Battery Monitors

What Is a Battery Monitor?

A battery monitor measures and displays the real-time state of your battery bank, including state of charge (SOC), voltage, current draw, amp-hours consumed, and estimated time remaining. Without a battery monitor, you are guessing how much power you have left. With one, you make informed decisions about energy consumption, charging, and load management that protect your batteries and extend their lifespan.

Types of Battery Monitors at Volts Energies

Victron Energy SmartShunt

The SmartShunt is a shunt-based battery monitor without a display. It connects via Bluetooth to the free VictronConnect app on your smartphone, delivering all monitoring data directly to your device. The SmartShunt is the most popular battery monitor at Volts Energies for off-grid, RV, and marine installations where a dedicated display is not required.

Available models:

• SmartShunt 300A/50mV, for smaller battery banks and entry-level off-grid systems
• SmartShunt 500A/50mV, the most popular choice for residential and RV battery systems
• SmartShunt 1000A/50mV, for large off-grid and commercial battery banks
• SmartShunt 2000A/50mV, for high-current industrial and large-scale off-grid arrays

Victron Energy BMV Battery Monitor Series

The BMV series combines a high-accuracy shunt with a dedicated wall-mounted display, showing state of charge, voltage, current, power, amp-hours, and time-to-go on a clear LCD screen. Ideal for permanent installations in cabins, homes, and boats where a visible display panel is preferred.

Available models:

• BMV-700, entry-level precision monitor with display, supports 12V to 96V battery banks
• BMV-702 Smart, dual battery monitoring with Bluetooth, tracks a starter battery alongside your main bank
• BMV-712 Smart, the most advanced BMV model with built-in Bluetooth, mid-point voltage monitoring for large battery strings, and full VictronConnect compatibility

Victron Energy GX Monitoring Devices

GX devices go beyond battery monitoring to provide complete system oversight for the entire Victron ecosystem. They display and log data from solar charge controllers, inverters, battery systems, and grid connections, and connect to the free Victron Remote Management (VRM) portal for remote access from anywhere in Canada.

Available models at Volts Energies:

• Ekrano GX, the most advanced GX device with a built-in 10-inch touchscreen display for full system visualization
• GX Touch 50, a 5-inch external touchscreen display for Cerbo GX and Venus GX systems
• GX Touch 70, a 7-inch external touchscreen display for larger system dashboards

MidNite Solar MNBCM Battery Charge Monitor

The MidNite Solar MNBCM is a dedicated battery charge monitor compatible with MidNite Solar Classic MPPT charge controllers. It displays charge state, battery voltage, and system performance data, making it the natural companion for MidNite-based off-grid systems.

How to Choose a Battery Monitor

Do you want Bluetooth monitoring on your phone? Choose a Victron SmartShunt or BMV-712 Smart. Both connect wirelessly to the VictronConnect app and display all battery data on your iOS or Android device.

Do you want a dedicated wall display? Choose a Victron BMV-700, BMV-702 Smart, or BMV-712 Smart. Each includes a compact LCD panel that mounts through a standard 52mm hole, suitable for cabin walls, RV dashboards, and boat panels.

Do you need to monitor two batteries? Choose the BMV-702 Smart. It monitors your main battery bank and a secondary battery (such as a starter battery) simultaneously, showing voltage for both on the same display.

Do you manage a full Victron solar system? Choose a Victron GX device such as the Ekrano GX or add a GX Touch 50 or GX Touch 70 display to your existing Cerbo GX. GX devices integrate data from your entire system and provide remote monitoring through the Victron VRM portal.

Are you running a MidNite Solar charge controller? Choose the MidNite Solar MNBCM battery charge monitor for seamless compatibility with the Classic MPPT series.

What Is a Battery Shunt?

A battery shunt is a precision low-resistance resistor installed in the negative cable of your battery bank. All current flowing in and out of the battery passes through the shunt, which measures the exact amperage and reports it to the monitor. Without a shunt, accurate state-of-charge calculations are not possible.

All Victron SmartShunt and BMV monitors include a calibrated shunt. The shunt amperage rating must match or exceed the maximum current your system will draw.

Shunt Rating Recommendations

Choose a battery shunt with a current rating that matches or exceeds the maximum current your system can draw.

• 300A Shunt: Best for small off-grid systems and backup power setups.
• 500A Shunt: Ideal for most residential solar systems, RVs, cabins, and marine applications.
• 1000A Shunt: Recommended for large off-grid installations and commercial energy storage systems.
• 2000A Shunt: Designed for industrial applications and large-scale battery storage systems.

This format is easier to read on mobile devices while conveying the same information as the original table.

Battery Monitor Compatibility

All Victron Energy battery monitors stocked at Volts Energies are compatible with:

• LiFePO4 lithium batteries 
• AGM batteries
• Gel batteries
• Flooded lead-acid batteries
• Battery voltage systems from 12V to 96V

SmartShunt and BMV Smart models integrate directly with Victron SmartSolar and BlueSolar MPPT charge controllers, MultiPlus inverter chargers, and Cerbo GX monitoring devices via VE.Direct and Bluetooth.

FAQs

What Is State Of Charge (SOC) And Why Does It Matter? 

State of charge is the percentage of energy remaining in your battery bank, similar to a fuel gauge. Accurate SOC tracking helps you avoid deep discharging your batteries, which shortens their lifespan significantly. A battery monitor calculates SOC based on actual amp-hour flow, not just voltage.

Is The Victron Smartshunt Better Than The BMV-712? 

Both use the same high-accuracy shunt technology. The SmartShunt has no display and relies on the VictronConnect app for monitoring. The BMV-712 Smart includes both Bluetooth and a dedicated LCD display. Choose the SmartShunt for a cleaner, app-based installation and the BMV-712 where a permanent wall display is preferred.

Can A Battery Monitor Work With Lithium Lifepo4 Batteries? 

Yes. All Victron SmartShunt and BMV monitors work with LiFePO4 batteries. Victron monitors use Peukert-corrected coulomb counting, which accurately tracks the flatter discharge curve of lithium batteries that voltage-based monitors cannot measure reliably.

What Is The Victron VRM Portal? 

The Victron Remote Management (VRM) portal is a free online platform that logs and displays data from your Victron system in real time. When a GX device is connected to the internet, you can monitor your battery state, solar production, inverter output, and grid connection from any browser or the VRM app, anywhere in Canada.

How Do I Install A Battery Monitor Shunt? 

The shunt is installed in series with the negative cable of your battery bank. All loads and chargers connect to the negative busbar after the shunt so that all current passes through it. Victron provides detailed installation guides for all SmartShunt and BMV models. Volts Energies technical support is available for installation assistance.

Does Volts Energies Ship Battery Monitors Across Canada? 

Yes. All battery monitors ship nationwide across Canada. Free shipping applies on orders over $297.