If you go to the Victron web site you will be able to look at and/or download the instructions or manuals for all their items. Usually in multiple languages so you can learn a couple extra too
Jaahn
meetoo said
12:21 AM Oct 22, 2017
Got the Victron BMV700 up and running and like it a lot. Never going to have to guess anything again. Just still deciding exactly where to mount the monitor. Although it is small, I am going to think twice before cutting any holes in the van. Don't need to think twice to recommend one though.
Thanks for all advice folks.
Cheers, John.
beiffe said
05:34 PM Nov 5, 2017
Gee I have seen no mention of fuses yet (sorry if I have missed it ).
All these wires connected to a battery should be fused after the battery as soon as possible.
Best to run heavy fuse and cable from battery / batteries to fuse block and then run each wire from a separate fuse.
Saw a van that was wired with all the wires from the battery and one wire was shorted and it resulted in that one wire melting and then the resulting fire then worked on to all the others right back to the battery. He turned OFF the main fuses and it did nothing.
Whilst I expended THREE fire extinguishers he was able to get inside (it was as black as pitch inside from the smoke of burning wires) and disconnected the battery to stop it. I thought the van was gone as the fire was like a furnace. We would put it out and it just reignited. It only took a few minutes and lucky the bed was up to make it easy to get to his batteries.
My suggestion is a master fuse 100Amp or similar right at the battery and then each line individually fuses as soon as possible. If the line is split further down then fuse again with smaller fuses if needed. The fuse should blow before the wire insulation melt.
I am not a sparky so take what I say as advise if you think it is bull **** then so be it.
meetoo said
05:58 PM Nov 5, 2017
Thanks bieffe. Very good advice indeed. The Victron unit I installed also has it's own fuse for the monitor straight off the battery.
Hi John
If you go to the Victron web site you will be able to look at and/or download the instructions or manuals for all their items. Usually in multiple languages so you can learn a couple extra too

Jaahn
Got the Victron BMV700 up and running and like it a lot. Never going to have to guess anything again. Just still deciding exactly where to mount the monitor. Although it is small, I am going to think twice before cutting any holes in the van. Don't need to think twice to recommend one though.
Thanks for all advice folks.
Cheers, John.
All these wires connected to a battery should be fused after the battery as soon as possible.
Best to run heavy fuse and cable from battery / batteries to fuse block and then run each wire from a separate fuse.
Saw a van that was wired with all the wires from the battery and one wire was shorted and it resulted in that one wire melting and then the resulting fire then worked on to all the others right back to the battery. He turned OFF the main fuses and it did nothing.
Whilst I expended THREE fire extinguishers he was able to get inside (it was as black as pitch inside from the smoke of burning wires) and disconnected the battery to stop it. I thought the van was gone as the fire was like a furnace. We would put it out and it just reignited. It only took a few minutes and lucky the bed was up to make it easy to get to his batteries.
My suggestion is a master fuse 100Amp or similar right at the battery and then each line individually fuses as soon as possible. If the line is split further down then fuse again with smaller fuses if needed. The fuse should blow before the wire insulation melt.
I am not a sparky so take what I say as advise if you think it is bull **** then so be it.
Thanks bieffe. Very good advice indeed. The Victron unit I installed also has it's own fuse for the monitor straight off the battery.
Cheers, John.