Battery Monitor

[SHRED]

This one looks very attractive.
It's not in stock anywhere I can find.

Anyone using this and how do you like it?

BALMAR SG205

[deltabravo]

Go with the Victron Smart Shunt or the BMV-712. The are much better products.
I have the BMV-712 shown here

[BarneyS]

You can probably piece together the same thing here with the Smart shunt and gateway.
Barney

[theoldwizard1]

For a simple yet powerful WIRED shunt, you can't beat the Victron BMV-700.

The Victron SmartShunt has all "the bell and whistles" including Bluetooth.

[FWC]

While it would be good to get a detailed review on the SG205, the Victron Smartshunt is probably the safer choice. It is less expensive, and lots of folks here are using them, so they will be able to help you if questions arise.

As mentioned before, if you add more solar later and add an MPPT charge controller later, or other electric goodies, you can stick with Victron and they will all play nicely together. You can get either the Victron or Balmar with a display as well, which is nice to glance at what is going on without pulling out your phone.

[SHRED]

FWC wrote:
Balmar generally makes good stuff, but the reviews on their newer battery monitors have been rather mixed.. If you are looking for a stand alone battery monitor and don't plan on adding solar charge controllers, inverters etc, then the SG205 is probably a reasonable choice. But if you are also looking at other components, then the Victron smart shunt is probably better as it integrates well into to their ecosystem. Functionally they appear to be about the same.

Their old smart gauge worked very well for lead acid battery banks, but wouldn't work at all for lithium batteries.

I pick up our new motorhome tomorrow. It does come equipped with two solar panels.

[FWC]

Balmar generally makes good stuff, but the reviews on their newer battery monitors have been rather mixed.. If you are looking for a stand alone battery monitor and don't plan on adding solar charge controllers, inverters etc, then the SG205 is probably a reasonable choice. But if you are also looking at other components, then the Victron smart shunt is probably better as it integrates well into to their ecosystem. Functionally they appear to be about the same.

Their old smart gauge worked very well for lead acid battery banks, but wouldn't work at all for lithium batteries.

[Lwiddis]

That unit does look handy.