Yep I am back. And yes after all my reading I feel like a dummy. There is a lot I still need to learn. Today I read through all the posts I could find on Battery Monitors. There is an excellent thread here on a BMV 712 reading incorrectly. Most of the parameter discussion went over my head honestly, but I know there is something important on the need for one. Bottom line it seemed more trouble than it might be worth. Makes me wonder if the other folks that have these adjust them periodically as needed? Do the other brands need adjustment too?
Now my solar controller reads battery voltage and % charge depending on the battery type selected. It also shows charge rates in amps. So I already have a device that shows the voltage and hopefully % charged correctly. I am assuming per the manual it will be looking for the float charge voltage of 14V for lithium. This is the controller I have https://gpelectric.com/products/30-a...ler-bluetooth/
So Why do I need more in a battery monitor?? Besides I have all the pretty lights on the control panel right? .....NOT
Assumption - Long term I will have some sort of Battle Born battery bank. Short term is undecided.
Part 1
Almost everywhere I looked and read only one brand of battery monitor was in real use Victron. They have three models. BMV 700, BMV 702, and BMV712. While the keypad works to set some parameters ,to fully program the 700 and 702 model you need the Blue Tooth smart dongle https://www.victronenergy.com/access...h-smart-dongle its about $50. However Will recommended a $35 Chinese one on his YouTube vid (100Amp shunt)
Now the BMV712 has the Blue tooth built in (if I read correctly) so if I learn how to use my smart phone I might be able to set it up. What could go wrong
So if I am running an inverter and new progressive charger what would the battery monitors due for me? Or if I go MultiPlus with the color control or other monitor what does the battery monitor provide that the control panel does not? I can already see battery state and voltage the solar charger is showing - correct?.
Part 2
And Last - the supplied 500 amp shunt. Never heard of one before and am clueless as to how it works except to read amp draw.. I am totally baffled as to how they show it hooked up (between negative and loads) They don't show a frame/ground connection. I guess with a MultiPlus I would put it between it and the bus bar on the negative side. However with just and inverter I would see nothing with it in line to that unit if it is not turned on. Also how does it pick up the loads off of the existing RV positive buss bar
Normally from the battery's the negative goes to ground/frame - correct, but with the inverter it needs is own negative feed so from the bus bar one negative leg would go to the inverter, while a second leg would go to the frame. So does the shunt go between the negative bus bar and frame? and the inverter come off the the load side of the shunt? So in reality where does the Shunt actually go?
What am I missing? Yes go ahead and laugh - they did not cover this in either HS or College electrical class - all I remember is transistors and diodes and something else - yes blowing up large can capacitors - the really big ones
Thanks
Keith
Ill go hide in my corner now.
Now my solar controller reads battery voltage and % charge depending on the battery type selected. It also shows charge rates in amps. So I already have a device that shows the voltage and hopefully % charged correctly. I am assuming per the manual it will be looking for the float charge voltage of 14V for lithium. This is the controller I have https://gpelectric.com/products/30-a...ler-bluetooth/
So Why do I need more in a battery monitor?? Besides I have all the pretty lights on the control panel right? .....NOT
Assumption - Long term I will have some sort of Battle Born battery bank. Short term is undecided.
Part 1
Almost everywhere I looked and read only one brand of battery monitor was in real use Victron. They have three models. BMV 700, BMV 702, and BMV712. While the keypad works to set some parameters ,to fully program the 700 and 702 model you need the Blue Tooth smart dongle https://www.victronenergy.com/access...h-smart-dongle its about $50. However Will recommended a $35 Chinese one on his YouTube vid (100Amp shunt)
Now the BMV712 has the Blue tooth built in (if I read correctly) so if I learn how to use my smart phone I might be able to set it up. What could go wrong
So if I am running an inverter and new progressive charger what would the battery monitors due for me? Or if I go MultiPlus with the color control or other monitor what does the battery monitor provide that the control panel does not? I can already see battery state and voltage the solar charger is showing - correct?.
Part 2
And Last - the supplied 500 amp shunt. Never heard of one before and am clueless as to how it works except to read amp draw.. I am totally baffled as to how they show it hooked up (between negative and loads) They don't show a frame/ground connection. I guess with a MultiPlus I would put it between it and the bus bar on the negative side. However with just and inverter I would see nothing with it in line to that unit if it is not turned on. Also how does it pick up the loads off of the existing RV positive buss bar
Normally from the battery's the negative goes to ground/frame - correct, but with the inverter it needs is own negative feed so from the bus bar one negative leg would go to the inverter, while a second leg would go to the frame. So does the shunt go between the negative bus bar and frame? and the inverter come off the the load side of the shunt? So in reality where does the Shunt actually go?
What am I missing? Yes go ahead and laugh - they did not cover this in either HS or College electrical class - all I remember is transistors and diodes and something else - yes blowing up large can capacitors - the really big ones
Thanks
Keith
Ill go hide in my corner now.
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