Victron battery monitor help

[dieseltruckdriv]

I got it installed, but it won't read any amps. At all. I have double checked that it is wired correctly, and there are no connections to the negative terminal other than the shunt. I get voltage readings but no amps whether charging or discharging. It reads zero.

Is there anywhere to buy a new circuit board for the shunt? I can find nothing on their website.

[dieseltruckdriv]

2oldman wrote:

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I didn't get the model with Bluetooth, I don't see a need for it for us, so no I can't.

But there's a dongle ( I think it's called) that has a display you had to use to set this up. That reads nothing?

I'm sure you've gone through the troubleshooting in the manual.

It is possible to go through the menus without bluetooth, so I didn't get it.

I don't have any dongles. 🙂

[dieseltruckdriv]

Donnoh wrote:
I just bought one of these but haven't installed it yet. If I were you I would be suspect of the cable between the shunt and the display. Have you tried another cable yet? The voltage displayed may be taken from the display supply and the current and battery temp function come from the shunt.
Did you purchase a battery temp monitor? If you did do you get a temp reading?

As a former PLC and automation controller programmer I feel your pain.

I have tools that I can test the cable, but I trust the cable. How often do phone or ethernet cables go bad. Plus the display works perfectly.
I did not get the temp monitor, the 700 doesn't offer it as an option.

[2oldman]

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I didn't get the model with Bluetooth, I don't see a need for it for us, so no I can't.

But there's a dongle ( I think it's called) that has a display you had to use to set this up. That reads nothing?

I'm sure you've gone through the troubleshooting in the manual.

[Donnoh]

I just bought one of these but haven't installed it yet. If I were you I would be suspect of the cable between the shunt and the display. Have you tried another cable yet? The voltage displayed may be taken from the display supply and the current and battery temp function come from the shunt.
Did you purchase a battery temp monitor? If you did do you get a temp reading?

As a former PLC and automation controller programmer I feel your pain.

[dieseltruckdriv]

2oldman wrote:
You don't get readings from either the bluetooth transmitter, or the phone app?

I didn't get the model with Bluetooth, I don't see a need for it for us, so no I can't.

[GordonThree]

Did it ever work, is it new, still in the return period? Buy a new one and send this one back as defective.

[2oldman]

You don't get readings from either the bluetooth transmitter, or the phone app?

[dieseltruckdriv]

shastagary wrote:
are you sure it is set up correctly in the settings is it set to the default shunt setting of 500amp and 50mv in the settings it is adjustable to be able to use different shunts. manual

I did check that, and I have done two factory resets, and that causes it to default to 500/50. I was hoping it was a menu setting problem that I had messed up, but no such luck it seems.

[shastagary]

are you sure it is set up correctly in the settings is it set to the default shunt setting of 500amp and 50mv in the settings it is adjustable to be able to use different shunts. manual

[dieseltruckdriv]

Well, I can't find anywhere to buy one either, and it was an Amazon purchase. I tried contacting the seller and have gotten no response yet. The return window closed on Friday, I wish I had watched that closer. Victron told me to contact the dealer, so I am stuck in a loop. 🙂

I thought maybe someone might know of a place to get one.

Thanks to everyone that has tried to help, it is appreciated. I will try to remember and post a follow up when I get this resolved.

[BFL13]

I would be more suspicious of the "quick connect" connecting properly than of the circuit board.

[CA_Traveler]

Does the shunt require an specified end to end connection so that the polarity is correct going to the meter? My Trimetric requires the correct polarity wiring to the meter.

Have you cleaned the cable connections? It could also be the cable or the meter. Have you contacted Victron?

[GordonThree]

That Victron shunt is an interesting design, they chose to mount the instrumentation amplifier close to the shut, rather than in a remote box, like the Magnum does.

If you have a modbus reader, put a T on the line, hook up and see what dumps out. Sure sounds like the little PCB is at least partially not functioning.

To replace that PCB you'll likely have to contact Victron or an authorized agent directly, I don't see one for sale online anywhere.

In the manual there's a section on programming for a different shunt. Have you triple checked that the specs programmed match the actual specs for the shunt?

[dieseltruckdriv]

2oldman wrote:
Is the little red power wire to the shunt hooked to + ?

It sure is.

The wire to the positive is for voltage monitoring, and 2oldman is correct about that. Thanks for checking. 😉

Edit: The power wire goes to the circuit board on the shunt, not actually to the shunt.

[dieseltruckdriv]

Here is the way my batteries are wired, the top battery (12V AGM) negative has one cable (2 gauge) on it, and that is to the bottom battery negative terminal (matching 12V AGM). The bottom battery has two cables on the negative terminal, one to the top battery, and one to the battery side of the shunt (4 gauge). The shunt has one cable (from the battery) on one side, one cable on the Load/Charge side that goes to a contact block where all the other connections are made (solar, charger, etc.) Power is going through the shunt, because everything in my 5er works, but I don't have any large loads that I can put through the DC system, as we are primarily boondockers and have done very well with reducing our power consumption. I have one 12V tv, but all led lights etc., all low draw devices. I will try to run the furnace and my water pump and get a reading, but those are my largest draws.

I have checked this 4 times now, so I am sure it is wired correctly.

I am a PLC programmer and work with many 4-20ma devices, RTDs, some thermocouples, (but not many,) and Modbus communications. I appreciate the help making sure it is wired correctly, and understand that most don't do what I do for a living, but I am positive it is wired correctly. I know to double check when things don't go right, because I have goofed up wiring things, I am human LOL. I do have an accurate 4 digit Fluke that is calibrated annually that I can use to check across the shunt, but again, I have low draws.

I really would like to know if anyone knows where I could purchase the circuit board that mounts on the Victron shunt. I am willing to spend the money to try it, but can't find where to buy one and was hoping someone here would know of a place. I don't want to have to buy a new Victron monitor if I don't have to.