Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor with Shunt - 6.5-70 VDC - Display and Bluetooth - Black

Simply works, converting from FLA to LiFePO on a budget, and was convinced I needed a method to know the SOC. Battery has a built in monitor, but didn't know so I installed a BMV-712. BAM! Upon power up, setting som parameters with the phone and app, it works. I can view the SOC, Voltage, time to discharge at current rate of discharge, etc. And something I didn't know, you can use this to autostart the generator when the coach batteries get low. Yes, need additional hardware to convert the signal, but was already planning for a standalone generator autostart. With Victron I can use my phone and one app to control it all. First the generator autostart, then it looks like a victron charger/inverter is in the future.

Newly installed:It’s clear that someone at this company understands human centered design because there is a lot of thought that has gone into just about every aspect of this device.The shunt was easy to install, and has very clear markings on which side to connect. I was able to put it into a large battery box (see photo). The voltage tap they provide has an actual Ferule crimped on it for inserting into the spring connector on the shunt. This is a detail I have only seen on professional factory equipment for handling vibration connections. It’s exactly the right way to do it. Bravo for this.The display module itself is pretty tight and well designed. The buttons are intuitive and function as you would think they do. My only complaint is that trying to create readable text from 7 segment elements is hard to read. It took me a while to figure out what was being displayed. It would be better with a dot matrix style display. But I get it, cost and all that. The app almost makes up for this, except for the purist in me that doesn’t want a phone when I’m camping.The app is really where this device shines. As a hater of Bluetooth, I was surprised how easy the initial connection was. It basically just connected and worked. The app is quite frankly great in its simplicity. I am particularly fond of how clear and concise the presented information is. It definitely passes the 5 second test for human dashboard consumption. Marvelous.Also, I can actually connect to the device from my house, if I need too. Which is just amazing.Other items of note.The included square bezel is great. The quality of the cabling is good. There is a connector on the back for adding their other display.This company released the protocol documentation as well which is a huge plus.I’ll update the review when I use it more, but this thing is a solid 5 stars for me. SUPER happy to see a well thought out, and well executed device like this. As an embedded software engineer myself this sets the bar for me.Totally worth it.

Installed this monitor on our sailboat’s lead-acid, 390Ah house battery bank.We use a combination of solar, engine alternator and shore power/portable generator for charging and always have power draw while out cruising. Fridge, freezer, boat systems, autopilot, navigation and radar electronics can be power hogs.Using battery voltage as an indication of remaining capacity has proved little better than guessing while charging and drawing power at the same time.The monitor was easy to install and set up.The built-in blue tooth connection was easy to set up using the Victron Connect App. The App has everything you could wish for easily available.The extra battery voltage monitoring was a great feature that we used for our engine start battery.Most of our installation work was re routing several big battery cables so we could put the Victron shunt in the right place.All cruising sailboat should come with one of these monitors from the factory.

Works great

I’m all in on Victron products! This device is super nice for checking my battery state of charge and other metrics. Plus it has bluetooth so you have that as well. If you need a battery monitor then get this. Victron is the best!

I install battery monitors all the time in Marine vessels. Unless a customer wants a full-blown networked system, and just need basic house Bank monitoring, I suggest victron every time. This little monitor is so cost effective accurate and easy to install I recommend it to everyone. So accurate I fit one to my early model electric car. The Bluetooth models with free victron Connect app download makes it without competition. The app offers a trend graphing system not provided by anyone else. Being able to spot state of charge/ voltage/ Etc Within Bluetooth range is so cool. I can check battery charging progress in the car from the living room.

Installed to control charge and discharge of a LFP battery bank. Used the NO contact to enable interface with the rest of the system (close at 51.0V to connect and open at 54.0V to disconnect). Tried several times, it worked as expected. During the final steps of commissioning, the controller relay would not open even when the voltage was above 54.0V. Interesting the Victron app showed the contact as “open” even though it was stuck closed.Filed a report with Victron, they will replace the device. Failed unit was shipped from Canada to a company in PA, USA today by courier, at a cost of $63 (paid $166.60 for the device). On top of spending a good 2 hours troubleshooting the system to pinpoint the problem, it cost me almost 40% more to get it replaced. Not impressed

Love the idea of the product. Easy product install. I found it difficult to install and use the app.