Need recommendations for a simple battery capacity display

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WildBunch

Joined
May 22, 2018
Posts
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Location
Oxfordshire
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54,029
MH
Hymer Exsis I 678
Exp
Since 2016
I have a 110 ah Lithium battery, with Victron smart shunt, DC-DC Orion, 75/15 MPPT solar unit etc.
I can monitor all performance parameters via the Victron app. But it would be useful to have an instantaneous display in the hab area.
Ideally I would like a simple and cheap volt & battery capacity digital display unit . I have seen one such unit on the "tinternet", for £ 6.00 approx.
You need to be able to set the battery, size, type,full voltage to get the % capacity.
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Please let me know if you have used or can recommend a suitable instrument.
 
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WildBunch said:
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Click to expand...

Given the above reasoning, you may as well just use the App.

If you really want a display in your living area I’d go for the BMV. I doubt you’d get anything meaningful from a £6 ‘tinternet’ jobby and even if you went for it you’d spend all your time questioning the different readings between it and the App.

Ian
 
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bigtwin said:
Given the above reasoning, you may as well just use the App.

If you really want a display in your living area I’d go for the BMV. I doubt you’d get anything meaningful from a £6 ‘tinternet’ jobby and even if you went for it you’d spend all your time questioning the different readings between it and the App.

Ian
Click to expand...
Hi Thanks for your reply, I agree to some extent about the likely difference with the display & the app. My phone is often used on other apps for finding sites, ham radio etc. However I primarily need an accurate voltage
display, the percentage capacity would be useful as long as you understand it's limitations. I also would kike a unit with a off switch to shut it down when in storage.
Any body have any recommendations.
 
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None of the chinesse models are suitable for LiFePO4 (ask the right questions and you get the answer you dont need to do that, oh yes you do). In your position the only sensible option is to sell the smartshunt and get a BMV712

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WildBunch said:
However I primarily need an accurate voltage display.
The percentage capacity would be useful as long as you understand it's limitations
Click to expand...
I have found my NDS Energy Meter to be very good with Lithium batteries.

It gives both voltage and percentage SoC, together with the current drain (or charge).

I don't think I need anything else as it has a physical display.
 
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RogerIvy said:
Not as good as a Victron but pretty cheap and does work. I’ve run one alongside my smartshunt for about two years and it’s within a few %

www.aliexpress.com

Juntek KG110F DC 120V 100A Lithium Capacity Tester High-precision Voltage Current Coulomb Meter Car Battery Tester Indicator - AliExpress 1420

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com
Click to expand...
Does it have a manual setting for peukert factor? Or how does it detect battery chemistry, select from a list? I cant see any reference on the adverts
 
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WildBunch said:
Hi Thanks for your reply, I agree to some extent about the likely difference with the display & the app. My phone is often used on other apps for finding sites, ham radio etc. However I primarily need an accurate voltage
display, the percentage capacity would be useful as long as you understand it's limitations. I also would kike a unit with a off switch to shut it down when in storage.
Any body have any recommendations.
Click to expand...
I have one of these to monitor the starter battery and I also wired a cigar lighter socket To the leisure battery with another one in

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IMG_3207.png
 
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This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
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WildBunch said:
I have a 110 ah Lithium battery, with Victron smart shunt, DC-DC Orion, 75/15 MPPT solar unit etc.
I can monitor all performance parameters via the Victron app. But it would be useful to have an instantaneous display in the hab area.
Ideally I would like a simple and cheap volt & battery capacity digital display unit . I have seen one such unit on the "tinternet", for £ 6.00 approx.
You need to be able to set the battery, size, type,full voltage to get the % capacity.
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Please let me know if you have used or can recommend a suitable instrument.
Click to expand...
I have one which continuously monitors the battery, tells you % charged and voltage and bluetooth’s to a phone App. It’s intended for a starter battery as it provides more info on cranking etc but is good also for leisure batteries. It also has a GPS facility just in case c you forgot where you parked your motor home!🙃 Google BM6 battery monitor - around £20
WildBunch said:
I have a 110 ah Lithium battery, with Victron smart shunt, DC-DC Orion, 75/15 MPPT solar unit etc.
I can monitor all performance parameters via the Victron app. But it would be useful to have an instantaneous display in the hab area.
Ideally I would like a simple and cheap volt & battery capacity digital display unit . I have seen one such unit on the "tinternet", for £ 6.00 approx.
You need to be able to set the battery, size, type,full voltage to get the % capacity.
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Please let me know if you have used or can recommend a suitable instrument.
Click to expand...

WildBunch said:
I have a 110 ah Lithium battery, with Victron smart shunt, DC-DC Orion, 75/15 MPPT solar unit etc.
I can monitor all performance parameters via the Victron app. But it would be useful to have an instantaneous display in the hab area.
Ideally I would like a simple and cheap volt & battery capacity digital display unit . I have seen one such unit on the "tinternet", for £ 6.00 approx.
You need to be able to set the battery, size, type,full voltage to get the % capacity.
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Please let me know if you have used or can recommend a suitable instrument.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
the1andonly said:
Does it have a manual setting for peukert factor? Or how does it detect battery chemistry, select from a list? I cant see any reference on the adverts
Click to expand...
It doesn’t, so not quite as accurate as a Smartshunt that is correctly configured. But probably better than a Smartshunt with incorrect setup :giggle:
Seriously though - it’s usually out by a few %

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tonyysue said:
It also has a GPS facility just in case c you forgot where you parked your motor home!🙃 Google BM6 battery monitor - around £20
Click to expand...
Not so sure how a Bluetooth interface will help if you have forgotten where you parked the vehicle.

Many outlets now say no longer available - which is not a good sign.
 
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Hi guys thank for your responses. There are a few suggestions worth following up.
My existing Victron smart shunt & its app gives me all the correct information that I need.
Any thing else is basically there to give me some instant readout & to provide a bit of fun & perhaps some understanding of the system.
Nothing will be permanently installed until I am happy that it works.
 
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LithiumConvert said:
Not so sure how a Bluetooth interface will help if you have forgotten where you parked the vehicle.

Many outlets now say no longer available - which is not a good sign.
Click to expand...
The bluetooth is only to give you the lithium battery status when in range of the battery - The GPS works on the App on your phone to tell you where the battery monitor was last located when connected by bluetooth - i.e. that’s where your van is!

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tonyysue said:
The bluetooth is only to give you the lithium battery status when in range of the battery - The GPS works on the App on your phone to tell you where the battery monitor was last located when connected by bluetooth - i.e. that’s where your van is! And they are freely available in the UK. I have them on all 3 cars and the motorhome!
Click to expand...
 
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WildBunch said:
I could use a Victron BVM-712 smart battery monitor to do this & much more. But this would be overkill as it would duplicate the app & will cost over £100.
Click to expand...
That is not correct, the Smart Shunt or BMV712 will give you accurate information by measuring the current in and out of the batteries.
 
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