Do you ever think about your caravan battery?
You should because it’s effectively the beating heart of your camping vehicle. Every appliance inside the caravan relies on the battery. That’s why it’s important to regularly check the condition of your batteries in case they are deteriorating.
But how do you do this?
The easiest way is to invest in a caravan battery monitor. These systems are usually simple to follow. You can even configure them with your mobile phone! In this guide, we’ll try to find the best battery management system for your needs.
Check it out now!
| Victron Battery Monitor BMV-712 Smart | BMPRO BatteryCheck100 Bluetooth Battery Monitor | Hard Korr Remote Battery Monitor With High-Precision Shunt | Century BM12V Battery Monitor |
---|---|---|---|---|
premium option | Best Value | |||
6.5 - 70 VDC | 8 - 16 VDC | 8 - 100 VDC | ?? | |
± 0.4% | ?? | ±1% | ?? | |
12 volt | 12 volt | 12 volt | 12 volt | |
0.7Ah per month | ?? | 0.5-0.6Ah per month | ?? | |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
-20°C to 50°C | -20°C to 70 °C | -10°C to 65°C | -40°C to 90°C | |
5 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Best Caravan Battery Monitors Australia
Victron Battery Monitor BMV-712 Smart
Premium Option
Have you ever wanted to feel like you’re in a spaceship?
Now you can with the Victron 12V battery management system. This battery monitor is a premium option with some of the most advanced features you’ll find.
Firstly, it’s easy to install and is very efficient. It’s Bluetooth-enabled which is an advantage if you have other Victron products. Meanwhile, you can download the app for clearer monitoring and customizing of settings.
This battery monitor is incredibly accurate.
It measures current and voltage to 0.3 and 0.4% respectively. The monitor has a supply voltage range of 6.5 to 70 VDC. Furthermore, the current consumption is very low at just 0.7Ah per month.
Victron operates visual and audio alarms when there are problems with your batteries. However, the Bi-stable alarm relay prevents an increased current draw to further protect them and limit the likelihood of problems in the first place.
Midpoint voltage monitoring reveals if a battery cell has failed. This can save the entire battery from further damage.
Another benefit is the ability to track historical data so you know if your battery is deteriorating. The app also automatically updates its software once there is an internet connection.
This product doesn’t have many cons, but there are a couple of potential issues.
The temperature range of -20°C to 50°C is decent. But some cheaper competitors offer even better than this.
Finally, the Victron caravan battery monitor is expensive at around $350. In saying that, it does come with an industry-leading five-year warranty. It’s brilliant but it won’t be suitable for everybody’s budget.
BMPRO BatteryCheck100 Wireless Bluetooth Battery Monitor
High-end Option
The BMPRO Battery Monitor is another high-end system with a lot of upsides.
It’s also Bluetooth-enabled with a downloadable app. This means you can check the status of your battery, wherever you are. The battery management system is easy to set up by yourself, with an input voltage of 8V to 16V.
BMPRO says that it’s capable of working with multiple batteries in parallel. Furthermore, they claim that it’s compatible with a range of gel and lithium 12-volt batteries. The system enables monitoring up to 100A maximum charge or discharge.
This system monitors a range of parameters.
These include the charge/discharge currents, the state of charge, state of health, as well as voltage and temperature. They also provide an estimate of the remaining discharge available.
It has a temperature measuring range of -20°C to +70°C. This is very impressive and higher than most competitors.
However, there are a couple of flaws.
BMPRO doesn’t specify the accuracy of its readings like its competitors. This may be concerning for some potential customers. Another issue is that they don’t outline their monthly current consumption.
Finally, this system is substantially cheaper than the Victron, although it only comes with a two-year warranty.
Hard Korr Remote Battery Monitor With High-Precision 100V/500A Shunt
Best Value