Installing a Victron Battery Monitor

Red_Rover
Red_Rover Member Posts: 19
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
I have a 2017 320.  I am interested in monitoring the battery for state of charge and the time remaining on the charge. Has anyone installed a Victron battery monitor in the battery/propane compartment?  It looks like the metal plate on the front of the camper would be a good spot.  I am not sure.

Comments

  • Marceline
    Marceline Member Posts: 1,757
    There are two versions of the SmartShunt. The less expensive version (IP21: 500A) is absolutely not waterproof. If you install it on that wall, chances are it will get wet from either water running down the leading edge of the camper or water splashing up from below it. I installed mine inside the plastic box that encloses my battery. 

    The newest version (IP65: 500A) is "water resistant" which is still not technically waterproof.
    Personally, I'd try to figure out a way to install it in a waterproof enclosure.

    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    edited July 2023
    When I installed my shunt, I opted for an electrical box off Amazon, two Blue Sea mini bus bars, and a bit of industrial velcro beneath that holds the electrical box to the top of the battery box. No water issues. A velcro strap holds it closed while giving me easy access to everything in case something fails. And the whole thing is easy to remove when the time comes to replace the battery.

    (Yes, there’s currently red electrical tape on the trailer negative cable, was unable to find the black among my tools at that time. Need to fix that!)


    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
  • Red_Rover
    Red_Rover Member Posts: 19
    Wow, that is pretty cool. I see that your container enclosure is made out of steel.  You can see that I have the fiberglass standard enclosure.  Who did you buy your enclosure from?
  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,593
    There are several threads that show various boxes that can protect the Shunt or other controllers, etc.  For a long while, my shunt was wrapped in a plastic bag until I figured out what to do.  (Doesn't rain much here!)




    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    edited July 2023
    Red_Rover said:
    Wow, that is pretty cool. I see that your container enclosure is made out of steel.  You can see that I have the fiberglass standard enclosure.  Who did you buy your enclosure from?
    The aluminum diamond plate propane tub is standard on Boondock models; pictured is the pre-2021 version. Post 2021, the shape is a little different. You can buy them from any Tab dealer.

    The black battery box & white electrical box are both plastic.
    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
  • BrianZ
    BrianZ Member Posts: 1,770
    @Red_Rover,
    One of the links above shows my victron shunt box installation in the tub.  I later added a second similar box for bus bars, to clean up all the wires going into the battery box..
    https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/106983
    Everything still works great, and as noted in my writeups, I also used a waterproof coating on the shunt electronics to help protect from water vapor condensation.
    -Brian in Chester, Virginia
    TV: 2005 Toyota Sienna LE (3.3L V6)
    RV: 2018 T@B 320S, >100 mods 
  • ChanW
    ChanW Member Posts: 3,165
    I followed @BrianZ's lead, with the handy junction box in the tub, for our shunt.
    We have the older model battery monitor with the display, so I also put that display in a waterproof box, and left it in the tub (not much need for it with the Bluetooth phone app).




    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    Nice nice job Chan, looks like a very neat install.
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • webers3
    webers3 Member Posts: 436
    Here it is in my 2017 320, installed on the AmperTime battery, works great

    2017 T@B 320S   2019 Jeep Cherokee - Southern Connecticut

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