I'm currently using a battery disconnect switch along with a voltage monitor for my system, but I'm missing a way to check the percentage of charge my batteries have left. Ideally, I want to find a device that can fit into the spot of my existing battery disconnect switch and offers the following features: battery disconnect, voltage monitoring, and an indication of the percentage of battery life remaining. I've seen a few products that combine two of these functions, but I haven't found one that covers all three yet. Is there such a device out there that's also reasonably priced?
2 Answers
The Victron SmartShunt is a solid option for what you want! It tracks how many amps are passing through, and you can check the state of charge using their Bluetooth app. Plus, it’s priced around $100 on Amazon, so not too bad!
To accurately get the state of charge (SOC) from a lithium battery, you’ll need a shunt or coulomb counter. I suggest keeping the disconnect switch separate to avoid any issues. It might make things simpler in the long run!
Sounds great! Does it also help with the voltage readout?