Victron Battery Monitor Install [Basecamp 20X]

Unboxing and installation of the Victron BMV 712 as well as app tutorial.

[@rpposton10]

Question for clarification: Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question. The Basecamp, with the optional solar panels installed, comes with a Victron MPPT 150/35 BlueSolar box, which monitors the solar panels, and displays them on the Victron "MPPT Control" head unit, located near the battery and tank monitor display panel, in the BC20X. There is already a RJ12 cable that runs between the battery box and the "MPPT Control" head unit. What you are showing us in this video, is the installation of the Victron BMV 712, which is for monitoring the batteries. It too has a head unit, and ideally it would be nice to place it near the "MPPT Control" head unit that already comes with the BC20X with the installed solar option. One is for solar, the other is for battery. The BMV 712 then does NOT replace the MPPT 150/35, therefore you need to run a second RJ12 cable to make all this work, because you would have 2 separate boxes which serve different purposes, and 2 different head units. Am I correct? That was my first question. Second question, does Victron offer a solution where you can combine both the monitoring of the Solar, and the monitoring of the batteries, into one blue box that would use the one, already installed, RJ12 cable, to a common head unit, maybe like their Color Control GX unit? Or maybe one can put a hub in the battery box and use the installed RJ12 cable to the head unit, thus you would not need a 2nd cable? I thought it would be better to ask you than ask Victron, because of your experience with what you have installed in your BC20X, and I am guessing that you have already asked Victron that question.

[@SlowYourRoll]

Your first question is correct. To summarize MPPT and head unit controls and displays solar data. Smart shunt and head unit displays battery info. I replaced the Bluesolar MPPT for a Bluetooth version which sends the info to my phone. Instead of cutting another hole, I was going to remove the original MPPT head unit and replace it with the battery monitor unit which was more important information to me. I realized the MPPT comes with a RJ45 cable not a RJ12 cable so it wasn’t plug and play. Since both are Bluetooth it doesn’t matter and I don’t use the displays. In hindsight I could have just purchased the smartshunt instead of the BMV712. Question 2 the Cerbo GX 50 or 70 will combine multiple systems into one display but it doesn’t replace the solar controller or shunt themselves. You simply plug those inputs into the Cerbo. It’s a great option if you want to combine your tank monitors as well.

[@rpposton10]

@@SlowYourRoll Thank you. I recently put the BT Dongle on my MPPT 150/35 BlueSolar, posted about it on FB BC20X site, and was wondering about those cables. You answered my question, in your answer. Not plug and play. And taped together, can't pull the RJ45 cable through by taping it onto the RJ12 cable. Going into detail for others who may be wondering the same thing. Hmm, maybe when the day comes that you want to add that hitch to the back, the videos show dropping the rear pan for access to the frame, you might be able to run a cable over the tanks and under the shower. There is also the idea of running Panduit along where the interior floor meets the wall on the inside of the trailer on the road side, but I don't think I would want to do that with mine.

[@DogzRewl]

Always work on the hot/positive side with the ground/negative side disconnected. It may only be 12 volts but the current potential is deadly.

[@MichaelNegraeff]

Ryan did you have a video segment somewhere about putting in a 12vdc cigarette lighter style outlet?

[@SlowYourRoll]

I briefly covered it on the RV Ski Prep video. Really easy just cut the existing USB plug off and crimped a splice to the 12V plug.

[@someinternetguy-r4l]

Where would the inverter negative go? To the battery minus on the shunt?

[@SlowYourRoll]

Yes if you don’t have a negative bus bar. Optimally all negatives connect to the bus bar with one wire connecting the bus bar to the negative terminal on the battery.

[@erickphillips8507]

This was great video. Thanks. I’m taking mine in for service tomorrow and I asked them how much they would charge to install the shunt while it was there. I figured $150 or so may be worth it. They were going to charge me $800. So ridiculous. I’ll be doing it myself in the spring. Going to add the VE dongle for the solar controller as well.

[@SlowYourRoll]

Wow! Don’t pay that. It’s a really easy DIY project. You got this.

[@erickphillips8507]

@@SlowYourRoll Definitely not paying. Thanks to your videos I now see how easy it is. The only thing I can think of is that maybe he was including the cost of the unit and then installation of the head unit near the sea level monitors. Maybe…but doubt it.

[@slopoke3633]

Did those batteries come with the trailer? I want some battle born batteries for my boat.

[@SlowYourRoll]

No the trailer comes with 2 lead acid batteries. If you select the solar package its upgraded to AGM. Additional cost for lithium batteries.

[@terriv7711]

This video was exactly what I needed to install my battle born batteries. Have you figured out how to install the monitor?

[@SlowYourRoll]

Glad to help! It’s still cinched up in the battery box. I have a service appt coming up where I’ll ask if there’s a way to snake it through.

[@MichaelNegraeff]

I did same as you and left it zip tied in battery box. The app is so much more intuitive to use that I’m not going to bother installing the head unit anywhere. In hindsight I would have only bought the Smart shunt unit which is Bluetooth enabled as is and doesn’t need the head unit at all.

[@SlowYourRoll]

@@MichaelNegraeff I had the same thoughts 😂

[@shekharmoona544]

The price airstream charges some of these upgrades are a no brainer. AS should have really thought about this. Might not be totally their fault. Dealerships are charging ridiculous mark-ups.

[@ryanhogan5958]

I wish there was an access panel. I’m sure a professional could figure it out.