos you will find links to the products I used in my TH-cam video:
VIDEO - Victron Energy 500A Smart Shunt (Beginner Friendly) -
• Victron Energy 500A Sm...
VIDEO - Victron SmartShunt - Monitor Batteries via Bluetooth -
• Victron SmartShunt - M...
VIDEO - Victron Smart Shunt Temp Sensor Install & Setup -
• Victron Smart Shunt Te...
VIDEO - Link to my lithium battery and converter/charger installation -
• Battle Born Lithium Ba...
Great video on Smart Shunts -
The undervalued component in your solar and battery system - The Victron Smart Shunt. -
• The undervalued compon...
Michael Bracewell "The Travel Trailer Guy" is a Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying Amazon purchases by you using the Amazon links below at no additional cost to you. Thank you
Victron Energy SmartShunt 500 amp Battery Monitor (Bluetooth) -
amzn.to/3v4aJiN
Victron Energy Temperature Sensor for BMV-702/712 -
amzn.to/3Llj8nq
Here's a link to the battery box Model M207 I used - Dee Zee M207 Specialty Series ATV Box -
amzn.to/2OUPFcf
Busbar Dual 3/8” Studs Terminal Power Distribution Block with Ring Terminals Pair Red & Black -
amzn.to/38YlFWs
2/0 Gauge 5 Feet Black + 5 Feet Red Pure Copper Ultra Flexible Cable
5pc of 5/16" & 5pcs 3/8" Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors
3 Feet Heat Shrink Tubing
amzn.to/3L1QcAS
2/0 Gauge Wire 10 Feet Red + 10 Feet Black Pure Copper Flexible Cable
10 pcs of 3/8" Tinned Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors
3 Feet Black Heat Shrink Tubing
amzn.to/3v4N9T5
Hydraulic Crimping Tool and Cable Cutter Hydraulic Cable Lug Crimper 8 US TON 12 AWG to 00 (2/0) Electrical Terminal Cable Wire Tool Kit with 9 Die -
amzn.to/3K4g263
Hydraulic Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal Crimper Crimping Tool 12 AWG to 00 (2/0) Electrical Terminal Wire Crimping Plier Kit,Marked with AWG -
amzn.to/3xMyBcA
Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T Micro Flame Butane Torch Kit -
amzn.to/3AfqFQ4
5.5 Oz Butane Refill Bernzomatic -
amzn.to/3H0udIN
Someone had a question on how many amps the Victron SmartShunt draws, here's a link to what I found on this -
community.victronenergy.com/q....
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in our videos are our own or from a contributor. Before taking on any project or making a large purchase, we recommend you do your own research and consult a professional for advice. We are NOT liable for any damage to your RV or injury incurred as a result of following our tips, advice or instructions. We are not RV professionals or certified technicians. We are simply RV owners who work on our own RVs and have a desire to share what we learn with others. Be responsible and know your limits.
Nice work Michael! I always appreciate a person who finished a wiring job with heat shrink. Also, your battery box is set up very nicely! Bravo my friend.
Thanks Oren, I do my best. The box sure is filled with a cluster of wires and it drives me nuts :) Thanks again for all your support here and on Facebook. Hopefully we will meet someday
About to install shunt in a similar configuration. Your video is helpful towards my planning. Thank you!
Your welcome I'm happy the video was helpful. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to send me your feedback. www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Nice and clean. Well done tutorial
Thank you Neil, I appreciate you watching and your feedback. Thanks again :) www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Very nice detail. Straight to the point! I really like your battery set up. It’s what I want to do with my box. Found one box but they are strict on returns. 👍🏽
Thank you so much for the compliments and for watching. I really like the box (it also has a great free return policy through amazon) I used its built very well and will last forever. I was looking at others on line and at Harbor Freight and wasn't impressed with the quality so I splurged and it has worked out well. www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Amazon affiliate links below:
Here's a link to the battery box Model M207 I used - Dee Zee M207 Specialty Series ATV Box -
amzn.to/2OUPFcf
Victron Energy SmartShunt 500 amp Battery Monitor (Bluetooth) -
amzn.to/3v4aJiN
Victron Energy Temperature Sensor for BMV-702/712 -
amzn.to/3Llj8nq
Busbar Dual 3/8” Studs Terminal Power Distribution Block with Ring Terminals Pair Red & Black -
amzn.to/38YlFWs
2/0 Gauge 5 Feet Black + 5 Feet Red Pure Copper Ultra Flexible Cable
5pc of 5/16" & 5pcs 3/8" Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors
3 Feet Heat Shrink Tubing
amzn.to/3L1QcAS
2/0 Gauge Wire 10 Feet Red + 10 Feet Black Pure Copper Flexible Cable
10 pcs of 3/8" Tinned Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors
3 Feet Black Heat Shrink Tubing
amzn.to/3v4N9T5
Hydraulic Crimping Tool and Cable Cutter Hydraulic Cable Lug Crimper 8 US TON 12 AWG to 00 (2/0) Electrical Terminal Cable Wire Tool Kit with 9 Die -
amzn.to/3K4g263
Hydraulic Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal Crimper Crimping Tool 12 AWG to 00 (2/0) Electrical Terminal Wire Crimping Plier Kit,Marked with AWG -
amzn.to/3xMyBcA
Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T Micro Flame Butane Torch Kit -
amzn.to/3AfqFQ4
5.5 Oz Butane Refill Bernzomatic -
amzn.to/3H0udIN
You cleaned it up well! :) Good job Michael.
Thanks Buddy, it sure is getting crowded in the battery box lol
Yet another “MUST DO” for me!!! Thanks pal… Keith
LOL :) Take care buddy and I hope the snow is going away for you :)
@@thetraveltrailerguy Almost! 40 degree days now and some rain so it won't be long.
@@dakotafisher6874 Oh boy :)
Very nice work! Well done!
Thank you an thanks for watching. th-cam.com/users/MichaelBracewellTheTravelTrailerGuyvideos
Great job, insulation will help
Sorry it took me so long to reply, I wasn't notified of your comment and just saw it now. Thanks again for watching. The insulation has been helping :) www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Nice install! I like the way you insulated the battery box. My Renogy shunt is mounted the same way but on the trailer side of the box. I used two 4 post bus bars for my connections. After using the Renogy for a year now, I kind of like having the display inside the trailer. One glance and all the info is there rather than grabbing a phone or tablet and launching an app. I do like the Victron stuff but I purchased my Renogy battery monitor a couple years ago when the Victron was twice the price it is now and three times the Renogy! 👍
Thank you Ron :) have you watched this video? VIDEO - Victron Energy 500A Smart Shunt (Beginner Friendly) -
th-cam.com/video/_GjcGZsK4fI/w-d-xo.html
@@thetraveltrailerguy Yes, I have seen that video. I follow Will's video a lot.
Very informative video and a clean install! I like that battery box too. Do you have any issues with the Bluetooth connection with the shunt inside the metal battery box? Thanks
@@mikehales9926 With the Victron Smart Shunt I am able to get readings inside the front of the trailer. If I hadn't installed the insulation I may reach a little farther.
VICTRON - "The SmartShunt is best used in vans and small trailers where the distance between the SmartShunt to the Smart device (phone, tablet, laptop) is no more than about 10’, 15' at most."
That crimp looks like ure using the wrong size die. It seems it could take a smaller die and the crimp tool should not be released until it's maxed out.
Nice clean job and a great video, Thank you. I am a novice at this solar stuff, and just purchased a new TT with Solar on the roof and a side port for a suitcase solar. I had two 100Ah dragonfly Lithium batteries put on the tongue. I have just ordered the Tictron Smart Shunt along with a new tongue box for the batteries. I have looked at different wiring diagrams for the Smart Shunt with two batteries in parallel, but I can not figure out where the negative ground wire will go that is attached to the frame. Does it stay as it is hooked to the battery and to the frame? Thank you for your time. Any advice would be welcomed.
Sorry it has taken a few day for me to respond, been busy. That's great you bought the Lithium Batteries, your going to love them, These shunts are great and easy to install. Leave the negative wire where it is hooked up now, it should be to the frame. I appreciate you watching and asking questions, I'm happy to be of help when I can. Have you watched some of my other videos about solar, batteries, etc?
We just bought a 2020 Lance 2375 Travel Trailer and I will be doing lots of things to it, Including installing a very elaborate Solar and Controller system so keep an eye for it in the near future.
www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
th-cam.com/video/j4a9MkLRJN4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LXoZWRfu1yV04bzk
th-cam.com/video/1vm4w3BMq4I/w-d-xo.htmlsi=SiBBJSzuGF2V6m24
th-cam.com/video/3lDVBU4CFMM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=QXUj3H7znQcUDwyV
th-cam.com/video/rkRzH0Ay1z0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=4MzT6AzQ_BLEiiX0
th-cam.com/video/BXyL_d34zy4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=snbtlMS0mlDATJ50
www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Hi thanks for your video. I have two lithium batteries o=connected in parallel. Do I need two shunts?
You are welcome :) and thanks for watching and your question. If you are wired in parallel like I am you do not need to two shunts. Only one. www.youtube.com/@thetraveltrailerguy/videos
Hi Michael, just trying to figure how your new 4 AWG lines that go from Battery to Converter/Charger DC Side board are running. Do they attach to your Battleborn pos/neg posts directly or do you have them on a bus bar AFTER the Victron Smartshunt?
Thanks so much for making these very, very helpful informative videos.
Hello Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. We were vacationing in Alaska (not with our trailer). I attached the wires on a buss bar after the Victron Shunt, check it out here - th-cam.com/video/ksCivLNIzEQ/w-d-xo.html
@@thetraveltrailerguy no worries 👍 thanks so much
Nice install. What battery box is that?
Thank You :) Here's a link to the box (Model M207 is the box I used and it can hold 4 - 6 volt batteries - Dee Zee M207 Specialty Series ATV Box amazon affiliate link -
amzn.to/2OUPFcf th-cam.com/video/1vm4w3BMq4I/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/users/MichaelBracewellTheTravelTrailerGuyvideos
Hi Michael
Probably been asked before, here i go lol. Have 3 AGM batteries in my van and i just got the shunt. Can i connect all 3 to one shunt, if so, on what battery negative i put it on, if it matters.
No i haven't watched the video yet, will as soon as i get a chance
Thanks
Hello Paul sorry it took me so long to get back to you, we were out camping.
I would just come off one battery with the negative since they are all tied together to the shunt then out to the loads as you can see me mention in this part of the video and then show later in the video. th-cam.com/video/ksCivLNIzEQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2IbptDIYNyP0wNuI&t=113
Nice Video
May I ask , how do you handle the negative from the battery to the chassis ?
Perhaps you don’t have that situation ?
Thanks
Thanks for asking this question and watching. Here's this part of the video shows where I connected all the negative wires which includes the negative wire that goes to the frame (I should have done a better video on this, I'm sorry) I hope this helps, if not please let me know - th-cam.com/video/ksCivLNIzEQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jhAcDoIR0D39-XF3
th-cam.com/video/ksCivLNIzEQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=QcXgA4Yrcp5KZZpU
@@thetraveltrailerguy I’ve yet to see a diagram actually showing chassis ground going through the shunt.
I spoke with a dealer and they said take chassis ground through the shunt
I’m doing my due diligence before installing.
Your camera is quite outstanding very clear and well focused.
Thanks
@@rickc9873
Here are some videos that may be helpful. Note: If you are not subscribed to "DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse" I recommend you do.
What RV are you installing this shunt on?
th-cam.com/video/_GjcGZsK4fI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=KywV8FMXPSuJit4E
th-cam.com/video/9O3VYCvr75A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=g0K3cwl5qB6w4o0x
th-cam.com/video/C4z5KoPLN84/w-d-xo.htmlsi=D_0daCzhFUro79Ik
community.victronenergy.com/questions/178498/smart-shunt-ground.html#:~:text=To%20clarify%2C%20a%20chassis%20ground,switch%2C%20then%20negative%20bus%20bar.
I have been looking into how to remove the little red wire from the shunt ... even their 47 page manual doesn't say .. so this is how I came across this video. Batteborn has instructions as to how to wire wires to the battery post. Check it out. They say not to put wires on each side of the battery post/terminal ... the reason is to remove the post itself as part of the current flow from wire to wire .... when the wires are connected on top of each other, the current says in the wires and bypasses using the battery post as a connector/conduit/ or path. I do watch for this in many connections I use regardless of being from Battleborn.
Interesting about not putting wires on each side of a battery post. Can you please send me a link to where you read this? I've searched the internet and can't find anything that mentions this. Thank you :)
@@thetraveltrailerguy I'll the link to the BB battery manual, but it only shows the cable connected at the bolt head end, not the nut ... I will look more but when I did my mobile system a couple of three years ago I had read it ... I thought in "the" BB or the manual at that time. I may have talked with BB. I am sure you are already putting the cable to the post directly and not through or over a washer. I would like to see what BB says via their support via phone or email too. Just now, thinking, if one "stacks" the cable (connectors) rather than have flush direct contact with posts, it may be similar to having a "washer" under a connector... point is, I'm sure you know, is direct as possible lowers resistance and that is what we want. Thanks for replying and I'll keep it in mind... please keep me updated too. pat Here is BB link.
battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BB10012-Manual-Edition.PIM_BB10012Rev019_09062022-1.pdf
@@thetraveltrailerguy FOUNS IT ... GREAT WITH COLOR PICTURES NO LESS.. battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Battle-Born-Manual-1.pdf
@@davidpatrick1813 Thank you so much I'm going to check this out
@@davidpatrick1813 Thank you so much I'm going to check this out
It sounded like you have some solar power. Where did you put your positive and negative wires on your system?
Hello Robert, Yes I do have a solar system. All the positive and negative wires go to junction blocks. And then from the positive junction block one positive wire goes to the battery; And then the negative wires are wired in the same way as the positive wires. Here's a couple videos that may be helpful to you.
2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter & Automatic Transfer Switch Installation - Travel Trailer (RV) - th-cam.com/video/rkRzH0Ay1z0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=HIqo6Ev84_9sT33e
Battle Born Lithium Batteries & Progressive Dynamics Converter/Charger Installation - Step by Step - th-cam.com/video/BXyL_d34zy4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7pMTXJztMvgxOyqj
@@thetraveltrailerguy thanks for the reply, my issue is my generator ground is on one battery and 3 other grounds are on the other battery ground (2 100amp hour lithium’s 12volt). Should ALL of them be to a bus bar or can I leave the onboard generator ground where it is
@@robertnasser9937 I would put all the grounds on a buss bar for the shunt to capture all the information it needs to provide you with correct information.
Can I connect a starter lead battery and a consumer Lifepo4 battery?
Both types of batteries to one smart shunt?