Victron install

[Mguide]

I’m installing a Victron BMV-712 in my 18 hawk. I’m thinking it will go next to the thermostat.
What is the best way to get the wires in place? I’m assuming the path follows the other wires going through the small panel.
What is the best sealant? I’m not sure what the black rubbery stuff is that FWC use.
Any other tricks to this install?

Many thanks

 

[Vic Harder]

Where are you thinking you need sealant? Rubbery stuff is probably Butyl rubber or possibly a plumbers putty.

 

[Dirtroadsavant]

Mine went in a few weeks ago. What a great addition! Since I am planning to use the Bluetooth interface with my phone for all purposes, I simply mounted everything inside the battery cabinet. That way, I can access the Victron itself if needed and not drill holes, run wires, or add another glowing digital readout to the camper’s interior.

 

[Herve]

It's true that it's not really needed to see the victron itself, I use the Bluetooth interface most of the time. But it's nice to glance at the voltage casually once in a while, I probably wouldn't open my phone for that as often. The screen is not bright at all.

I had a panel custom made that I love, with the victron and 4 USB plugs

Picture:
https://mega.nz/#!GG5HlYaS!QcuvWNvfXxW_xAcALB95bMPvnCKJGD3M71n-zpDbazI
(I can't attach pictures here anymore???)

 

[Norsman]

Installed mine last weekend in the battery compartment. So nice to see how many hours you have left before damaging the battery. I was surprised to see that I can pretty much run anything I want all night and not even get close to 50% of my amp hours.

 

[pvstoy]

The images don't appear just the text. I don't get how this happens for some people's posted images. And your random fwc pics post has the same.

Suggestions?

Installed mine last weekend in the battery compartment. So nice to see how many hours you have left before damaging the battery. I was surprised to see that I can pretty much run anything I want all night and not even get close to 50% of my amp hours.

 

[Vic Harder]

It's true that it's not really needed to see the victron itself, I use the Bluetooth interface most of the time. But it's nice to glance at the voltage casually once in a while, I probably wouldn't open my phone for that as often. The screen is not bright at all.

I had a panel custom made that I love, with the victron and 4 USB plugs

Picture:
https://mega.nz/#!GG5HlYaS!QcuvWNvfXxW_xAcALB95bMPvnCKJGD3M71n-zpDbazI
(I can't attach pictures here anymore???)

Nice panel!

 

[ckent323]

My batteries are under the roll over back couch in our 2017 FWC Keystone.

I ran the BVM-702 wired connection to the shunt on the batteries around the front of the camper under the couch and lift up storage area that is under the front window then over to the cabinet holding the OEM battery/Water monitor panel. I used a hole saw and cut a 2-1/8" dia hole in the cabinet and mounted the BVM-702 display next to the OEM panel.

I used velcro to attach the bluetooth dongle to the back side of the cabinet face near the bottom edge (the bottom edge of our cabinets are open - if you lay on the floor you can look up behind the cabinet face). It is easy to reach up and retrieve the dongle if needed.

The bezel on the rear of the BVM display unscrews. With the rear bezel removed I slid the display body into the hole I cut in the cabinet (I recall a diagram for the hole size came with the display). The flange on the display body allows flush mounting to the cabinet. I screwed the rear bezel on capturing the the display bodyagainst the cabinet face.

P.S. The BVM-702 predates the BVM-712 and does not have built in bluetooth but bluetooth can be added with an optional plug in "dongle" otherwise it is identical to the BVM-712.

 

[pollux]

I need to cut the wire to the monitor because it is too long for my camper.
My question is what type of connector it is?
I notice it is not ethernet or telephone connectors.

 

[Norsman]

The images don't appear just the text. I don't get how this happens for some people's posted images. And your random fwc pics post has the same.

Suggestions?

There must be some fancy trick to sharing pics. Most pics are rejected when I try to attach and when I insert a link I can see it and it later goes grey... oh well. The pic above may be the only one I ever post.

 

[Old Crow]

There must be some fancy trick to sharing pics. Most pics are rejected when I try to attach and when I insert a link I can see it and it later goes grey... oh well. The pic above may be the only one I ever post.

I believe the most common problem is exceeding the 500K-per-post limit for photos (that's per post, not per photo). The trick is re-sizing photos so you don't exceed that limit. Unfortunately, resizing works differently on the various operating systems and may not be easy. (If you happen to be on a Mac, you can use Preview | Tools | Adjust Size to do it). Also- it's a 500K per post limit so you start with another 500K in each new post.

 

[Mthomas]

I need to cut the wire to the monitor because it is too long for my camper.
My question is what type of connector it is?
I notice it is not ethernet or telephone connectors.

Don’t cut it, just bundle up the excess

 

[Norsman]

I believe the most common problem is exceeding the 500K-per-post limit for photos (that's per post, not per photo). The trick is re-sizing photos so you don't exceed that limit. Unfortunately, resizing works differently on the various operating systems and may not be easy. (If you happen to be on a Mac, you can use Preview | Tools | Adjust Size to do it). Also- it's a 500K per post limit so you start with another 500K in each new post.

Thanks. I wouldn't think this would matter if you are linking a photo and not actually attaching it. I'll give it try... here goes.

 

[Norsman]

Don’t cut it, just bundle up the excess

I did the same, just bundled it up and zip tied it in the battery compartment. It would be nice to find a short one though. I thought of installing the monitor up by the thermostat but thought that would be to hard to take everything apart. I like being able to see it and toggle through the monitor from the door.

 

[Ruck_and_Roll]

Norsman and others,

I just got done installing my monitor and running the connections. I currently have the 10 ga wire from the FWC install kit and had some length leftover, so I cut a piece off and ran that through the shunt using mis-matched size connector (believe size 6) (picture attached). Everything works like a dream. Used the idea of a mounting board that I saw others had done. I'm pretty new to all of this electrical stuff and am wondering if there is a better way for the battery connections.

What did you use for the wire connectors? Your negative lead looks pretty heavy duty? Is that some sort of special connector?

Thanks,

Luke

Thanks. I wouldn't think this would matter if you are linking a photo and not actually attaching it. I'll give it try... here goes.

 

[Vic Harder]

10g seems a little small... I used 2g for mine, but then I could also support 100A of draw/charge. What is your max anticipated draw/charge? What size fuse/breaker are you using?

 

[Ruck_and_Roll]

Quite frankly, I don't know the anticipated draw/charge. As far as fuse/breaker, I just have the one from the FWC install kit installed under the hood of my truck. Is there another fuse/breaker or something that I am missing here? Really quite new to all of the electrical stuff, it has been a great learning experience thus far.

10g seems a little small... I used 2g for mine, but then I could also support 100A of draw/charge. What is your max anticipated draw/charge? What size fuse/breaker are you using?

 

[lzpup]

Great thread! Love the custom panel, I will have to look into something like this. Right now I just have mine in the cabinet and using bluetooth. That cable is super long, Just bundling it up atm.

 

[ckent323]

I made a panel that is mounted under the rollover couch.

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/gallery/image/18341-solar-charger-panel-and-6v-battery-bank/

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/gallery/image/18122-installed-solar-panel-controller-configuration/

 

[Vic Harder]

Quite frankly, I don't know the anticipated draw/charge. As far as fuse/breaker, I just have the one from the FWC install kit installed under the hood of my truck. Is there another fuse/breaker or something that I am missing here? Really quite new to all of the electrical stuff, it has been a great learning experience thus far.

Charge depends on how drained your batteries are, and what the alternator can put out... i've seen 90A charge before, for a short while. I think the FWC breaker under the hood is a 30A unit?