Victron Smartshunt Bluetooth Battery Monitor

Just installed a Victron Energy SmatShunt bluetooth batter monitor.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0856PHNLX/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MZ687QRSCEQQ7SSBFSR2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Installation was a breeze. Did have to drill the negative battery ring terminal to make the hole large enough to fit onto the monitor lug, other than that very easy. Here is a very easy video on how to install.


I did not use the aluminum plate as shown in the video, just used some double stick tape to stick it on top of the battery. Phone app gives you all kinds of readings including consumption and low battery alarms that are user definable.

Randy

 

Nice. I suspect that boondocking (through BLM, or other alternative camping hosts) will become more common in the future as CovidCampers continue to make state parks less desirable and even unavailable. Power managment will become far more critical --- no AC is bad enough...no fan is intolerable...especailly with a flatuant canine camping companion

 

Are you saying you no longer need a gas gauge?

 

This is a nice unit. I installed one a few months ago and based on the data I’ve gotten I am converting all my lighting to LED. One halogen bulb uses more power than the vent fan on high. It also helps when deciding to run the Dometic or carry ice or set up the solar panel.

 

Have you or anyone else reading this ever used a ultra quiet generator while boondocking? I considered getting a Honda to run my air conditioner as the mid-south is sweat camping weather nine months out of the year.

 

I have used a Honda eu2000 and also an eu2200 companion. The eu 2200 starts the campinn ac better. It also has bluetooth so you can monitor load and shut it down while inside the trailer. The internal tank lasts overnight. I usually take a remote tank that connects using the generator filler spout and it will run for a few days. Though the generator seems remarkably quiet during the day it is very noticeable in the quiet of the night especially when it revs up to start the ac. In national forests where there are no (unenforced) noise rules its almost a self defense decision to have a generator.

 

Wow! Great information, thank you. A little personal advice that will save me a lot of issues. How do I find a remote tank? Any brand you have had good luck with? What about security....do you lock yours up somehow while traveling?

 

I have tried several different configurations. The first used a Gentent(pictured with the aux fuel tank), the second was a tongue mount with a genbox, my current is set up to mount the genbox on a Yakima swing out mount. The tongue mount was semipermanent but it really was awkward to lift the generator out for service and heavy on the tongue. Honda offers an anti-theft handle to slow a thief down. I use a long cable to lock the generator if not in the genbox. I have noticed a harmonic at the sofa when the generator is connected to the camper, (whether front or back mounted). The labels have fallen off but a search usually comes up pretty fast. (GenBoxes | Hapco Inc.), (IPI Industries Midwest)

 

I’ve thought about the propane conversion kits for the Honda EU2000i. If ever we go to a gennie that may be part of the solution, in the interest of avoiding the need to carry gasoline, the messy refueling, the stink on the generator itself.

I’d want to *try* to connect up to trailer propane using a whip on the propane quick-connect by the water filler.

conversion kits - Motorsnorkel by US Carburetion

Propane and natural gas conversion Kits

Propane Generators, Microair EasyStart 364, Soft Start for RV AC

Honda EU2000i Propane Kits | Honda EU2000i Natural Gas Kits

There are permanent propane-only kits and tri-fuel kits...

 

I have a convestoin kit on my Yamaha - one thing to remember is you'll loose capacity using propane. The energy density of the fuel is less...less HP, less watts. They are also a little fiddly - getting and keeping the fuel mixture right has been a little bit of a problem. If I were doing it again, I'd pass on it....or go with a Champion with dual Fuel capabliity built in.

The 2800 I have works great - but its too darned big..and heavy. I would have bought the Honda, but at the time you couldn't run the carb empty. They have fixed that in the current gernations of Hondas. When my current Yami croaks -- I'm thinking an EU2200 is in my future. But, as both Yami and Honda make QUALITY products...I suspect it will be some time before I buy a new one.

Indiana is not known for its dispersed camping. Our state parks pretty much all have mostly electric only sites, and the few primative sites are generator free at night...and unlike the loud music and quiet hours, they do enforce this.

This means that we've only used our Yami a couple times. It kept the AC running all night...even watched some TV. Frankly made a hot summer night quite comfortable.

The pulse when the AC kicked it was a bit loud. Probably broadcast my location a little more than I would have liked, but all of these inverter generators have the same gentle hum that lulls me to sleep for some reason. Maybe I need to get a longer cord

But this thread is more about battery management, and I inadvertantly hijacked it. Sorry.

I like this solution. I thought about hard wiring in a battery controller, but decided against it - this little gem will give me all I need when the time is right to add it...I would probably find it interesting just how many Watts get used by lighting compared to fans and USB chargers....