Battery Monitors
In order to get an accurate reading and adequately monitor the status of an RV battery bank, you’re going to need more than just a voltage reading, especially with lithium batteries. You’ll need a shunt-based battery monitor. Correctly programmed, shunt-based battery monitors track net current and voltage on a battery bank, practically counting electrons, and run that data through an algorithm to show the state of charge in terms of a percentage. A voltage meter will get you in the ballpark with lead-acid batteries, but it will be thrown off by charging or discharging currents. A voltage meter will be useless with a lithium battery bank as the voltage remains fairly consistent through the most of the discharge cycle.
AM Solar primarily uses Victron battery monitors for state of charge and temperature sensing. In most applications we use the Victron SmartShunt. If the monitor has to be installed externally, we use the Victron IP65 SmartShunt. If a physical display is needed, we use the Victron BMV-712. In some large lithium battery applications we use the Victron Lynx Shunt or Lynx Smart BMS. The Victron Cerbo, Ekrano, communicates with the shunt-based monitors and the Touch 50 is a display.
Victron Battery Monitor Kits
Think of a battery monitor as a fuel gauge for your battery bank. If you want to know the charge level of your battery bank and how much current is entering or leaving your batteries, you need a battery monitor. When energy conservation is critical, a battery monitor is very helpful in educating you on the electrical consumption of your various devices as well as the charging potential of your solar array. On Victron Lithium systems, we recommend a Lynx Shunt on lithium systems using a Cerbo GX. For everything else, we recommend the BMV-712 or SmartShunt with Bluetooth.
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Victron SmartShunt Battery Monitor
This battery monitor that measures voltage, current, capacity, and temperature. It can work with any battery type. Built-in Bluetooth. It is compatible with the Color Control Monitor or Cerbo. The SmartShunt is best used in vans and small trailers where the distance between...
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Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor Kit
Battery monitor kit with programmable relay. Measures voltage, current, capacity, and temperature. Can work with any battery type. Built-in Bluetooth. Compatible with the Color Control Monitor. The BMV-712 is Victron's newest high precision battery monitor. The essential function of a battery monitor is...
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Victron IP65 SmartShunt Battery Monitor
This battery monitor measures voltage, current, capacity, and temperature. It can work with any battery type. Built-in Bluetooth. It is compatible with the Color Control Monitor or Cerbo. This water resistant IP65 version of the Smart Shunt is great for non-weatherized applications such...
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Victron Cerbo GX and Touch 50/70 Monitor Kit
The Cerbo GX and Touch 50/70 provide intuitive control and monitoring for all products connected to it. The list of Victron products that can be connected is endless: Inverters, Multis, Quattros, MPPT 150/70, BMV-600 series, BMV-700 series, Skylla-i, Lynx Ion and even more....
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Victron Color Control Monitor Kit
The Color Control GX provides intuitive control and monitoring for all products connected to it. The list of Victron products that can be connected is endless: Inverters, Multis, Quattros, MPPT 150/70, BMV-600 series, BMV-700 series, Skylla-i, Lynx Ion and even more. This kit...
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Victron Lynx Shunt Battery Monitor Kit
This battery monitoring kit communicates with the Victron Color Control GX Monitor over the VE.CAN BUS system. The system measures voltage, current, capacity, and temperature. It attaches to the Lynx Distributor in the V4 Lithium system. The Lynx Shunt system is similar to...
Temperature Sensors
Because battery chemistry changes with temperature, many charge controllers and inverters use temperature sensors to maintain an effective charging profile.
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Blue Sky Temperature Compensation Sensor
This is the temperature compensation sensor to use with Blue Sky controllers. AM Solar Part Number: TEMP-BS
Out of stock
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Victron Temp/Volt sensor for MPPT series
Read the voltage and temperature of a battery via Bluetooth on a smart phone. This device can also communicate with Victron SmartSolar charge controllers to send temperature data when the charge controller cannot be installed near the battery bank. Smart Networking Instructions Victron...
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Temperature Sensor for BMV-712
Connects the BMV-712 to provide battery temperature monitoring capability. Visit the Victron website ASS000100000 AM Solar Part Number: TEMP-VTBMV
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Temperature Sensor for BlueSolar PWM-Pro Charge Controller
Temperature Sensor for BlueSolar PWM-Pro charge controllers Visit the Victron webpage SCC940100100 AM Solar Part Number: TEMP-VTPCC
Out of stock
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Zamp Compensation Sensor
This is the temperature compensation sensor to use with Zamp Solar controllers. Zamp Solar Part Number: ZS-30A-TS AM Solar Part Number: TEMP-ZS
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ME-BTS
This temperature is for use with Magnum inverter/chargers in systems with Flooded or AGM battery banks. These come standard with Magnum inverters are only purchased separately if lost or damaged.
Out of stock
Battery Monitor Components
Build your own battery monitor using raw components.
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Shunt 50mV/500A
50mV/500A shunt for monitoring battery current. The longer bolt on the load side is designed to accommodate multiple connections without having to use an additional junction post. Installation Conceptualization: Electrical current always flows in a loop from the positive side of a battery...
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Duplex-18/2
Typically used as signal wire between a shunt and monitor. Sold by the foot AM Solar Part Number: CABLE-18GA-2-GRY
Temperature Sensor for BMV-712
Support from AMSolar is definitely 5 stars. 1st line of support for Victron equipment provided through distributors. AMSolar likely one of the best when it comes to RVs.
Tom B