Here at Battle Born Batteries, our sales technicians have noticed an increase in calls specifically about the Victron Energy BMV battery monitors. This blog post will help with everything you need to know about wiring, programming, charging and installation for your battery monitor.
This post will focus on the Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor setup. If you are interested in the Victron BMV-700 or BMV-702 with a Bluetooth dongle, check out our other blog post.
First, make sure you have all of the parts you ordered before installing. Some of the necessary components include wires, like the RJ12 type cable, which connects to the display, or positive sensor wires.
Let’s take inventory of the included parts: Shunt, Display, RJ12 cable to connect the shunt to the display, and two positive power supply cables. To monitor a single battery bank, we will only use one of the positive supply cables.
For the 700, 702 and 712 models, two cables are required to monitor your battery bank. One cable (red wire) connects to a positive terminal of your LiFePO4 battery bank. The other cable (RJ12) is for connecting to the display. There is a second red wire included in the 702 and 712 models and is used for monitoring a second battery bank and/or a starter battery voltage. Also, Victron has an optional dual wired temp sensor available (sold separately).
Reference Victron Energy’s BMV-712 quick installation guide for more information.
When it comes to wiring the display and shunt, the shunt creates a low-resistance path for electric current to pass through and obtain accurate readings that will be sent to the LED display. The LED display is circular and used for mounting somewhere in your vehicle with Bluetooth access via smartphone or tablet.
Make sure to read the labeling on the shunt for proper wiring. You will notice “BATT” and “LOAD” clearly labeled on the shunt. It is recommended to install the last negative cable coming off the batteries on the “BATT” side of the shunt. The other side of the shunt is labeled “LOAD” which will go to a negative busbar or distribution panel to properly obtain readings.
Cables needed to properly wire the shunt should be congruent with the jumper cables interconnecting batteries in a system. This will ensure proper current flow through the shunt.
Here’s one example of a wiring diagram:
You can use Bluetooth to configure the BMV by opening the Victron Connect app and selecting the device.
For our batteries, use the following settings to program the BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor:
The BMV resets to “fully charged” when the voltage reading exceeds the charged voltage parameter. Simultaneously, the charge current is below the tail current parameter for a particular time known as the charged detection time. Charged voltage is defined as the voltage above which the BMV will calibrate itself above one hundred percent. You can use Bluetooth to configure the BMV opening the Victron Connect app and selecting the BMV.
Sometimes after the initial setup, the BMV won’t display the correct readings. Make sure that you bring your battery bank to full a charge (14.2v-14.6v) after setting up the BMV. The component will not show the correct information until you charge them completely!
Also, it’s important to confirm that the shunt readouts make sense. If you are seeing inaccurate numbers, your shunt may not match the settings or wiring and will need to be adjusted.
For more information, check out our newest FAQ video featuring our CEO Denis onsite in a van to demonstrate the BMV-700’s capabilities.
If you have any questions when it comes to programming your battery monitor, please give us a call at (855) 292-2831 or email us at [email protected].
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25 thoughts on “All About BMVs”
All great information!
It’s important to note however that battery starts synchronized should be turned off.
This will prevent the issue of automatically resetting the state of charge to 100% when in fact the batteries are not. For instance if the batteries were depleted completely and the BMS in the batteries shut down then as soon as the BMS was restarted it would display 100% state of charge which would not be correct.
Hi Jordan. I just had this problem. My batteries shut down because they were trying to be charged when they were under 32 deg. My BMV immediately reset to 100%. I turned off the batter start synchronize and hope it fixes the issue! Thank you for you comment.
If the ‘Battery Starts Synchronized’ is left in the ‘On’ position then the BMV712 will show 100% after starting up from a no voltage situation such as disconnecting batteries completely or a BMS disconnect scenario…this is all normal and your statement is correct. However, the SOC will correct itself as soon as the BMV-712 sees charge and discharge cycle and the calibration will be correct. So my advice is to leave the BMV-712 software switch in the ‘On’ position for ‘Battery Starts Synchronized’ and let it sort itself out rather than see an ‘unknown’ SOC until it does.
I am trying to set my Victron BMV-712 to Bluetooth. The function numbers only go to 69. I cant go to 70, Start Synchronized, or 71, Bluetooth mode. ant ideas?
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out. Our team can help you troubleshoot the BMV if you give them a call at 855-292-2831.
Would these settings also be useful for a Victron SmartShunt battery monitor?
Hello there! Yes, we would program the same settings for the SmartShunt too. Thank you for reaching out and please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Hi, does anyone know how to wire up the ground on the shunt? Thanks!
Hi Logan, thanks for reaching out! Here is a wiring diagram that our tech team recommends: https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Solar-SCC-BIM-IC-SHUNT-BMV-r03.png
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to give our sales and tech team a call at 855-292-2831 or send an email to [email protected]. Have a great rest of your afternoon!
What size lug hole do I need for all my negative leads to connect to victron smart shunt 500A
Thanks for your help.
Hi Hunter! Thanks so much for reaching out. You’ll need a 3/8 lug for the Smart Shunt. If you have any additional questions, feel free to give our sales and tech team a call at 855-292-2831 and they will be able to assist with any installation troubleshooting.
this is all good information. however I am not seeing a setting to engage & disengage the start / stop relay that controls my PD9160AL converter. can you help me out here?
thank you.
Hi Gregg, thanks for reaching out. The Victron BMV has an available relay on the back of the display that can be programmed to open and close based on a few parameters, but I am not certain what you are trying to do with the PD9160ALV. Please give our technical sales team a call at 855-292-2831 for our team to further assist.
My plan is to use 2 Battleborn 270A batteries. So, my question is, since the shunt with the BMV712 is 500 amps and my total battery amps = 540, do I need to upgrade the shunt in order for me to use the BMV712? FYI: I should never be drawing more than 400 amps at any time…
Thanks for listening!
Hi Dan! This is a great question, and an upgrade is always a good choice. We also have a helpful blog that incorporates information about battery monitors: https://battlebornbatteries.com/what-is-a-battery-monitor/ If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out. Our technical sales team is always available to help at 855-292-2831. Thanks!
What are the specific numbers to program the 712 battery monitor for a 24 volt system?
Thanks
Hi Donald, thanks for reaching out. The manual for the 712 can be found here:https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Manual-BMV-700-700H-702-712-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE.pdf and notes to set the recommended charge voltage setting to 26.4V for a 24V system. Please give our team a call at 855-292-2831 and they will be able to assist with any additional questions you may have.
Why does BB recommend setting the “Charge” voltage on a VictronBMV712 @ .2-.3v below the charger voltage. Or about 14.2-14.3v.
While Vitron recommends setting the 712 “Charge” voltage at 13.2v?
Hi Phillip, thanks for your question. Victron does not have the recommended settings for our batteries, that comes from us as the manufacturer. We recommend a point or two lower than the 14.4v in case there is any resistance in the system that would make the voltage not quite catch the “sync” point. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
I have 2 of your lithium batteries installed in my RV. There has been discussion on our Facebook group if you should have the charger set to LI or LA if you boondock very little during the season. Does it affect the life of the lithium batteries if you have it charge to the 14.6 volt capacity if 13.7 volts would suffice because using shore power 90% of the time. When I store the unit for the winter, I remove the batteries completely so not an issue then. Your thoughts?
Hi Randy! That’s great that you have 2 of our batteries. What charger are you using? Our team always suggests the LI setting and in regards to your volt capacity, aim for 14.2-14.6 even when on shore power. Bring the batteries to a full state of charge and bring them into your garage or somewhere warm for winter. Please don’t hesitate to ask any more questions!
Can the Victron BMV 712 also be used to monitor lead acid batteries?
Hi Maureen, please refer to the BMV manual on the listing here: https://battlebornbatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Manual-BMV-700-700H-702-712-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE.pdf
If you have any questions about lithium, please feel free to give our technical sales team a call at 855-292-2831 and they would be happy to help.
In the victron BMV 712 App, under battery settings. What should the “charged voltage” parameter be set to?
I also have a ProMariner 1250p set to LiFePO4 preset 2 profile, which has 14.6 “conditioning” and 13.2-14.6 “auto maintain”
I have 4 of your 100 amp in parallel
Thanks
What is the “discharge floor”? Mine is set at 15% (after installation) and your recommendations are to set it at 0. I have five BB 100 ah batteries.
I’ve also been shown the LiFeBlue app to monitor the batteries. How do I get it configured?