4. Configuration
Once the electrical connections have been made, and the battery monitor has been powered up, it needs to be configured to be suitable for the system it is used in.
This can be done with the buttons on the battery monitor head unit or even easier via the VictronConnect app. Note that a VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle or VE.Direct to USB interface is required.
This chapter describes how to configure the battery monitor by making the basic settings. See the All features and settings chapter for all settings and features.
4.1. Setup wizard
The battery monitor will automatically start the setup wizard on the first power-up or after a factory reset. The setup wizard must be completed before any other settings are made.
The display shows the scrolling text "battery capacity":
.Press any button to enter the setup wizard. The scrolling text will stop, and the factory default battery capacity value
(200 Ah) will be shown with the first digit blinking.Use the + and – buttons to set the first digit of the battery capacity value. Preferably use the 20-hour (C20) battery capacity rating. For more information on battery capacity, see the Battery capacity and Peukert exponent chapter.
Press SELECT to set the next digit in the same manner. Repeat this step until the required battery capacity is displayed.
Press SELECT to store the value. A short beep confirms this.
Should a correction need to be made, press SELECT again and repeat the previous steps.
Press the SETUP, + or – button to end the setup wizard and switch to the normal operating mode.
Immediately after the completion of the setup wizard, the battery monitor will automatically detect the nominal voltage of the battery system. For details and limitations of automatic voltage detection, see the next chapter Automatic voltage detection.
The battery monitor is now ready for use. It is now set up for an average system with GEL, AGM or flooded lead-acid batteries. Further battery monitor configurations are required if your system contains a battery with different chemistry, like lithium, or if other specific system settings are needed. See the All features and settings chapter.
Note
If the setup wizard is not showing, i.e. there is no scrolling text, it can be re-activated by performing a battery monitor reset. To do this: simultaneously press the SETUP and the SELECT button for 3 seconds. This resets the battery monitor to its factory settings.
Note that factory settings can only be restored if the Lock setup setting has been set to OFF.
4.2. Automatic voltage detection
The battery monitor will automatically adjust itself to the nominal voltage of the battery bank. This happens immediately after the completion of the setup wizard. The below table shows how the nominal voltage is determined and to what nominal battery voltage the battery monitor is automatically set. See the Set charged voltage value chapter for more information.
Measured voltage | Assumed nominal voltage |
|---|---|
< 18V | 12V |
18 - 36V | 24V |
> 36V | 48V |
Note
Note that the battery monitor is unable to detect a 32V nominal battery voltage. If the battery monitor is used with a 32V battery bank, the charged voltage must be set manually using the Charged voltage setting.
4.3. How to change settings
4.3.1. Settings via the head unit
Use the display buttons to enter and navigate through the settings menu. Each setting has a number and a name. For example: "01 - Battery capacity". The full list of all battery settings and their corresponding number can be found in the All features and settings chapter.
Tip
It is also possible (and easier) to make the battery monitor settings via the VictronConnect app. See the The VictronConnect app chapter on how to do this.
 |
BMV head unit display and buttons.
To access the settings menu and change settings:
1 | Start in the main menu. |  |
2 | Press SETUP for two seconds to enter the settings menu. |  |
3 | The first setting item 01-Battery capacity will be shown. |  |
4 | Use the + and – buttons to go to the desired setting item. |  |
5 | Press SELECT to access the setting item. |  |
6 | Use SELECT and the + and – buttons to customize the setting. |  |
7 | Press SETUP to return to the setting menu. | |
8 | Go to the next setting using the + or - buttons. | |
9 | After all settings have been made, press SETUP to return from the settings menu to normal mode. | |
4.3.2. The VictronConnect app
The VictronConnect app can be used to change all settings and to update the firmware.
Ways to connect to the battery monitor:
Locally via USB using the VE.Direct to USB interface connected to the VE.Direct port.
Locally via Bluetooth using the VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart dongle connected to the VE.Direct port.
Remotely via a GX device, using VictronConnect "Remote" feature. For more information, see the VictronConnect-Remote chapter in the VictronConnect app manual.
How to connect with the VictronConnect app to the battery monitor:
Open the VictronConnect app.
Ensure that the battery monitor is powered.
Look for the battery monitor to appear in the device list in the "Local" or the "VRM" tab.
Click on the battery monitor.
In case of a connection via Bluetooth; enter the default PIN code: 000000. After entering the default PIN code, the VictronConnect app will ask you to change the PIN code. This is to prevent unauthorized connections in the future. It is recommended that you change the PIN code on the first installation.
To view and/or change battery monitor settings, navigate to the settings page by clicking on the cog icon 
at the top right of the home screen.
The battery monitor monitoring and setting screens in the VictronConnect app.
Tip
Note that this manual only covers the items that are specific to the battery monitor. For more general information about the VictronConnect app, like how to use it and where to download it, or how to connect, see the VictronConnect app product page and manual.
4.4. Update firmware
On a new install, it is recommended to update the firmware of the battery monitor. If there is a newer firmware version available, the VictronConnect app will notify you of this as soon as a connection with the battery monitor is made.
Note
Note that the firmware can only be updated via the VictronConnect app. The app needs to be up to date to be able to access the latest firmware.
To check if the firmware is up to date or to manually update firmware, connect to the battery monitor using the VictronConnect app and follow the below steps:
Navigate to the product settings by clicking the "cog"
symbol in the top right-hand corner of the product status screen.Click on the "3 dots"
symbol in the top right-hand corner of the settings screen.Select "Product info" from the pop-up menu.
The firmware version will be displayed. It is mentioned if this is the latest firmware version (or not). If a newer firmware version is available, an "UPDATE" button will be displayed.
To update the firmware, press the "UPDATE" button.
4.5. Make essential settings
The default settings of the battery monitor are tailored for lead acid batteries, like AGM, GEL, OPzV or OPzS batteries.
Most settings can stay at their factory default. But there are a few settings that need to be changed. These are:
Battery capacity.
Charged voltage.
State of charge or start synchronised.
Note
If lithium batteries (or batteries with a different chemistry) are used, some additional settings will have to be changed.
First, make the essential settings as described in this paragraph and then refer to the next paragraph for the special lithium settings.
Note
For more information about these and any of the other settings, see chapter All features and settings.
4.5.1. Set the battery capacity value
In the VictronConnect app, see: Settings > Battery.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 01 - Battery capacity.
The battery monitor is by default set to 200Ah. Change this value to match your battery capacity. For lead-acid batteries, we recommend entering the 20-hour (C20) rate.
4.5.2. Set charged voltage value
In the VictronConnect app, see: Settings > Battery > Charged voltage.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 02 - Charged voltage.
Although the battery monitor automatically detects the voltage, it is good practice to check if this setting is correctly set.
These are the recommended “Charged voltage” values for lead acid batteries:
Nominal battery voltage | Recommended charged voltage setting |
|---|---|
12V | 13.2V |
24V | 26.4V |
36V | 39.6V |
48V | 52.8V |
For more information, also see the Charged voltage chapter.
4.5.3. Set state of charge
In the VictronConnect app, see: Settings > Battery > Battery start synchronized.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 70 - Start synchronised.
When set to ON, the battery monitor will consider itself synchronized when powered up, resulting in a state of charge of 100%. If set to OFF, the battery monitor will consider itself un-synchronized when powered up, resulting in a state of charge that is unknown until the first actual synchronization.
For VictronConnect only: The initial state of charge value can also be manually set, by default, this is 100%, and can be set to a different value if so desired. See: Settings > Battery > State-of-charge.
4.6. Make Lithium settings (if needed)
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate or LFP) is the most used Li-ion battery chemistry. The factory defaults are in general also applicable to LFP batteries with exception of these settings:
Tail current.
Peukert exponent.
Charge efficiency.
Discharge floor.
Tail current
In VictronConnect see: Settings > Battery > Tail current.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 03 - Tail current.
Some lithium battery chargers stop charging when the current drops below a set threshold. The tail current must be set higher in this case.
Peukert exponent
In VictronConnect see: Settings > Battery > Peukert exponent.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 05 - Peukert exponent.
When subjected to high discharge rates, lithium batteries perform much better than lead-acid batteries. Set the Peukert exponent at 1.05, unless the battery supplier advises otherwise.
Charge efficiency
In VictronConnect see: Settings > Battery > Charge efficiency factor.
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 06 - Charge efficiency factor.
The charge efficiency of lithium batteries is much higher than that of lead-acid batteries. We recommend setting the charge efficiency at 99%.
Discharge floor
In VictronConnect see: Setting > Battery > Discharge floor
Via the head unit, see: Setup menu > Setting 16 - SoC relay.
This setting is used in “the time to go” calculation and is set at 50% by default for lead-acid batteries. However, lithium batteries usually can be discharged significantly deeper than 50%. The discharge floor can be set to a value between 10 and 20%, unless the battery supplier advises otherwise.
Warning
Important warning
Lithium batteries are expensive and can be irreparably damaged due to very deep discharge or overcharge. Damage due to deep discharge can occur if small loads slowly discharge the battery when the system is not in use. Some examples of these loads are alarm systems, standby currents of DC loads and back current drain of battery chargers or charge regulators.
A residual discharge current is especially dangerous if the system has been discharged all the way until a low cell voltage shutdown has occurred. At this moment the state of charge can be as low as 1%. The lithium battery will get damaged if any remaining current is drawn from the battery. This damage can be irreversible.
A residual current of 1mA for example can damage a 100Ah battery if the battery has been left in a discharged state for more than 40 days (1mA x 24h x 40 days = 0.96Ah).
The battery monitor draws <48mW from the battery. The positive supply must therefore be interrupted if a system with Li-ion batteries is left unattended during a period long enough for the battery monitor power consumption to completely discharge the battery.
In case of any doubt about the possible residual current draw, isolate the battery by opening the battery switch, by pulling the battery fuse(s) or by disconnecting the battery positive when the system is not in use.