Correctly reading battery monitor with solar

[Eeeride]

Question for all my electrically inclined RV’ers out there. I installed a 500a Victron SmartShunt battery monitor to effectively see when & where my battery power is going. I notice an amperage difference (higher) during the day while my solar panels are making power than at night - with the same items on/off. Does this make sense? Just trying to make sure I understand (slightly) how to read the monitor and what is happening. TIA.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Eeeride

Question for all my electrically inclined RV’ers out there. I installed a 500a Victron SmartShunt battery monitor to effectively see when & where my battery power is going. I notice an amperage difference (higher) during the day while my solar panels are making power than at night - with the same items on/off. Does this make sense? Just trying to make sure I understand (slightly) how to read the monitor and what is happening. TIA.

Assuming your shunt is attached directly to the battery bank (as it should be) and your solar charger is on the other side of the shunt (as it should be) than during the day when solar is present it is an alternate power source for the loads so the battery has to supply LESS power than at night when that solar power source is NOT available so the battery has to supply all the power to the loads.

[Eeeride]

Ted - I am guessing from your response that I have the negative cable from my solar system in the wrong place now. The solar system has been installed for a while now and operating fine. The shunt was just installed and I did not move the negative solar cable - it’s still on the negative battery terminal. I am assuming I need to move that cable to the “front” side of the shunt with the original whole house negative cable? That makes sense to me, but would love a confirmation from you. Thanks again.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Eeeride

Ted - I am guessing from your response that I have the negative cable from my solar system in the wrong place now. The solar system has been installed for a while now and operating fine. The shunt was just installed and I did not move the negative solar cable - it’s still on the negative battery terminal. I am assuming I need to move that cable to the “front” side of the shunt with the original whole house negative cable? That makes sense to me, but would love a confirmation from you. Thanks again.

I agree.

[Eeeride]

Fixed and readings look correct now. Thanks Ted.

[16ACE27]

Glad you got it figured out!