Victron 500A SmartShunt Battery Monitor Install, Walkthrough & Review

Today we're installing the Victron 500A SmartShunt battery monitor in the canopy setup. This is an upgrade I've been wanting to do for a long time so thanks to everyone who recommended the Victron model in my "canopy dislikes" video!
Victron 500A Smart Shunt: amzn.to/3EHrxRd
💻 www.explorebound.com.au
📸 @explorebound on Insta for pics of the setup/camping trips.
#victronenergy #campingsetup #battery

[@Nightlifeimages]

I watch too much KZbin so i know a good video when I see it This has to be one of the best demonstration videos on here. You spoke clearly and with confidence. A lot of videos that show these type of products get themselves confused and just end up all over the place.

[@BeeerGutt]

Yep. Well explained each step. Didn't over explain, didn't assume the audience is some top end sparky. Great vid.

[@aTissa]

Nice and easy upgrade! Great video, as always👌

[@med687]

I’ve been watching videos about this smart shunt and this one fixed my problem about how to remove the power cable from the unit, great video and well done mate

[@randyschultz6594]

Great video. I’ve been using that shunt for a couple years. It is a big help to know state of charge and current load

[@louiskudlak2256]

So cool keeping an eye on everything

[@MatthewDoyle81]

Great walkthrough and testing, fantastic video!

[@bigman-adv]

Fantastic video. Straight to the point and super helpful!

[@HammerRocks]

A comprehensive and very clear review. Brillantly done. 👍

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate 🙂

[@af1023]

Thank you for the walkthrough, excellent information

[@larrybell4599]

Great video. Thank you for including how far the signal will transmit.

[@markhofland1898]

Great video! My son is building a camper, and I'm bussy with the electrical stuff. Battery, solar panels, MPPT, DC-DC convertor DC-AC convertor, wall power etc, and the Shunt, to monitor the battery. Great explanation about te Shunt.

[@davidpanic779]

After watching this I decided to get one and installed it. It works a treat. Had been putting this off due to the need to install the panel, but with the complete wireless option, install was very easy. Great video

[@daveleau]

Fantastic video. A simple device but some gotchas. You saved me a lot of time!

[@renaulttraficconversion]

Thanks for the video. It is an excellent explanation of how to install this device. I hope you have a nice day.

[@ozpestadelaide2715]

Excellent showing me this. I’ve included two of these shunts with my trolling kayak motor batteries to track their usage. So no more running out km’s from home. 😊

[@arnoldsnodgrass2953]

You absolute superstar; the first video I’ve seen that shows how to *disconnect* the little positive cable to the shunt! Haha cheers

[@andrewjones-productions]

A very easy to understand explanation on how to install, set-up and use. This is a very nice piece of kit. Simple, yet functional. It also avoids drilling any new holes into your caravan/camper/motorhome furniture and unlike a TV or computer monitor, a battery monitor isn't something you stare at continuously and is only something you want to check periodically. I am glad you did a proximity test. Being Bluetooth, this is always going to be its downside and is the nature of the beast, but for those who have a relatively large caravan or leisure vehicle, knowing that you can check the battery at the most distant point in the vehicle or from your comfortable position sitting outside drinking beer, is useful to know. Good job on a thorough video.

[@JRCadventures]

Great purchase mate! I'm looking for one for a build im doing atm. Love it

[@jackturtle131]

One of the best gadget to have in your system Good onya Daniel

[@fatmanoverlanding]

Nice one. And so easy to fit. 👍

[@jurgenbrandt6675]

Great Video! Thank you very much!

[@user-bo5hd9zp5n]

Great video, thanks for sharing 😊

[@Yanglopezviva]

Excellent work brother man thanks for

[@Nullgest7]

Awesome Video of the Smart Shunt and was very helpful how to install and where to Buy and Thankyou as I'm very Interested for my setup

[@tobytr]

Great video. Thanks, after you video decided to invest in one myself. Cheers.

[@seanrorie2081]

I have the same shunt and its been great

[@brucetyron]

This was explained so well I don’t think I’m gonna pay an auto electrician to install it now 😂🙏

[@daz9769]

just a heads up the "trends" tab only keeps data while the app is open. Brilliant bit of gear though! a must have for lithuim, Had mine for 3 years and stoked!!

[@robfowler3824]

Thanks Mate great vid

[@wekapeka3493]

Must order one now.

[@Awas79]

Awesome video. Those ryobi soldering irons were on the list next, looks like it did the job for your vid so think they are next on my youtube rabbit holes

[@jongardz]

Hey Daniel, I got the smartshunt because of your channel! Cheers! I can see the shunt monitors the output on the app. Is there a way to monitor the input current? I’m connected to the alternator and just want to make sure it won’t drain my crank battery when the engine is off. Ta!

[@AssaultWolf]

I hope to see a video when you do the setup with the lightning in your canopy

[@ernieschatz3783]

Nice to see a review of the smart shunt. Any idea of how much power the smart shunt itself consumes?

[@1Coolbanana]

Nice one mate. Is it suitable for use in the engine bay?

[@adamgregg6745]

Charged voltage should be higher than 13.2V for lithium, 14.2-14.4V is good, otherwise it’ll keep telling you the battery is back to 100% when it’s over 13.2V which is often the case for lithium

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate! I just went off the settings Victron suggested in the manual but will update that one - cheers. 🙂

[@007oli]

Exactly right, best to get specs from battery manufacturer.

[@april7_]

You are right Adam. Just wondered when consumed 10Ah and when get solar for 10 minutes it says 100% so 13.2V is totally too low! You can find it out like me very soon!

[@craigtasker5475]

Spot on, was doing a test to get my dc to dc charger working from my car to the van so I need to loose some power from my batteries, ran my aircon and got it down to 90%, had a coffee came back and was at 100% again, no sun so solar wasn’t charging. After researching it was my voltage setting. Apparently a good setting is to charge your batteries, see what voltage is going in then set it 0.2v below that.

[@tucoremirez4859]

Another Useless video!!!!!!!!!!

[@net351]

Good to see a detailed walkthrough. Do you run an earth cable from canopy battery to chassis?

[@explorebound]

Thanks Matt! Other than the DCDC connection to the main battery there's no dedicated earth between the canopy battery and the chassis.

[@JustAnotherReviewwithAlek]

Like always. Good video. However, how would you install this to a dual battery system?

[@kennethgibson7771]

my thoughts too

[@nickcurtis4394]

great video mate! Was wondering if it measures the Solar input when telling you how much input current is coming into the system?

[@explorebound]

Hey Nick, yep it sure does! I'm currently working on a follow up video to my previous solar panel review running through how much charge it actually pumps back into the battery. 🙂

[@johnpaulirvine5845]

Fantastic! What's the thread size (i.e. ring crimp) size on the shunt? Ta.

[@justasix8815]

Now you have the shunt can you do a capacity test of the battery and post the results?

[@JeepTJay6]

Is it ok to run my vehicle chassis grounds (engine block, firewall, and fender) to system minus? I’ve had mine wired this way on my Jeep for several months now, and haven’t had any issues. Someone recently pointed out to me that it might be dangerous and now I’m doubting myself. I have a Jeep TJ with a non-smart alternator and 4.0L engine. Great looking truck BTW. 👍

[@petergreber7051]

They’re a great unit! A little more Bluetooth range would be nice though.

[@andrewford80]

Cool man. I just put one of these in my camper trailer and had the same problem with the 8mm lugs. Ended up using a stud terminal as a make shift busbar. Our camper is also an MDC which is a "timber free zone" so it acts like a bloody faraday cage with the signal. It's not a huge issue when connecting to the shunt, but getting the shunt to speak with a smartsolar mppt charge controller over ve.networking was a nightmare. Was sure I'd done something wrong but moving the CC closer to the shunt sorted that out. Im unable to get a signal from either device when Im in the cab of my ute, which is disappointing. However, having access to the data around battery charging and consumption is great. thanks for the vid!

[@markhofland1898]

Hi Andrew, I see there is a possibillity to getting the shunt to speak with a smartsolar mppt? Are there any advantages, and if so which brand do you use for the shunt and smart MPPT?

[@andrewford80]

@@markhofland1898 hi Mark! You would need to use the victron shunt with a victron smart charge controller (mppt) for them to speak to each other. The advantage being that the smart shunt knows met amps in and out so I presume it helps when it comes to absorption and float. It can communicate the battery voltage and current to the mppt so the mppt doesn't over or under-do it. Also, in most systems the shunt is connected very close to the battery with thick cable so it would have a more accurate reading of battery voltage than the mppt. If I were doing it again though I'd get the bmv with Bluetooth rather than the smart shunt. The bmv has better Bluetooth range, or so I'm told. The smart shunt range is really quite bad. Hope that helps

[@andrewford80]

@@markhofland1898 oh one other thing. Not all victron stuff speaks with other victron stuff. For example, I got the Orion dcdc charger and it doesn't utilise any of the smart communication. Which is painful. I'd avoid that piece of equipment if I were doing it again also. It derates drastically when it gets warm under normal operation. Unless you can run a fan directly off the heat sink, which for me isn't practical

[@markhofland1898]

@@andrewford80 hmm… I’m bussy for a couple of weeks now to find the best hardware, you know what I mean. And Victron is a brand I see a lot in reviews and solutions. I did not dig in, in the manuals by now. But is it only possible the Victron MPPT communicates with the Victron shunt by Bluetooth? Or wired also? Again, I did not red any manual. 😊

[@andrewford80]

@@markhofland1898 I'm not too sure actually. I believe the smart networking is a wireless network that only operates over Bluetooth. I don't know how they go when the cerbo device is involved

[@treecatt]

I've seen in various reviews people have complained the bluetooth range is very short. Wha has your experience been?

[@clayratliff7727]

Did you ever set your tail current to the proper value? It's typically about 2% for LiFePO4

[@margarita8442]

good video darlinks !!! margarita from romania

[@BenMitro]

Its a nice unit. You need to do the connectivity tests with the canopy door closed. It'd be nice if Victron provided a remote BT transmitter (with a suitable cable) so you can mount it outside the canopy or other Faraday like shields. It will need to be waterproof for most applications.

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate, I’ve just done a few tests with the canopy door closed - seems the Bluetooth range is about half (if that). Luckily it still connects well in the cab of the car with the canopy closed though. 🙂

[@BenMitro]

@@explorebound That's brilliant. I expected you wouldn't even get a signal in the cab! So this is great news. I have a BT BMS that I will have in the camper (all metal) and I would like to keep an eye on that while we drive (and charge), so this gives me some hope!

[@ryanfulton666]

Hey mate what’s your current opinion after 7 months? still a good option?

[@lukerobins6850]

Thanks for the vid. I invested in the smart shunt based largely on this video. While I love it generally, I have to mention my particular disappointment with the Bluetooth performance. Specifically, I cannot connect to it once I close my canopy door. I was very keen to be able to monitor the system from inside the cabin while driving. Very very weak Bluetooth transmission!! I've tested other BT equipment from within the same enclosure and had full connection. Same poor performance with the IP65 smart charger from Victron. Very disappointed and feel victron missed a trick here.

[@brettmundey1123]

HI MATE does you battery have a built in bms Just wondering if shunt would affect it.

[@aarons5324]

Great video, I have the same itech battery and victron shunt, my range is only 2 metres. That’s with the canopy doors open, if I close the doors I can stand right next to them and barely get signal😢. Nothing is obstructing the signal from where I installed the shunt

[@explorebound]

Oh how strange! I wonder what the difference is? Perhaps they've updated the bluetooth in newer models?

[@medcob7402]

Hello and thanks for a great video. Have one question - my batteri (Pylontech) has an terminal were i not can connect the positv cable from the smart shunt. Can i connect it on the inverter side of the battericabel or is this necessary to the batteriterminal? Thanks in Advance

[@dylantaylor8931]

Yes. Any positive source from the same supply. Ideally un switched

[@craigquann]

Pricy, but it's a nice piece of kit. I'm still undecided if I really need one that good for my rv. I don't off grid enough to have to manage the batteries that much.

[@shahidjefcoate2122]

Hey mate if you're just using the battery through a battery box will that also work in regards to not connecting the negatives through the dcdc charger as I just want a portable battery with box and still monitor it

[@Bhanusingh03]

Is it possible to install this thing under the hood or would that be too hot for this device? I have my auxiliary battery under the hood. Thanks in advance

[@SDFV]

I connected the starter battery input to the dc-dc charger (the power cable from the starter battery) I did use "eBay" cable to start with, and when the Dc-Dc charger started charging at full power Voltage drop was around 2 volts and the charger would turn off, Voltage would return to 14v rinse and repeat :) I bought better Cable and problem solved Great for checking Voltage drop between the starter battery and Charger

[@josephkryzak3331]

Great explanation

[@lindaferguson593]

I have 2 banks of 6 eg4 batteries (not LL). Needing a wiring diagram to connect my 500A smart shunt to them. Banks are parallel to parallel. Pairing off on th😊e two negatives. Would I need two smart shunts? One for each battery bank? Thanks.

[@5stardave]

I still prefer the BMV 712 Smart, that way I get the Bluetooth plus a physical gauge for when I misplace my phone or it breaks.

[@BeeerGutt]

Really well put together video mate. I'm a noob with this stuff, but your video is going to make things very easy for me.

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate! Glad it helped 🙂

[@user-lo2ix3wm6t]

Where can you buy the terminal cable with the 1amp fuse and ring terminal at the other end?

[@jsanty6459]

Hello. How well does the alarm notification works ? I'm planning to buying this but I need to know that first . hope u can help me

[@eddieazuelos7142]

Great vid mate! I am also in the market for a mart Shunt battery monitor. I think we have the same battery and it's not 120ah, it's actually 105ah (I know the model name is misleading....)

[@explorebound]

Thanks mate! Yep that’s why I set the discharge floor to 12.5%, because we can use 87.5% of the battery (105Ah)

[@aussiegamer4442]

Can you run cable from aux battery to the shunt and then cable from shunt to a bus bar that all the earths are connected to or will that not work

[@peterhealey1866]

Great review, does anyone have info on a monitor that can extend the Distance of connectivity?

[@user-gq4ch1pd4c]

Good video, good energy !! :)

[@RusselEllis]

If you have multiple batteries can you put a smart shunt on each battery?

[@kyleerickson3382]

how would you hook this up If you have two 6 V batteries connected in parallel

[@jaycarneygiants]

Will it still work on a 24 volt battery?

[@WrongTurnAdventures]

Did you test the connection with canopy closed and in cabin of closed ute? To simulate driving?

[@explorebound]

Yep works great from the front seats with the canopy all closed up 👍

[@WrongTurnAdventures]

@@explorebound awesome

[@idan1358]

Quick question, why do you set the charged voltage to 13.2v ? I just bought a 120ah lithium (not the same brand) and was wondering what or why that is set to 13.2v… I have seen other vids of people setting theirs to 14.4 or 14.6 -🧐

[@paulbyrne4214]

Yep follow the battery manufacturer. Changed mine from default Victron value to 14,4 for my itech lithium

[@user-zr3rr3hc8n]

Where is your negative to the frame connected?

[@JeepTJay6]

2:38 So your battery isn't grounded to your chassis?

[@GibbyinOZ]

🐨 Nice one m8👍 very 🆒 😎 💂

[@IamMotorHomeless]

"Bluetooth ONLY !" you do know you can connect it to the Cerbo GX or Venus OS on a Raspberry Pi... with Wires and, then upload and save all your data on Victron VRM ??

[@jimcollins1922]

Do you know how to reset the smart shunt back to factory default. Something has scrambled the brain of my shunt and it will not connect even though it is seen in the app.

[@sproket168]

Ok so can you regulate the state of charge and keep the battery between 20% and 80% ??

[@Apex_Slide]

It's a shame it doesn't come in a series model. I've got 2x 300ah batteries wired in series, but because it's not designed to do that, it only takes on either the inbound or outbound current. If I try to hook both negative terminals up from the batteries it just produces an error code which Victron is yet to get back to me about

[@brunocarcuro7881]

How is the signal strength with the canopy all closed

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, I’ve just done a few tests with the canopy door closed - seems the Bluetooth range is about half (if that). Luckily it still connects well in the cab of the car with the canopy closed though. 🙂

[@WhatsUpWithSix]

Do you have a link for the cloth tape?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, this is what I used: www.ebay.com.au/itm/143890251935

[@grutzmac]

Are the terminals on the shunt the same size? Both M10? Or, are the different size, M8 and M10?

[@explorebound]

They're both the same

[@expert5898]

Hello, if I connect four batteries with 12V in series the total voltage will be 48V, will the charged voltage be set to around 48V or will be set to around 12V as we do on single battery connection?

[@d1ndark25]

Did you find an answer? This is the one thing I had questions about..

[@expert5898]

@@d1ndark25 Yes, we should consider the total voltage and not single

[@EEShoeBox]

Why not use the obd2 live data

[@Sidicas]

Screw hole size? M7? M8?

[@william38022]

I want to use the smart shunt with 2 /12 V Lifepo4 batteries in parallel how would I wire that?? is it possible to use one shunt for two batteries in parallel or should I just get a bigger battery and use only one shunt for one Battery?

[@explorebound]

Hey William, here's the official wiring diagrams from Victron 🙂 www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/SmartShunt/en/installation.html

[@shir20001]

I've bought a kit just like this but the positive wire from the shunt to the battery was not included. Can someone give me the name of the prong-like connector that he's using in this video so I'll know what I need to buy/ask for? Just to clarify, it's the cable he's talking about at around the 6:00 mark.

[@pat6512]

Hey mate, do you find you get the full 40amps out of your DCDC charger?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate! I'm using slightly undersize cable for the DCDC but am still getting around 37A - I suspect if I upgraded the cable I'd see above 40A 🙂

[@pat6512]

@@explorebound no dramas, I think this will be my next dcdc from my current 20amp one

[@raymondkarlsen9995]

Show us how to connect it to the cerbo?

[@gordong3620]

Does the bluetooth work at all with the door closed?

[@explorebound]

It does but the range isn’t great

[@tonykellalea783]

What dc charger are you running?

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, it’s the iTechworld 40a

[@eroffroad5438]

What permissions does the app need? Some of those shunt apps need access to photos, microphone etc, why? Is that why they are so cheap?

[@explorebound]

Only Bluetooth and wifi 👍

[@eroffroad5438]

@@explorebound ok, Location?

[@v84eva]

To record the history does the Bluetooth need to be connected the entire time?

[@explorebound]

No it records the history 24/7, you just need to connect to view 🙂

[@v84eva]

@@explorebound that’s bloody awesome! How much history does it record? Absolutely no need for a screen!

[@explorebound]

I believe you can go back as far as you like but will double check! I know the global stats continue recording indefinitely to give you total recharge times and amount discharged since your battery was new

[@v84eva]

@@explorebound ah awesome, just thinking about use in a 4wd, so at max would only need to do a few weeks to track if I have enough battery/solar to be off grid. Thanks!!

[@andrewgriffiths2317]

nice one.... Im pretty sure the 120x is only rated for 105amps. I don't own one but i have seen it in the Spec sheet. Bit of controversy to why its called 120 when its really a 105 battery. Apologies if im wrong.

[@explorebound]

Yeah that’s correct - that’s why I set the discharge floor to 12.5%, because we can use 87.5% of the battery (105Ah)

[@andrewgriffiths2317]

@@explorebound yeah fair enough. I assumed it would be 87% of the battery size.

[@tuju-]

It’s not Bluetooth only, there is a CAN-bus interface.

[@jorjimaco5331]

Y didn’t you use the i tech battery shunt??

[@explorebound]

Hey mate, I bought this model because I needed Bluetooth functionality 👍

[@jorjimaco5331]

I tech stuff are rubbish. Rebranded eBay gear. Victron rocks . You should change everything to blue.

[@peterkerr3496]

Why didnt you just drill out the holes to correct size? Quicker and easier than the method you came up with.

[@brucetyron]

Black Friday sale $140 👌🏻

[@closetcleaner]

Same as using a shunt, voltmeter and simple math, save you some bucks. If one is integrating w other Victron components then its a different story

[@RVingwithG]

😮😮😮1:34 hold on. That cable is way toooo long to just Add in. 🤪🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🙏