BMV-712 smart vs Smart Shunt

[lustyd]

Is there any downside to the BMV when compared to smart shunt? I’m assuming it uses slightly more power but otherwise these seem pretty equivalent. Also are there any other options worth considering to (currently) just see battery capacity remaining? I’ll likely add mppt later to hook up some solar and like the look of Victron for a great many reasons so just within that family please.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The BMV has an alarm and a configurable relay, the Smart Shunt does not.

The BMV display is a little on the small side, but i view mine on the onboard PC, so not an issue.

It's worth considering a low priced tablet to run the Victron software and the Smart Shunt.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Paul, my thinking is that for the small price difference the little display will be useful to always have at the chart table to glance at. I probably will have laptops on board but prefer not to connect things up just to see boaty bits but I have various phones and tablets that will make occasional use of the Bluetooth. I know some Victron stuff will connect to the B&G but that's not a priority at the mo so will look into that another season once I have all the other projects done.

 

[pvb]

... my thinking is that for the small price difference the little display will be useful to always have at the chart table to glance at.

That's my view too. The Smart Shunt is clever, but I wouldn't want to have to look at the phone app just to check.

 

[lustyd]

It's funny because for almost every function I'll happily look at the phone, I think I'd be ok with an even smaller display that just showsf battery capacity for general use. The display seems unintrusive enough though so I'll go with that one.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks Paul, my thinking is that for the small price difference the little display will be useful to always have at the chart table to glance at. I probably will have laptops on board but prefer not to connect things up just to see boaty bits but I have various phones and tablets that will make occasional use of the Bluetooth. I know some Victron stuff will connect to the B&G but that's not a priority at the mo so will look into that another season once I have all the other projects done.

That wasn't what i meant. I meant have a small tablet permanently mounted and on, to display the Victron Connect app'. It could be on a bracket, or simply fixed in place with some 3M \dual \Lock. Just an option, if you want to fit the BMV you can still view data on the app' too.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Victron Connect on the big screen below.

Can still be done with the BMV, mine is a BMV-700 (as you can see)

 

[lustyd]

Ah that makes sense. I don't think I need that stuff permanently up anywhere, I'm more than happy to play by phone/tablet when necessary but have most of it hidden most of the time.

 

[lustyd]

That does look nice on the big screen, I just don't think I need to see it often enough to justify the extra stuff in the boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

<snip>
But yeah, it literally is because I'm a geek, the same reason I'll probably change my charger to Victron and add in battery monitoring. The charger certainly won't change anything on my boat in terms of usage, it'll just be a nice blue colour. The difference will mainly be Bluetooth, and that's enough for me!

That does look nice on the big screen, I just don't think I need to see it often enough to justify the extra stuff in the boat.

Call yourself a geek ?



Seriously, whatever works for you, all just possible options and you can fit the BMV and have either/both

 

[lustyd]

haha I thought you might pick me up on that Just working through some of the Victron training today so may well end up with all of the gadgets soon!

 

[Baggywrinkle]

That wasn't what i meant. I meant have a small tablet permanently mounted and on, to display the Victron Connect app'. It could be on a bracket, or simply fixed in place with some 3M \dual \Lock. Just an option, if you want to fit the BMV you can still view data on the app' too.

Exactly what I did, works very well. I used a €12 snap-in case for a Galaxy Tab A LTE 10 inch. The front flap was cut off - the case back was then strengthened, countersunk and screwed over the hole left by my old chart-plotter - the tablet just clips in and out.

It runs all the Victron apps and has a permanent internet connection. I get the shipping forecast, use the Windy App and it is also my new chartplotter using Navionics and my entertainment system (Spotify, Netflix, Prime) and it will also be able to display all my instrumentation once I get my NMEA2000 WiFi router up and running post-covid. Fantastic multi-function device.

 

[PaulRainbow]

haha I thought you might pick me up on that Just working through some of the Victron training today so may well end up with all of the gadgets soon!

I've just been designing an install using their newish Cerbo GX as the basis for monitoring and control, with the GX 50 touch screen. I suspect you'll like the look of those too. This particular installation includes charger/inverter, MPPT and several other bits of Victron kit, should be a nice setup. I'll see how ell it all works from a laptop/tablet too.

 

[lustyd]

I was looking at the Cerbo earlier and like the idea of conecting it to the boat network and over the web, I'll need to add some power gen to support all this kit though

 

[gregcope]

Exactly what I did, works very well. I used a €12 snap-in case for a Galaxy Tab A LTE 10 inch. The front flap was cut off - the case back was then strengthened, countersunk and screwed over the hole left by my old chart-plotter - the tablet just clips in and out.

It runs all the Victron apps and has a permanent internet connection. I get the shipping forecast, use the Windy App and it is also my new chartplotter using Navionics and my entertainment system (Spotify, Netflix, Prime) and it will also be able to display all my instrumentation once I get my NMEA2000 WiFi router up and running post-covid. Fantastic multi-function device.



View attachment 106361

That looks really smart.

If doing it again would you change anything?

 

[Baggywrinkle]

That looks really smart.

If doing it again would you change anything?

The only part about the setup I'm not that keen on is the flying lead I need to attach to the tablet to charge it from the USB ports (just below the tablet and Victron displays) - If I was doing it again I'd get a tablet with inductive charging and attach the charging pad to the case.

Things I wasn't certain about were:

- getting a tablet with LTE instead of just WiFi - turns out it is worth it IMO. I don't need to mess around with connecting it to WiFi HotSpots and the device is completely autonomous (and portable) - I often take it ashore with me. Downside is the cost of another data contract but it's only about 11€ a month - I tried pay-as-you go but that was a pain as I had to remember to keep topping it up, and the site selling top-ups online at the time was in Croatian.

- how reliable BT comms would be with the Victron kit - it's rock solid and I've had no problems so those fears are averted.

- interference between all these devices and my VHF, AIS or GPS reception in my other marine equipment - no sign of this in 2 years of use .

Next phase which is planned but not yet implemented is a WiFi + NMEA2000 network - was going to fit it all last season but corona lock-downs and travel restrictions put it all on hold.

 

[gregcope]

Wow @Baggywrinkle Nice setup.

I have the a BMV-702 with bluetooth dongle and a Bluetooth enabled 71/15 MPPT controller and the app works really well.

 

[gregcope]

Next phase which is planned but not yet implemented is a WiFi + NMEA2000 network - was going to fit it all last season but corona lock-downs and travel restrictions put it all on hold.

Is that the bottom right of your diagram or something else?

 

[lustyd]

BMV-712 arrived today and I must say the display is much smaller in person than I'd expected. In reality it's exactly the size I wanted it to be, whereas online it looked a bit big. Mildly concerned that they aren't able to support Windows over Bluetooth though, I'd rather hoped they were more technie than that!

 

[PaulRainbow]

BMV-712 arrived today and I must say the display is much smaller in person than I'd expected. In reality it's exactly the size I wanted it to be, whereas online it looked a bit big. Mildly concerned that they aren't able to support Windows over Bluetooth though, I'd rather hoped they were more technie than that!

Yes, it's never worked on Windows Bluetooth, caught me out a few years back when i installed mine. At that time the Bluetooth was clunky anyway, could only view one device at a time, so had to swap back and forth between the BMV and the MPPT. This was pre the Smart devices, so had to be done with Bluetooth dongles and pre VE Bluetooth networking.

My onboard computer/entertainment system consists of a 24" LED monitor and a soundbar, on the forward saloon bulkhead, interconnected with an optical audio cable, but to TV aerial.

I have a Dell laptop hidden in the chart table, connected to the TV by HDMI, operated by a min wireless keyboard on the saloon table. My phone has unlimited data and tethers to the laptop for internet, email, streamed TV, downloaded box sets or films, YouTube etc. If i just want music the Radio Player app' on my phone gives me every radio station in the Country straight to the soundbar via Bluetooth, combined current draw for the phone on charge and the soundbar, about 1 amp.

There is a powered USB hub for the keyboard, mouse, GPS, MPPT USB cable and BMV USB cable and a VMH USB drive with full UK charts.

OpenCPN, with the USB charts and GPS gives me a nice 24" plotter down below, as a backup to the cockpit plotter. I use it for passage planning and can send saved GPX files to my phone, which, using the Active Captain app', syncs the routes to the plotter.

The two Victron USB cables, along with Victron connect, give the monitoring shown in post #7

I'll be fully investigating the new Victron Cerbo GX and GX 50 touch sometime in the next few weeks, also seeing how the Cerbo GX works with a tablet and PC. Should be interesting. I'm also planning to move my switch panels and redesign them, will see how that all fits in with the new Victron stuff too.