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

Is there anyway to trickle charge my starter batteries from this app using a custom settings file? Or do I have to purchase a DC to DC charger or smart relay?

Thanks

PS the most frustrating thing about the Victron Connect app is you have to be in range of the BT for it to work. Why cant you just open the legacy data from the last time it connected? Drives me mad. I am trying the learn the thing but have to go out in the street in order to test things :(
 
albertramsbot said:
Is there anyway to trickle charge my starter batteries from this app using a custom settings file? Or do I have to purchase a DC to DC charger or smart relay?

Thanks

PS the most frustrating thing about the Victron Connect app is you have to be in range of the BT for it to work. Why cant you just open the legacy data from the last time it connected? Drives me mad. I am trying the learn the thing but have to go out in the street in order to test things :(
Click to expand...
If you want to charge the engine battery, get a Vanbitz Battery Master, or else a dual output solar controller.

You are right, the BT range of the SmartShunt is pitiful. I've also got a CTEK Battery Monitor, and I can check that from inside the house, with the van on the drive.
 
albertramsbot said:
PS the most frustrating thing about the Victron Connect app is you have to be in range of the BT for it to work. Why cant you just open the legacy data from the last time it connected? Drives me mad. I am trying the learn the thing but have to go out in the street in order to test things
Click to expand...

I can view all my Victron devices and all their data from anywhere in the world on my mobile using Victron VRM (Victron Remote Monitoring).

1637618087983.png




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The Victron connect app in addition to above also allows you via the VRM tab to access the device as if you were stood next to it. That’s my current Smart Shunt status, I can also access my MPPT controller in the same fashion and adjust the settings again as if I was stood next to it.
PNG image.png
 
Two on Tour said:
I can view all my Victron devices and all their data from anywhere in the world on my mobile using Victron VRM (Victron Remote Monitoring).
Click to expand...
Yes but that requires a further level of expenditure beyond the bluetooth device! The Op was looking at something more affordable than the Victron Smartshunt though a special reduced price offer might suit him.

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You can of course just buy a cheap LED voltage monitor but will only give the voltage and not the percentage of power remaining which is done through wiring everything through the shunt which is a conductive bar of a known resistance which is how it can accurately measure the amps both in and out of the batteries. Such a system does needs to start from a fully charged battery (or bank of batteries) i.e. at 100% of its Amp hour capacity
 
albertramsbot said:
Is there anyway to trickle charge my starter batteries from this app using a custom settings file? Or do I have to purchase a DC to DC charger or smart relay?

Thanks

PS the most frustrating thing about the Victron Connect app is you have to be in range of the BT for it to work. Why cant you just open the legacy data from the last time it connected? Drives me mad. I am trying the learn the thing but have to go out in the street in order to test things :(
Click to expand...
You can send yourself via email the historical data from the app.
 
Abacist said:
Yes but that requires a further level of expenditure beyond the bluetooth device! The Op was looking at something more affordable than the Victron Smartshunt though a special reduced price offer might suit him.
Click to expand...

Yes, but the OP as the says that he is trying to learn things and was obviously unaware that he could view and control his Victron device without standing close to his van, now he knows he can, and he may well now go the route of remote viewing having been alerted to it. (y) Without knowledge, you restrict yourself in choice.
As for expenditure, it can be done for less than £40
 
Just checked today and I am getting between 50 and 60V but only 7 watts on the app. They do need a clean but seems low for such large panels

Cheers
 
albertramsbot said:
Just checked today and I am getting between 50 and 60V but only 7 watts on the app. They do need a clean but seems low for such large panels

Cheers
Click to expand...

Is your battery full/being charged by something else? If not, it would suggest a loose connection from solar charger to battery.

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missmollie said:
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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The small red wire is power for the shunt electronics it should have a fuse in it, you just connect it to a battery positive, doesn't really matter where.
 
Good bit of reading and advice
We tend to use what we’ve got
just thinking of something I can invent that shows on a phone or tablet and become rich
 
Having been down this path of battery monitoring for consideration times many, I have used the following to do what I now do:
1. Age of vehicle, value and anticipated usage.
2.Level of understanding of technology and use of apps, computers and confidence of messing with electrics.
3. Size of my wallet!

1. Vehicle is 21 years old, in good condition, approx stands me at 16 to 17k in its current state, and goes out on day runs in the winter and occasional weekends and weeks in “the season”.
Has 1 leisure battery and a spare, plus a cab battery and no use of inverters.
2.Once a week I do a manual inspection of the battery voltages using a simple plug in 12v meter via the front cigarette lighter socket for the cab, and via the rear 12v socket for the leisure battery.
If either lead acid battery are below 12.3v, they go on charge, the leisure battery through the mains onboard inbuilt charger supplied from 240v, also feeding the 240v sockets in the van.
The cab battery has a stand alone smart charger which is powered from a 240v onboard socket and plugs in internally into the permanent live cigarette socket and charges the battery and then goes into condition charging mode when battery is fully charged.
Very simple and charger cost £35 with £5 for the 12v meter.
Also this way I keep an eye on the condition of the van regularly whilst not used.
3. Money left for Beer!

I am not a technophobe and am constantly annoyed at everything having to have an “app” and that we constantly have to rely on mobile phones to access even the simplest things in life.
What ever happened to folks just talking to each other, paying with actual money and keeping things simple?
Heaven forbid if you have so much reliance on monitoring equipment or needing to communicate with officialdom via an upto date mobile phone, that the battery suddenly goes, or it gets nicked or you just loose it!

Thanks, but think I’ll stay a Luddite and dinosaur a while longer.😊🦖🧶
 
St3v3 said:
Is your battery full/being charged by something else? If not, it would suggest a loose connection from solar charger to battery.
Click to expand...
Right, sometimes it goes as far as 72V so its not the connection between the panels x 2, so must be the connection issues I had last week. Can I read wattage using a multi meter directly on the terminals of my Vicron controller?

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Just realised it cant be a connection issue as it wouldn't register any amps or volts at all. ohms law and all that. Solar panels are 12 x 6 each. Not sure what wattage that should be but around 250 each? Even more if they are newish

And the Victron Connect App is a wind up because I need to connect to it rather than just open and see legacy data. Jeeze, means I have to be outside in the boot of my van before I can see any data. Naff or what?
 
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albertramsbot said:
Right, sometimes it goes as far as 72V so its not the connection between the panels x 2, so must be the connection issues I had last week. Can I read wattage using a multi meter directly on the terminals of my Vicron controller?
Click to expand...

What does it say on the app for battery voltage? And what do you measure at the actual battery terminals?
 
Have had a mixture of Victron and Fangpusun in my Hymer for 4 years and they work well. My Victron 2KW inverter pretending to be made in Holland is made in China so why not try other products from the country.
Here is a link. They even get the colour right.
 

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I fitted a Merlin Smart gauge to my, then, new boat about four years ago. I had never heard of it, but an electrical guru at our yacht club suggested I fit one. Its simple but accurate and reliable. Showing percentage charge and voltage of the two 110Ah house batteries and just voltage of the 80Ah starter battery.

At circa £120, It might suit your needs. I have a large CTEK mains charger and 100w of solar connected through a Victron charge controller (can’t remember what size).

SmartGauge Electronics - Homepage

www.smartgauge.co.uk

SmartGauge Electronics - SmartGauge battery monitor

www.smartgauge.co.uk

Or this: https://www.merlinequipment.com/product/2-1-2-3-1-smartgauge/
 
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Itsmcb said:
I've had one of those fitted for over a year, works perfectly well 👍
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Also fitted one it can check volts, battery capacity, and amps,only draw back it is illuminated when charging or discharging,great addition

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tanex said:
Have had a mixture of Victron and Fangpusun in my Hymer for 4 years and they work well. My Victron 2KW inverter pretending to be made in Holland is made in China so why not try other products from the country.
Here is a link. They even get the colour right.
Click to expand...
Make sure you never let the rip-off do a firmware update.
 
Thanks for the tip. Will keep them well away. All working well down here.
 
Two on Tour said:
As for expenditure, it can be done for less than £40
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Hi Paul, could you point me in the direction of this kit please. I have 'always on' 4G/Wifi so assuming I could connect through this. TIA
 
Diabalo said:
Is it a secret what's needed?:LOL: as I'm interested in a cost effective solution.
Click to expand...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Victron Venus OS and a Rasberry

Victron Venus OS setup on a Rasberry Pi. This a simple summary of the setup procedure for Victron Energy products that contain a V.E Direct port. Victron has a device called the Color Control GX (£500) that provides monitoring, control and remote management via their VRM portal of many...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
Diabalo said:
Is it a secret what's needed?:LOL: as I'm interested in a cost effective solution.
Click to expand...

Happy to pass on the info, but did not want to hijack the OP's thread when they are trying to sort their own problems out.

The info is lurking about on another thread or two or PM me and I'll spill the beans.
 
Two on Tour said:
Happy to pass on the info, but did not want to hijack the OP's thread when they are trying to sort their own problems out.

The info is lurking about on another thread or two or PM me and I'll spill the beans.
Click to expand...
Ooo, I love a mystery 😎

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