Battery monitors

Battery monitor

A battery charge monitor is a device designed to measure and monitor the state of charge, voltage, current and capacity of a battery. It is used in photovoltaic installations, recreational vehicles, boats, automobiles, motorbikes and also in industrial applications to ensure optimum performance and prevent deep discharges that can damage the battery.

Characteristics of a Victron shunt

• Real-Time Measurement: The battery charge monitor displays real-time battery status, including voltage, current and charge level, to prevent unexpected failures.
• Compatibility: Works with different types of solar batteries, such as lead-acid, AGM, gel and lithium batteries.
• Digital or LCD display: Some battery charge monitors include a display for easy reading of the measured values, other models have Bluetooth or WiFi for monitoring from mobile devices, such as the victron smart shunt.
• Alarms and Protection: Some models have low voltage or overcharge alerts, protecting the battery from premature damage and extending its life.
• Low Power Consumption: A battery monitor is designed to consume as little power as possible, avoiding unnecessary draining of the battery.
• Simple Installation: A 12v battery monitor is quickly connected with shunt sensors, allowing accurate measurements to be obtained without disturbing the electrical system.

Benefits of using a Victron shunt

• Longer Battery Life: Allows efficient use of the battery, avoiding excessive discharging or overcharging.
• Energy Efficiency: A battery charge monitor is ideal for solar systems and electric vehicles, ensuring better use of the energy generated.
• Control and Safety: Knowing the state of charge at all times helps prevent start-up problems in cars and failures in autonomous systems.
• Smart Connectivity: Bluetooth models, such as the bluetooth battery monitor, allow data to be viewed from a smartphone app, facilitating remote monitoring.

Precautions when using a battery monitor

There are some precautions to be taken when working with a Victron battery monitor and batteries:

• Working near lead-acid batteries can be dangerous as they generate explosive gases. It is recommended not to smoke or allow sparks or flames near the battery and to ensure adequate ventilation.
• Eye protection and suitable clothing should be worn. If contact with battery acid occurs, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters the eyes, flush with cold water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

Choosing a battery monitor

• Compatibility: Make sure the battery monitor is compatible with the type of battery you use.
• Measurement Range: Check that the device can measure the appropriate voltage and current for your PV system.
• Advanced Features: If you need to monitor the system remotely, look for models with Bluetooth or WiFi.
• Ease of Installation: Some models require an external shunt, while others are direct-connected.

Installation and configuration of the battery charge monitor

• The victron shunt must be installed in a dry place and on a solid surface.
• Connect the negative terminal of the battery to the shunt terminal. Make sure that there are no other connections on this side of the shunt or on the negative terminal of the battery to ensure accurate measurements.
• The auxiliary input allows monitoring of a second battery, the midpoint of a bank or the battery temperature, whichever parameters are configured for monitoring.
• In the case of the Victron smart shunt, the Victron Connect application must be configured.
• Essential adjustments:
  • It must be configured according to the nominal capacity of the battery in ampere-hours (Ah).
  • Full charge voltage: Sets the voltage value that indicates a fully charged battery. For example, for 12V lead-acid batteries, 13.2V is recommended.
  • Auxiliary input function: Second battery, mid-point or temperature monitoring can be selected as required.
• Settings for lithium batteries: It is necessary to adjust some parameters such as Peukert exponent and charging efficiency to suit the specific characteristics of lithium batteries.

Victron energy shunt interface

• Connection to GX devices: Allows monitoring and control of the battery through devices such as the Cerbo GX. It offers local and also remote monitoring via the VRM portal.
  • The victron smart shunt 500a provides information on state of charge, battery voltage, current, power and auxiliary input data (second battery voltage, mid-point deviation or temperature).
  • For accurate information, the monitor must be regularly synchronised with the actual state of charge of the battery. This can be done automatically when the battery is fully charged or manually via the VictronConnect app.
• VE.Smart Network: The Victron smart shunt can be integrated into a VE.Smart network to share real-time data with other Victron devices, such as solar chargers, optimising system management and efficiency.

Bluetooth battery monitor

Victron smart shunt battery monitors are Bluetooth enabled. You can check which Victron models have this feature in the victron smart shunt manual. The main feature of these battery shunt is that you can access the data they record without the need for any cable, simply download the VictronConnect App and connect via Bluetooth to the battery charge shunt.

A battery shunt measures the voltage and current of the battery, calculating the state of charge and time remaining. It also records historical data such as deepest discharge and number of charge/discharge cycles.