Solar System from Scratch - feedback?
- Thread starter gslabbert5119
- Start date
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
That is how the Victron BMV-712 battery monitor works. Only one negative connection to/from the battery, that way the shunt can monitor all 12v activity.
porthole
Retired
I'm pretty sure that is how they all work. So the SOLAR should be on the side where the shunt can see the energy going out and going into the batteries.
You can think of the second post on the shunt as the negative post on the battery.
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
What do you mean by "SOLAR"? The positive coming off his MPPT? He has that going through the cutoff switch, then to the battery. Looks fine to me.
Here it is the install diagram. What do you think is wrong?
porthole
Retired
Your graphic does not match what was posted.
Maybe Gavin can answer, since it is his install.
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
gslabbert5119
Well-known member
This is the same diagram that Victron (shunt manufacturer) sent me, so I would be surprised if it is not correct and I have wired the system to their specifications.
Gavin
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
It is you...the connections in the picture are on top...you show them on the bottom with the diagram.
porthole
Retired
Gavin, my question was why do you have the controller negative lead before the shunt ?
actually I see 3 leads ‘before’ the shunt.
the shunt, no matter what brand all work about the same. One side is from the battery negative and nothing else.
The output or second terminal can be thought of as the negative battery post and all negative leads should be there (or on a bus bar to diditribute the wires better).
I see 3 negative leads before the shunt.
1) Battery begative
2) controller negative
3) ??? Negative (don’t see where it goes)
gslabbert5119
Well-known member
Thanks for your reply...
These are where the negatives go from the negative busbar...
1) Battery negative
2) controller negative
3) The 3rd negative goes to the Coach's common busbar where the original controller connected
Gavin
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
Here, I turned the picture in the correct orientation to match Gavin's installation.....to make it easier to compare. Battery cable (1 negative) comes in on the right side, when B1, B2 & display output port are on top.
gslabbert5119
Well-known member
I am going to send the image of my install to Victron with all cables labelled for their input on where the shunt is located and if it is correct, for I am now curious.
Right now it is my understanding that the install and location as it is is correct.
I have a friend (Stuart Jacobson) who is a mechanical Engineer from Stanford and he too feels that this install is correct. Trust me Stu will have no issues telling me that I screwed up.
Duane, can you please explain why you feel that the shunt is in the incorrect location ?
Right now it is my understanding that the install and location as it is is correct.
I have a friend (Stuart Jacobson) who is a mechanical Engineer from Stanford and he too feels that this install is correct. Trust me Stu will have no issues telling me that I screwed up.
Duane, can you please explain why you feel that the shunt is in the incorrect location ?
gslabbert5119
Well-known member
This is what I have sent Victron, let us see what they have to say
From the email ...
"I have installed a Victron BMV-712 smart Shunt – Battery monitor and wanted to know if the shunt is is in the best location possible to record all draw on the batteries.
I have taken a photo and labelled all wires.
If you could please forward this on to a tech guy for his review I would truly appreciate it."
Gavin
From the email ...
"I have installed a Victron BMV-712 smart Shunt – Battery monitor and wanted to know if the shunt is is in the best location possible to record all draw on the batteries.
I have taken a photo and labelled all wires.
If you could please forward this on to a tech guy for his review I would truly appreciate it."
Gavin
Attachments
gslabbert5119
Well-known member
Below is the official response from Victron (Shunt Manufacturer) ...
"Hi,
As long as all negative wires are connected on the DC negative bus bar as shown, and no other negative wires go directly to the battery negative post except the short cable to the shunt, then this will read everything in/out of the batteries correctly.
Rich Shea
Victron Energy"
I guess this pretty much settles the shunt location discussion, and as Bubba Gump so famously said "And that is all I am going to say about that"
Gavin
Oregon_Camper
Well-known member
....... and as Bubba Gump so famously said "And that is all I am going to say about that"
LOL....good one!
porthole
Retired
Gavin,
The pictures that I saw before were all cut off on the right side showing the batteries all the way to the right (in the picture).
This pic shows it and I see the negative coming rom the battery to the bus.
Does the Aims equipment have bluetooth capability?
