Victron BMV-700 Battery Monitor Product Review

[@JPJCH1]

If you get the 712 smart model (or any other smart component from Victron) dont forget to take note of the PUK number which is on the label often on the back of the component. You will probably need that number at a later stage (if you lose the PIN number or change your phone) and its a pain if you need to dismount your MPPT regulator for example just to access that label. You guessed that I have made the experience...

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Smart!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@JPJCH1]

@@PacificYachtSystems I have been using the BMV 712 for a few months now and I would like your opinion on the alarm settings. I did set them at 14.6 V max and 12.1 min. They have been activated a few times but it seems its normal that my voltage regulator for the solar pannel does output 14.6, therefore I should rise my maximum voltage to 14.7 for example? (batteries are normal pB from Exide). On the other side, allthough my battery capacity never went down below 75%. The voltage under load does reach 12V for example (when the fridge compressor kicks in for example). Should I then lower the alarm to 11.8?

[@davidhoy7605]

Victron makes good stuff. I have a bunch of their stuff on board, including a BMV-712, and love the Bluetooth functionality. Minor technical comment, the volume level on this video is very low.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing and the feedback.

[@erniesanders3724]

Victron is a great company. I have the 712 currently installed on my boat and love it. Will be ordering a 700 soon to monitor the new lithium battery that powers my graphs. Thanks Jeff from Western Kentucky. Have a great day.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Great to hear!

[@howardrowland6371]

I am very impressed with Victron. As an EE I really appreciate their technical documentation. I installed a BMV600 on my previous boat and really loved it. I am planning a major Victron install on my current boat including inverter/charger, BMV, and one of their displays. A Victron MPPT solar charge controller is also on my future plan when I add panels. Great video, thank you.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Howard for sharing, yep Victron makes good stuff.

[@arnieus866]

We are installing a replacement Xantrex XC 1000 on our sailboat. From what I read in the XC guide the panel on this inverter/charger reports the condition of the battery bank. Is this not a complete picture, like only when charging? Do I still need a battery monitor?

[@gregm2074]

Actually, I'm actually noticing that actually everything you actually said, actually made sense! 😁

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one... yep... definitely use the word actually... way too much. Thanks for the reminder.

[@New.Adventures.Sailing]

@@PacificYachtSystems you actually said it 27 times, per the transcript. Super distracting and I know it's also quite hard to talk on camera. I've noticed when you are doing your boat show talks, it's much less frequent. Awareness is the 1st step. Keep up the great work.

[@moriver3857]

The little device to join the two RJ11 jacks, is called a coupler, and comes for RJ45 as well. Nice video.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for naming it... didn't know.

[@franklindmurphy]

I have Victron battery monitor on my boat and my travel trailer. The Bluetooth app is awesome. Highly recommend Victron.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Same!

[@jasoncrew4242]

I didn't expect to hear "avant-garde" in a battery monitor unboxing. :) I currently have their SmartShunt but switching to a Lynx distribution system w/ Lynx shunt in my lithium upgrade.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

My mother tongue is French, so I'll sprinkle some French expressions now and then.

[@lexpee]

I bought this battery monitor in 2015, but after a few years the display lighting is very weak and almost impossible to read in the dark. I am looking for a way to disassemble the battery monitor and replace the LEDs.

[@UKsystems]

Do you know the Victron dealer that you used to originally purchased us? If you ask them for help? They should be able to advise whether they will replace the unit or not service information could be made available or that trans website and contact your local sales manager

[@ErnestV]

I always love it when I see a schematic labeled "Confidential" on a public KZbin video ;-)

[@PacificYachtSystems]

LOL, good catch.

[@UKsystems]

Generally therefore internal use only because they haven’t been properly defied to meet regulatory standards as an approved design

[@tentimes4]

You might want to pay a little closer attention to the sound level in the main portion of the video. The intro and exit sound are bumped much higher than the main sound so much so that I maxed out the sound on my computer just to hear the dialog.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Jason for the feedback.

[@blandry021]

I've watched 2 hours of your tonight, great videos but u should show a diagram of what hooks to what, same idea as the back of that box.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Appreciate your feedback, Brian. Duly noted. We started adding more diagrams to our videos and will continue doing so - definitely helpful. Thanks for watching our videos.

[@matthickmott6143]

What kind of corrosion protectant can be appied to the shunt without harming its electronics?

[@UKsystems]

You would probably be best off putting it inside an appropriately rated electrical enclosure or using an IP rated model

[@nortonracing4627]

Your Awesome Jeff,, thanks for all the info and videos..

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Glad you like them!

[@jackb2542]

Does Victron own Xantrex? I have a Xantrex 25 from 2014 with a BatMon system - is the devise you're speaking about in this video an evolution of the old BatMon system?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Xantrex and Victron are separate entities.

[@ThinKkBIGG]

What is the reason why you installed Genasun charge controller in your boat and not Victrons which are programmable?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Because i needed 2 boost controllers and Victron doesn't have one.

[@ThinKkBIGG]

@@PacificYachtSystems I thought you had several GV-10s and not just 2 GV-boost. Have you been able to see a difference between a simple mppt and a boost-mppt?

[@mhansl]

So, let me get this straight.. you recommend battery monitors? Another great vid, Jeff. Thx.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one!

[@cardinhamkilligrew9712]

If I have 660 AH in a set of group 27 batteries what monitor size do I get? I see ones with 100, 350, 400, 600 amps....

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Size your battery monitor to handle the max discharge amperage.

[@bjsorensen]

Will the 700 model communicate with other Victron devices, such as Orion DCDC 12/12 - 30 (bluetooth) and the MPPT SmartSolar 100v/30a? Or would I need a different model? Essentially, I'd like those 2 devices to communicate/ understand what each other is doing.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one, don't know the answer of that question.

[@UKsystems]

Victor devices with Bluetooth should do that however a smart shunt would usually be used to. It would also potentially be worth considering a gx device in this situation.

[@bjsorensen]

@@UKsystems I ended up using the Victron smart shunt. Totally worth the price. The system was amazing.

[@benlindner5285]

I'd go for the new Victron Smart Shunt easier install and less money. I have lots of other Victron stuff and love their interconnectivity and apps.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing, same here really like the Victron product lines.

[@Encyphix]

Jeff, any insight/comment on the suggestion (from a 2-yr-old post elsewhere) that this particular model (BMV-700) draws down on battery power (for monitor operation) but does not include this draw-down in its calculations, thus rendering an inaccurate reading/power rating?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Hmmm, wasn't aware of this.

[@Encyphix]

@@PacificYachtSystems It was a comment included in a review of the product on the US amazon site. The poster claimed to have had conversations with Victron, labeling it a 'bug' in the monitor's software. Chances are if it was just that, Victron may have already remedied this situation since the post of 2017. Thanks!

[@unrulian]

Great Video Thanks Jeff!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Glad you liked it!

[@mikenelson1387]

Is there a way to monitor the condition of every battery in a battery bank? I have 4 house and 1 start

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Don't think so. Anyone share their experience?

[@emilgiese]

Excellent video on Victron battery monitor/looking forward to purchasing one soon-mahalo from Maui Jeff! (attended one of your Seattle Boat Show presentations awhile ago)

[@robertgallant6422]

Can you use it on your starter battery?

[@JPJCH1]

The model 702 for example gives you also the voltage of your starter battery which is enough information for a starter battery

[@PacificYachtSystems]

2nd battery only monitors voltage

[@jackb2542]

Correction - 2004 Xantrex 25

[@PacificYachtSystems]

See answer

[@diceman220]

monitor must be resynchronized before it can operate correctly. victron ... Recommended settings: Nominal battery voltage. 12 V. 24 V. 36 V. 48 V. 60 V. 120 V.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing.

[@javierbetancourt9388]

💯

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Javier.

[@scruff7559]

Probably doesn't surprise you Jeff but I find Victron underwhelming. Built down to a price. Put an O-scope on their inverters, with their soldered input fuses. Hydrometer test their charger performance....you'll see why quickly. They spend more on marketing and bluetooth features than hardware fidelity. High failure rate. That BMV doesn't impress me. It doesn't read >100% charged. The display is too small to monitor you have to be super close to see it. The blue backlight looks naff and it's 52mm for automotive meaning if you put it in a vehicle dashboard as it was designed to do it'll make you paranoid the headlights are on. No ignition switched backlight. ~15 presses to enable and disable the backlight. I had to offset mine 0.5A to calibrate it. UTP cable is not vibration tolerent nor robust. Try Bogart Engineering's TriMetric RV 2030, use it for two months. Then you'll understand.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks Liam for your detailed input, love the sharing. Will definitely look into Bogart product line.

[@UKsystems]

What you said about failure rates is inherently wrong. Their units are very durable and long lasting. They also offer repair information as well as extended testing information to help you diagnose problems. You seem to hate electron because of Vron you need to realise the Bluetooth and connect the ability is what makes our system good, but if you think it is expensive because he hasn’t spent money on that design, you don’t know what the products do

[@benoitbenoisbenoistchaine]

The worst 709 need under stand how set up . Chinese . 700 don't but this shit . Waste of money .