A battery monitor for your house battery bank in your DIY camper van isn’t a necessity, but then again, neither is a fuel gauge for driving. They both serve the same purpose.
Quick note before we get started. This is just one part of an overarching “How to Install a DIY Camper Van Electrical System” series. If you’ve just stumbled on this article directly without seeing that, there are likely some things we’ve already covered. If you want to check out that step by step guide, you can do that here: https://www.explorist.life/diy-campervan-solar
Also, we have interactive solar wiring diagrams that are a complete, A to Z solution for teaching you exactly what parts go where, what size wires to use, fuse size recommendations, wire lug sizes, and all kind of other stuff to help save you time and frustration. You can check that out here: https://www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams/
What does a Camper Van Battery Monitor Do?
The Battery Monitor, at it’s core, tells you three key pieces of information:
- Net current (amps) that is entering or leaving the batteries
- Percentage of battery remaining
- The voltage of the batteries
How does a Battery Monitor work?
A Battery monitor sits in-line between your batteries and ALL loads of your electrical system.
The battery monitor reads how many amps are going into or leaving your batteries at any given time.
What is a Shunt?
The shunt is the actual measuring device that you will wire in-line your negative cable that goes from your negative battery terminals to your negative busbar. There is usually a little data port to plug in the cable that runs to the actual monitor itself as well as a small power wire that supplies power to the monitor.
The Battery Monitor
The Battery Monitor is the actual little display face device that you plug into the shunt. If the shunt is the computer, the monitor is, well… the monitor.
Bluetooth Battery Monitor
The Victron BMV-712, in particular, actually has
The user experience of the Victron Connect app is a highly welcome addition to a high-end camper van electrical system as it has
Now that you know how to wire a battery monitor into your system to keep tabs on your battery capacity, it’s time to actually use that battery capacity for something useful. In the next lesson, you’ll learn how to wire 12v accessories like plugs and fans. Check that out here: https://www.explorist.life/how-to-wire-12v-plugs-fans-and-accessories-in-a-diy-camper/
Everything that you are learning here is put to use in our FREE Interactive Solar Wiring Diagrams. If you haven’t yet, check them out as they are a complete solution for a camper van electrical system. Check them out here: https://www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams/
Remember, this is just one part of a full camper van electrical educational series. To see all of the individual guides, click here: https://www.explorist.life/diy-campervan-solar
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john
Friday 10th of February 2023
Nate, great content you provide! I purchased the Hi-Res pdf of the 3000w INVERTER | 400-600Ah | 400 TO 1200W SOLAR -CAMPER SOLAR KIT. I'm at the point of installing components, and need to double check the orientation of the BMV-712 shunt. The purchased image makes it appear that the RJ12 side of the shunt is towards Lynx, and the B1/B2 pins are towards the battery. However, your videos appear to have it the other way around, and that would be more consistent with the labeling of the component. Thanks in advance if you could clear that up for me!
Nate Yarbrough
Friday 17th of February 2023
It says directly on the shunt which way it goes. Battery goes to the batteries, loads & chargers go to the lynx distributor. They've changed the physical orientation of the shunt a few times, so just go with whatever it says on the side of the shunt.
Wil Houdeshell
Monday 17th of October 2022
Hi Nate!
In one of your YouTube videos, you mentioned a BMV-712 Smart programming cheat sheet, but I can’t find the link or the sheet on either your YouTube or blog. Was it taken down? Thanks!
Steven
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
I am trying to modify the wiring diagram diagram for 3 Victron 200ah batteries instead of the Battleborn 6x100. I understand that the Battleborn system has inbuilt battery management and by choosing Victron I will have to add that to the system. I have a BMS VE. Bus. (that was included with battery purchase).
I want the system to be robust and simple. I do not want it to look like the cockpit of a fighter jet. Should I use that BMS (and how to wire that in?) or should I use a different system.
TY Steven
Walter
Wednesday 3rd of November 2021
Your thoughts on the Cerbo GX and the GX Touch 50 Screen option? Is it worth the money or is there other options for Internet monitoring of my system?
Nate Yarbrough
Wednesday 8th of December 2021
If you need internet monitoring, the Cerbo GX and GX Touch 50 are great options.
Rees
Wednesday 28th of April 2021
Hi Nate,
I purchased the Victron BM 712 and I see it came with two +B leads that have their own port to connect into the shunt. I assume these both run from the shunt to the positive terminals in my duel house battery setup, correct? If so, and I decide to increase my battery bank later on, how do I hook up (say 4) batteries so the shunt can read from them all?