Once you have the Go Power! Battery Monitor Kit (GP-BMK-25) mounted in your RV, the next step is connecting the shunt and cable to your battery bank. When this step is done properly, the monitor gives you accurate readings of your battery's state of charge, voltage, current draw and time remaining, so you always know how much power you have left off-grid.
Before You Start
Turn off all charging sources and loads, including your solar controller, converter/charger and inverter, and disconnect shore power. Working on a live battery system can cause sparks, short circuits or damage to equipment. Keep the GP-BMK-25 user manual handy for exact wire sizes and fuse ratings.
Connecting the Battery Shunt
The kit includes a 500-amp quick-connect battery shunt, which measures all the current flowing into and out of your batteries. The shunt installs on the negative side of your battery bank:
- Connect the battery side of the shunt to the battery's negative terminal.
- Move every negative cable that was on the battery, from loads, chargers and your RV chassis ground, to the load side of the shunt. Nothing else should connect directly to the battery negative, or the monitor won't see that current.
- Connect the fused power lead to the battery's positive terminal.
Running the Cable to the Display
Route the included 25-foot cable from the shunt to the display you mounted in Part 1. Secure it away from sharp edges and heat sources, then plug it into the back of the monitor.
Power Up and Set Up the Monitor
Reconnect your power sources and turn the system back on. The display should power up. Enter your battery bank's capacity and battery type so the state-of-charge and time-remaining readings are accurate, and set your low-voltage and low-capacity alarms.