Physical installation and Bluetooth connection are complete. Full-charge synchronization and a verified state-of-charge baseline are still unconfirmed.
Why add a monitor?
The goal is to turn battery use into something I can measure. An overnight test gives me a much better starting point for planning time at anchor than guessing from a percentage display. The batteries have yet to accept “it should be fine” as a charging strategy.
The bank has previously been described as three 245 Ah batteries, or 735 Ah nominal capacity. That number still needs to be checked against the installed battery labels and wiring before I treat it as verified.
The Victron SmartShunt puts the readings in VictronConnect over Bluetooth without requiring a separate display. For this project, the useful first outcome is a record of current going into and out of the bank—not an immediate decision to buy new batteries.
The first readings
The SmartShunt connected to the Victron app successfully. The first recorded readings were 12.03 V and approximately −4 A. After an overnight period using the house bank, the reported morning voltage was 11.94 V.
| Stage | Observation |
|---|---|
| Initial connection | 12.03 V; approximately −4 A |
| Following morning | 11.94 V |
| Generator charging, initially | Approximately +175 A |
| Generator charging, later | Approximately +80 A |
These are individual observations. The notes do not yet contain a complete, repeatable load-and-time record that would establish overnight consumption or usable bank capacity.
Establishing a real baseline
The first 100% reading was encouraging. It was also rather generous: initial setup had not established that the bank was fully charged. I still need to verify the monitor settings against the actual battery bank and establish a valid full-charge reference.
The next overnight test should record starting conditions, the loads left on, elapsed time, amp-hours consumed, and the final readings. That will make comparisons between nights much more useful.
Costs, options & sourcing
| Item / source | Actual amount | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Victron SmartShunt 500 A Walmart | $92.64 | August 30, 2026 order total, including the recorded taxes, fees, and discounts. Delivered September 2; installation and Bluetooth connection documented September 24. |
| 12-inch 2/0 AWG marine battery cable BatteryCablesUSA | $16.64 cable + $3.97 shipping $20.61 order total | August 31, 2026 purchase: black tinned-copper cable, with 3/8-inch (M10) ends. The purchase is confirmed; I still need to match this particular cable to the fitted installation. |
The monitor is a confirmed $92.64 project expense. The related cable order is shown separately until its use is verified. The two receipts add up to $113.25, but that is a purchase subtotal—not a verified final installed cost.
The notes contain no separate paid installation-labor bill or complete tally of mounting hardware and incidental supplies. My time is not assigned a dollar value here. Commissioning is still underway, so there is no final project total yet.
The model, supplier, and paid amount are recorded here as a reference for other owners’ comparisons. No competing-model quotes were preserved in this project record.
Sources: Walmart order confirmation dated August 30, BatteryCablesUSA order confirmation dated August 31, and installation notes dated September 24–25, 2026. These are historical purchase amounts; cable length, gauge, and lug size describe my order, not a universal installation specification.
What comes next
- Confirm the bank’s battery specifications and wiring.
- Verify the installation and monitor settings.
- Establish a valid full-charge baseline.
- Repeat the overnight test with a written load and time record.
Once those steps are complete, I can make better decisions about charging, time at anchor, and possible solar additions. For now, the installation is complete and commissioning remains in progress.
I keep the detailed private record for this project in NautiFile, the boat-records app I’m building for equipment, service history, documents, photos, and expenses. Read the story behind NautiFile.
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