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03-17-2021, 02:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 127
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Early April Fools and Victron SmartShunt
Well, the trailer played an early April Fool's joke on me. Yesterday I installed a Victron SmartShunt to better monitory the state of my two GC batteries. As soon as I reconnected the batteries, I fired up the Victron app, connective via Bluetooth and was surprised to see it reporting over 10A of battery draw -- even with the main battery switch still off! Since I noticed a bit of sparking when I connected the battery cables, I couldn't completely dismiss the Victron reading.
Well, after suspecting and then ruling out the converter, and a bunch of other things, I finally figured out the problem. Somehow the emergency brakeaway switch had been partially pulled out. April Fools! I don't know if that happened yesterday, or a few weeks ago when I last moved the trailer. Anyway, the brakes all check out fine. Live and Learn!
As for the Victron SmartShunt, I'm going to like having the ability to check the battery voltage, current draw and SOC. Unfortunately, all of the reports about the SmartShunt's short Bluetooth range are correct. I can only connect in the front bedroom. I was hoping that those with short-range complaints had metal trailers, or other signal-blocking problems. There's nothing in my install to block the BT signal. The short range was especially frustrating when I was trying to troubleshoot my current draw problem as I couldn't monitor the current from the mid-trailer converter/fuse panel location. The Victron Connect app will give me the minimum amount of info I need, but I'd give it two out of five stars for implementation.
The SmartShunt is temporarily installed in one of the battery boxes. I did that because I could do that quickly by making some copper bus bars out of flattened copper pipe. I think that the shunt electronics, which are not water resistant, will be OK, but the battery box does have some vents that will let some water in, though not at the shunt. With the way the existing battery cables are configured I'll have to make some new cables before I can move the shunt to a better location, something I can't easily do yet because I don't have a crimp tool that can handle the larger wire sizes.
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2017 Outdoors RV 26RLS
2015 F350 6.7L
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03-17-2021, 04:24 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Mission BC
Posts: 739
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Those shunts are awesome, although mine is not a Victron or wireless. As we dry camp or boondock 95% of the time, it's a very handy tool.
A must have, IMO.
The pin that holds the foot on my jack likes to grab the breakaway cable, knock on wood I've caught it, I pay attention now.
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2018 Black Rock 24kts, 300 watts Solar, 4-230ah gc2’s
2008 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6.7, delete, LB, 6 spd man. Firestone bags.
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03-18-2021, 10:30 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
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The short Bluetooth range is what’s stopping me from buying one. I emailed Victron asking about it. No response yet.
In the meantime I installed a “Victron Smart Battery Sense Long Range.” It’s just a voltage/temp monitor but the Bluetooth range is excellent; the trailer is parked in my side yard and I can view the stats from anywhere inside my house. I’d much rather have the shunt for obvious reasons.
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2019 21RBS Mountain Series
2021 Ram Power Wagon
Albuquerque, NM
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03-18-2021, 11:33 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith67
The short Bluetooth range is what’s stopping me from buying one. I emailed Victron asking about it. No response yet.
In the meantime I installed a “Victron Smart Battery Sense Long Range.” It’s just a voltage/temp monitor but the Bluetooth range is excellent; the trailer is parked in my side yard and I can view the stats from anywhere inside my house. I’d much rather have the shunt for obvious reasons.
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I recently came across this as an alternative to a bluetooth enabled smart shunt. Unfortunately it's sold out.
https://www.thornwave.com/products/p...ted-500a-shunt
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2017 Holiday Rambler Vesta - Class C
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03-18-2021, 11:56 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,205
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoBen
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Says 7 left. 4thDSolar
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03-18-2021, 12:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Mill Creek, WA
Posts: 742
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Puzzled that your Bluetooth range is so short, Bob. My shunt is installed in the front storage compartment of my 280KVS and I can receive its signal easily in both the truck cab and back of the trailer.
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2020 Black Stone 280KVS Titanium
2020 RAM 2500 Diesel 4x4
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03-19-2021, 08:43 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldWEB
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Ah I didn't think to look for a reseller.
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2017 Holiday Rambler Vesta - Class C
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03-19-2021, 11:53 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by litzdog911
Puzzled that your Bluetooth range is so short, Bob. My shunt is installed in the front storage compartment of my 280KVS and I can receive its signal easily in both the truck cab and back of the trailer.
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OK litzdog911, you motivated me to try and improve the range. With apologies to Victron, it turns out that I had accidentally run one of the cables too close to the top of the shunt. It was apparently negatively affecting the BT range as, after routing the wire further away from the shunt electronics, I can now reliably connect at the center of the trailer, but the connection is very iffy at the back. Good enough!
I tried to find the FCC documentation for the shunt as there are usually pictures that show where the antenna is located. Unfortunately the product doesn't have an FCC ID printed on the shunt or in the manual, and I couldn't find Victron Energy in a search of the FCC database.
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2017 Outdoors RV 26RLS
2015 F350 6.7L
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03-19-2021, 01:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 127
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Here's a picture of the temporary installation of the Victron SmartShunt using copper bus bars made from flattened copper tubing. The two white wires were attached to the left battery terminal. The copper-colored shunt bolts are much larger in diameter than the battery terminals, so I couldn't attach the wires to the shunt directly because the ring terminals are too small.
As you can see, the shunt interferes with the caps, so checking water levels is going to be a bit more of a challenge until I can move the shunt to a different location.
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2017 Outdoors RV 26RLS
2015 F350 6.7L
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03-20-2021, 12:01 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Mill Creek, WA
Posts: 742
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bob26rls
Here's a picture of the temporary installation of the Victron SmartShunt using copper bus bars made from flattened copper tubing. The two white wires were attached to the left battery terminal. The copper-colored shunt bolts are much larger in diameter than the battery terminals, so I couldn't attach the wires to the shunt directly because the ring terminals are too small.
As you can see, the shunt interferes with the caps, so checking water levels is going to be a bit more of a challenge until I can move the shunt to a different location.
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Time for lithium batteries
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2020 Black Stone 280KVS Titanium
2020 RAM 2500 Diesel 4x4
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03-24-2021, 07:36 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by litzdog911
Time for lithium batteries
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Good idea! I'll start a GoFundMe page.
Here's another update on the Victron SmartShunt Bluetooth range. I wish it was better news. I'm currently in a state park right now that's wide open, i.e. no buildings or trees near the trailer. The BT reception is once again limited to the front bedroom. I guess I was getting lucky before with some signal bouncing off a house wall when I had the trailer parked next to the house. Unlike you litzdog911, I can't get a link from the truck cab.
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2017 Outdoors RV 26RLS
2015 F350 6.7L
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03-24-2021, 08:06 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner Outdoors RV Owners Club Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Auburn, WA
Posts: 724
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The lack of range on the Smartshunt seems to be a common complaint - there are a number of posts on the Victron Energy Community board on the topic. One suggestion was to buy the add-on Victron VE Direct Bluetooth device. This allows you to move the bluetooth source to a better location. I've got the BMV-712 with the shunt mounted in a small water-tight plastic junction box on one end of the battery box and the display w/bluetooth mounted in another water-tight plastic junction box on the other end of the battery box. I have no trouble getting connected from the rear of the trailer or the cab of the truck when underway.
I also have an Victron Orion-TR Smart DC-DC charger mounted in a water-proof and power-vented composite box between the batteries and the propane tanks. The bluetooth range on that is comparable to my BMV-712.
It sounds like your shunt is temporarily mounted inside the main battery box - it could improve in range once you re-locate it outside the main battery box. If not then it might be worth considering the add-on device which runs ~$50 I think.
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TT: 2019 ORV Timber Ridge 23DBS, Blue Ox SwayPro 15K/1500
TV: 2019 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab LB, 6.2L, 4.30/e-locker, 4x4, 164" WB, RoadActive Suspension
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03-24-2021, 08:31 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,057
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Bluetooth Range
There is probably an antenna for the Bluetooth on the circuit board like the attached pictures shows. Soldering a 1.5 inch length of 24awg wire to the end pointed to by the arrow usually will double the range. Length of the wire is calculated by the frequency of the Bluetooth signal. And was calculated by someone a lot smarter than me. If I find the YouTube video I'll post it.
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03-24-2021, 10:30 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: MN
Posts: 2,810
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I'm no EE, but that seems to be one heck of a big mass of grounded copper residing almost on top of the antenna of the BT. Maybe try a temporary rewiring using cable just to see if it makes a difference?
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1993 Rockwood 28' Class C - Ford E-350 7.5L
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