Victron Installation

Topic: Victron Installation (Read 768 times) previous topic - next topic

Victron Installation

May 26, 2020, 04:15:33 pm

Just got my Victron 712 monitor from Bay Marine Supply, and will begin the installation this week. I want to bring the display into the upper cabinet where my existing monitors are. In a 2001, 36 foot U 320, it is the cabinet just left of where my countertop ends.
QUESTION IS: how do I route the wire from my battery bay to this cabinet. I've been poking around and haven't yet " seen the light".
I know someone has done this before....eh?

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #1 – May 26, 2020, 04:32:04 pm

You can complete the install on the shunt. Then plug in the monitor to the shunt and check out the app and what it will tell you. You may decide that mounting the monitor inside is not worth the hassle? Just a thought. My monitor is mounted down in the battery bay.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #2 – May 26, 2020, 04:37:43 pm

I second what Tommy D says. I ran my wire up to my grouped area with inverter and solar when I replaced the refrigerator (came up from behind the refrigerator). That being said, I never use it. The app on my cell is much easier to see and use.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #3 – May 26, 2020, 07:29:38 pm

Glenn, see pics. Do it any way you want.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #4 – May 26, 2020, 08:18:24 pm

I put mine in and had to run a wire all the way to the engine batteries so they were monitored and ran the wire through the tunnel in the cargo bays. Unscrew the metal covers and use an electrician s fishing rod or whatever it is called. The phone app works well also.
Steve Green

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #5 – May 26, 2020, 08:44:08 pm

Roger, once again, you floor me!

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #6 – May 26, 2020, 09:56:05 pm

I am running all my wires up through the area behind the toilet into the ceiling of the dry bar down into the old display area. Not sure what your unit layout is. It can be done though.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #7 – May 26, 2020, 10:03:57 pm

I left mine mounted by the shunt because the app gives me more information and is easier to read. That's one of the reasons I bought the Victron over other good brands.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #8 – May 27, 2020, 09:00:08 am

I like my BMV inside where all of the data is available and all the settings can be made when you want to and you can hear an alarm if it happens. Having the app on your phone means you have to have your phone with you, The app is a nice backup to actually looking at the gauge. Either way works. Both work. It is just a choice we get to make.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #9 – May 27, 2020, 07:29:15 pm

So, OF COURSE, as I get ready to install the Victron unit, I read, on their quick install guide that says it's for the BMV-700 and BMV-702........NOT the 712 that I purchased, that:

1) " Connect the negative pole of the battery last!"

Magnum says " when connecting battery power to the inverter, all battery negative connections must be connected prior to the battery positive connections"

and

2) I want to monitor my start batteries. If you look at the diagram, it shows running the negative of the start battery to the SHUNT. I think my start batteries are grounded WAY on the other side, near where they are mounted. They expect me to run a ground all the way up front to the shunt?? Really???

This SHOULD be pretty simple. I just don't want to screw anything up. That's it....I quit

What say y'all??

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #10 – May 27, 2020, 08:23:00 pm

LOL "No Whining On The Yacht"

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #11 – May 27, 2020, 09:22:34 pm

Personally Glenn, I wouldn't worry about monitoring the start batteries if I had to run the cable all the way to where my house batteries are. When camping only the house batteries are charging and discharging. But just my opinion.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #12 – May 27, 2020, 09:48:05 pm

The only difference between the 702 and the 712 is the builtin bluetooth interface.

Disconnect the negative side of the batteries FIRST.
Reconnect the negative side of the batteries LAST.

Glenn, where are you seeing the Magnum instructions that say the opposite?

The 702/712 has a second port that can be used to show battery temperature if you have the option battery temperature sensor or you can connect a wire from it to the start battery and monitor start battery voltage.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #13 – May 27, 2020, 10:35:05 pm

"

Magnum says " when connecting battery power to the inverter, all battery negative connections must be connected prior to the battery positive connections"

That is backwards to all that I was taught.. Negative post was the first to disconnect and the last to reconnect as Roger said.
I have a Magnum inverter so does that mean I'm to do it backwards and it is also not as safe.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #14 – May 27, 2020, 11:20:35 pm

Roger,
Straight out of their owner manual. If you search past posts, this has been discussed in the past. Guess I'll try and contact them both, though I hear Victron doesn't have good customer support.
I really don't know how to proceed.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #15 – May 27, 2020, 11:42:15 pm

Call Justin at Bay Marine if you need some help.

This is connecting the inverter to the batteries not connecting and disconnecting the batteries themselves.They suggest you do it this way to protect the communications links.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #16 – May 28, 2020, 01:27:20 pm

I called the tech at Magnum. Was on hold for about a half hour. Spoke with the tech, at length. He INSISTED that I disconnect the positive FIRST.

Just got off the phone with Justin. Had a lengthy conversation with him. He INSISTED that I take the negative off first.

This is pure nonsense. I will take the negative off first, for safety reasons, and because this is how I was taught to do it. I hope I don't destroy accessories, as Magnum says I might.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #17 – May 28, 2020, 01:43:26 pm

It looks like what Magnum is telling you is that assuming the negative cables on the house and start batteries are disconnected and the inverter is off, connect the negative cables to the inverter first and then the positive cable to the inverter next. This prevents a negative ground path through the inverter and through remote controls or displays. You have provided one by connecting the negative cable first.

Connecting cables to the batteries themselves should always be negative off first and negative on last.

Hooking up your Magnum Inverter is not the same as connecting and disconnecting cables to the batteries.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #18 – May 28, 2020, 02:08:20 pm

Like others have said obviously you will have all the cables on your house and start batteries disconnected, and shore power Disconnected, not just turned off. I suspect connecting the ground cable first on your equipment may also help with any static electric concerns. That's the only reason I can think of as there is no power source to matter.? As always connection at the batteries is ground cables last helps avoid voltage spikes. You should make sure all possible electrical loads 12v are off when connecting batteries.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #19 – June 02, 2020, 05:19:19 pm

I always connect the negative first and disconnect it last. Since a electrical circuit runs from negative to positive. Most think it is the other way around but it's not.
In the end not sure it would make a high difference. Just make sure everything is off when reconnecting.
Also if I wanted to monitor the start batteries with the victron I would add another shunt and monitor.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #20 – June 02, 2020, 06:50:19 pm

Please. Do it the safe way.

Disconnecting the cables from the batteries is always negative first and positive last.
Connecting the cables to the batteries is always positive first and negative last.

Some specific electrical equipment may suggest other connections to the device for protective reasons.

But connections to batteries are always negative first off and negative last on.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #21 – June 02, 2020, 08:47:31 pm

I got a question.
When it is discussed to disconnect the batteries, both start and coach, and having three of each, what is the proper procedure of disconnect? What I mean is, for the coach batteries, would I have to pull the negative off ALL THREE batteries? All three off the start batteries? These terminals are really hard to get to. Can't wait to have to replace them. Any tricks are welcome.

Re: Victron Installation

Reply #22 – June 02, 2020, 09:21:48 pm

Glenn,

if they are daisy chained together (terminal to terminal to terminal) there will be a longer negative cable coming off one end or the other. That is the one to remove first and replace last. That isolated the three batteries even if they are still connected to each other. I usually have some 3/4" foam pipe insulation around. A 6" piece of that over the cable lug secured with a cable tie protects the end and prevents inadvertent contact.

Your house batteries probably have this negative cable connection on the upper 8D as mine did.

At the Cummins shop they have a box that the end fits into and it gets locked.

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