Choose the BMV-712 when you want its local display, buzzer or built-in control relay. Choose SmartShunt when an app or existing GX display suits the installation. Both estimate charge from current measurements. Neither is a main battery disconnect or a replacement BMS.
The decision is about how readings reach you and how any automatic action is implemented. A SmartShunt can participate in control through additional GX hardware; the BMV’s own relay still needs a compatible external circuit.
If your battery already has Bluetooth, start with whether you need a separate shunt.
Victron SmartShunt 500A
SmartShunt 500A/50mV
The shunt alone, with Bluetooth. Your phone is the display. Sold in 300A, 500A, 1000A and 2000A, all 50mV, in IP21 and IP65 housings.
$$
Check price at Victron Energy(opens in a new tab)
Victron BMV-712 Smart
BMV-712 Smart
Supplied with a 500A/50mV shunt, panel display, local alarm and programmable 60V/1A control relay. Supported thresholds are configurable.
$$$
Check price at Victron Energy(opens in a new tab)Specification by specification
| Specification | Victron SmartShunt 500A | Victron BMV-712 Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Shunt Same nominal rating in this comparison; different assemblies. BMV supports configured replacement shunts | 500A / 50mV | 500A / 50mV, supplied |
| Current accuracy Same published current-accuracy specification | ±0.4% | ±0.4% |
| Voltage accuracy Identical | ±0.3% | ±0.3% |
| State of charge resolution Display resolution, not a guarantee of SOC accuracy | ±0.1% | ±0.1% |
| Current resolution | ±0.01A | ±0.01A with the 500A shunt |
| Supply voltage Same 6.5V to 70V range, so both cover 12V, 24V and 48V systems | 6.5V to 70V DC | 6.5V to 70V DC |
| Bluetooth Both support VictronConnect. BMV also has head-unit menus | Yes | Yes |
| Auxiliary input One input on both — second battery, midpoint, or temperature. Not all three | One input, used for a second battery's voltage, midpoint deviation, or a temperature sensor — one of the three, not all | One input, used for a second battery's voltage, midpoint deviation, or a temperature sensor |
| Display The visible difference, and the one people buy on | No built-in display; read in VictronConnect or a connected compatible GX system | Head unit with backlit display, 2.5 in round, panel-mounted — the design difference from the SmartShunt Better |
| Programmable relay BMV has a built-in contact; SmartShunt needs a suitable external GX/control system | No built-in relay. A suitable connected GX device can add configured relay functionality; extra hardware and setup are required | Yes — 60V/1A maximum, normally open with configurable inversion. Control contact for a compatible external circuit, not a main-load disconnect Better |
| Programmable alarm BMV has local audible/visual alarms. SmartShunt software alarms need a connected app or GX display | Configurable software alarms visible in a connected app or GX system; no built-in buzzer or local display | Yes, visual and audible — one of the two features the SmartShunt does not have, per Victron's own datasheet Better |
| Warranty Same 5-year term — stated in Victron's site footer rather than on either datasheet | 5 years — stated in Victron's site footer as a standard term, not on the product datasheet | 5 years — stated in Victron's site footer as a standard term, not on the product datasheet |
| Price Compare current total-system prices, including any display or control hardware | $$ Better | $$$ |
Similar measurement specifications, different packages
Victron lists the compared current and voltage accuracy figures in the SmartShunt technical data and BMV-712 technical data. Those figures describe measurement performance. A 0.1% SOC display increment does not establish a 0.1%-accurate estimate of remaining charge.
Both need suitable capacity and charge settings, correct current paths and synchronisation. Do not treat a precise-looking display as proof that a bank has its original capacity or that every connection passes through the shunt.
The relay is a control connection
Both: shunt measures battery current → configured monitor estimates state of charge. Correct wiring, settings and synchronisation still matter.
SmartShunt · reporting path
- Measurement and software alarmThe monitor records the condition.
- Connected app or GX displayYou can view the reading and active alarm.
- A person respondsNo built-in buzzer or relay switches a load.
BMV-712 with a control connection
- Configured thresholdPanel display and local alarm; relay settings determine the control action.
- Small relay contact60V / 1A maximum. A control signal, not the main battery-current path.
- Compatible equipment respondsA suitable remote input or external switching interface performs the requested action.
The main load needs its own rated power circuit. Do not route inverter or fridge supply current through the monitor relay. Check input compatibility, contact ratings, trigger/clear settings and loss-of-power behavior for the complete system.
SmartShunt expansion: SmartShunt → VE.Direct → suitable GX device → configured GX relay/control → compatible equipment. This needs extra hardware and setup; the SmartShunt alone has no relay.
Arrows show information and control, not a wiring plan. Sources: Victron’s SmartShunt alarm instructions and BMV-712 relay rating. A monitor-based control is not a replacement for the battery’s required BMS and circuit protection.
The BMV can signal a compatible remote input, alarm interface or generator controller. It cannot carry a high-current appliance supply. Generator automation also requires the generator’s own interlocks and operating requirements; a low-SOC contact is not a complete autostart installation.
Victron’s relay settings include operating mode, inversion and set/clear conditions. Configure and verify the intended response, including what the whole system does when monitor power or communications are lost. Do not assume an unwired relay provides automatic battery protection.
What the display buys
The BMV panel is useful when a phone is unavailable or several people share the rig. It also provides a local audible alarm. SmartShunt has a software alarm in a connected VictronConnect or GX session, but no buzzer of its own; that is not a guaranteed phone notification while disconnected.
The BMV can be configured from its head unit as well as from the app, as Victron’s configuration guide explains. If a GX display already exists, decide whether another local gauge adds value rather than assuming that every installation needs one.
Installation and current paths
For normal whole-bank monitoring, the shunt belongs in the bank’s negative path so loads and chargers are measured. A bypassing connection creates an accounting error. The BMV also needs its head-unit mounting and data cable; SmartShunt integrates the electronics at the shunt.
Use the exact installation manual for terminal orientation, fused sensing leads and the optional auxiliary input. The conceptual flow above is not a terminal wiring diagram. See shunt installation and sizing.
Both have options beyond the supplied 500A rating
SmartShunt is offered as complete units in several current ratings. The BMV ships with a 500A/50mV shunt, but its installation manual supports alternatives up to 9999A and 75mV. That requires the matching electrical arrangement and correct shunt settings; the connector fitting is not proof of compatibility.
Size for actual continuous and peak current, with the resolution and installation requirements checked. The BMV is not automatically ruled out when current exceeds 500A.
Which setup fits your use?
| Requirement | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Readings in a nearby phone or existing GX system | SmartShunt |
| Local gauge and audible alarm | BMV-712 |
| Built-in small control contact | BMV-712, with a compatible external circuit |
| Control through an existing suitable GX device | SmartShunt or BMV; check the full system |
| More than 500A | Larger SmartShunt, or BMV with a suitable configured replacement shunt |
| Avoid mounting a separate panel | SmartShunt |
Compare the total installed cost and required behavior. Neither monitor alone provides every protective function a battery system needs.
The default, for almost everyone
Victron SmartShunt 500A
Similar published measurement specifications, with readings in the app or a connected GX device.
If you need the relay or a panel gauge
Victron BMV-712 Smart
A local display, buzzer and 60V/1A control relay for a compatible external circuit.
The battery-monitor roundup compares other options, including their capacity-estimation and drift limitations.
Related guides
- What size shunt do you need for a battery monitor? — the two ratings behind both of these, and why the millivolt one is the trap.
- RV battery calculator — sizing the bank these will be measuring.
- Best RV lithium batteries — battery types and their monitoring requirements.
- What size inverter do I need for my RV? — the load that decides whether 500A is enough.
- The electrical section collects everything published so far.
For how products on this site are selected and what we do not claim about them, see the editorial policy.
Questions worth answering
What is the main difference between SmartShunt and BMV-712?
The BMV-712 adds a panel display, local buzzer and programmable relay. SmartShunt has software alarms visible in a connected app or GX system, but no built-in buzzer or relay. Similar published measurement figures do not make the hardware or installation identical.
Is the BMV-712 more accurate?
Both publish ±0.4% current and ±0.3% voltage accuracy in the compared specifications. Display resolution is a different quantity and is not a guarantee of state-of-charge accuracy. Setup and synchronisation matter.
Can the BMV relay disconnect my inverter directly?
Its contact is rated 60V/1A, not for the inverter’s main supply current. Use a compatible control input or properly designed external interface. The complete system needs appropriate power switching, protection and behavior when power or communication is lost.
Can a SmartShunt trigger automatic action?
It has no built-in relay. Victron documents connecting it to a suitable GX device and using the GX relay for alarm functionality. That adds hardware, configuration and a communication dependency.
Is the BMV-712 limited to a 500A shunt?
It is supplied with 500A/50mV, but the manual supports alternative shunts up to 9999A and 75mV when correctly connected and configured. SmartShunt instead offers complete units in several current ratings.
Do I need a phone to configure the BMV-712?
Victron documents settings through both the head unit and VictronConnect. The panel also provides a local readout without a phone. SmartShunt needs an external display or app to show its measurements.
Can either monitor replace a BMS?
No. A monitor estimates charge from measured current and configured parameters. It does not replace the battery’s required cell protection, BMS or circuit protection.
Can the auxiliary input measure voltage and temperature together?
Each has one auxiliary input. Choose the supported second-battery voltage, midpoint or temperature function; it is not three independent inputs. Temperature requires the appropriate sensor.